Two questions for the enterprising researcher:

Was anthophyllite asbestos ever used as a paint additive in the United States?

Is or was anthophyllite asbestos used in brakepads in the United States?

Hello there

To your first question - yes.
Glidden Ultra Hide Stain Jammer, Oil Based Interior Primer/Sealer
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=2239
- From DeLima Associates/National Institutes of Health

For the second question:

Anthophyllite asbestos was/is mainly used in Finland.  It was also
mined in North Carolina from the early 1930s to 1979.

Since anthophylitte is not a long fiber mineral (brittle white
fibers), it's not practical for use in friction products such as break
pads. - - "Anthophyllite, with a general chemical composition of
(FeMg6)Si8O22(OH)2, isgrayish white, brown-gray, or green in color and
has very good acid resistance. It is relatively rare and occasionally
occurs as a contaminant in talc deposits. The fibers are short and
very brittle (IARC 1973, 1977, IPCS 1986).

If it ever was used in break pads, it was probably present only as a
"contaminant" rather than a deliberately used fiber.  The most common
asbestos fiber used was chrysotile, and today that is the only
asbestos fiber used.  In fact, chrysotile asbestos, also known as
white asbestos, accounts for approximately 99% of the asbestos ever
used in the US.

About the only practical use of anthophyllite asbestos was its uses in
such items as refractory cements and paints.

Another mention of the rarity of anthophyllite: - "The remaining three
types of asbestos in the amphibole group are: anthophyllite,
tremolite, and actinolite. These are extremely rare and of little
commercial value. Occasionally they are found as contaminants in
asbestos containing materials." - http://www.ehso.com/asbestos.htm -
"Asbestos Information, Regulations..."

Commercial use of anthophyllite was discontinued by the 1980s (IPCS
1986, HSDB 2000).

So while we can find no definite statement that it was or was not used
in break pads, a little sleuthing has come up with the finding that
such use was/is highly unlikely.  Its very brittleness would preclude
such use as the asbestos fibers in friction products such as break
pads need a degree of length and flexibility which anthophyllite
simply does not have.
 
The following websites were used to compose the answer:

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/anthophy/anthophy.htm -
"ANTHOPHYLLITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)"

http://www.mesopages.com/mesothelioma-legal-information/mesothelioma-and-asbestos.html
- "Mesothelioma And Asbestos.  mesopages.com: mesothelioma
information, treatment, and legal options"

http://whitelung.org/pubs/workexp/definitions.html - "The White Lung Association"

http://www.heritageresearch.com/asbestos.htm - "Asbestos"

Other links included in answer.

Search - google
Terms - anthophyllite, anthophyllite +in friction products,
anthophyllite +used +in break pads, asbestos types

If I may clarify anything before rating the answer, please ask.

Cheers
Digsalot

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Clarification of Answer by digsalot-ga on 01 Sep 2004 22:42 PDT

I thought I would check some more on the brake pad issue and have
still found no connection between anthophylitte and friction products.

I did find something interesting however which has no bearing on your
question but I thought it was interesting information.  For many
years, cigarette filters were made with crocidolite (blue asbestos).

Remember the old "micronite" filter ads for Kent cigarettes?  They
were 100% asbestos.

Digs

Another useful site that has posted articles on the different types of
asbestos, and mesothelioma, is
http://www.diagnosismesothelioma.info/articles-mesothelioma.html

You may find those articles useful.