Febrtary I, 1907.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



149 



Tires at Madison Square Garden. 



THE Madison Square Garden automobile show (January 

 12-19) -was by far the best ever held in New York, both 

 in the matter of cars and accessories, in completeness, in 

 attractiveness as a spectacle, and in point of attendance. The 

 extension of the first balcony into a Hying stage, for car ex- 

 hibits, was not favorable for attractive attention to the accessories, 

 though this does not mean that the ires were neglcced. The 

 bad weather cut down the number of curbstone exhibits out- 

 side, though the private exhibits in the neighboring shops more 

 than took up the slack. The Garden, large as it is, was too 

 crowded, and this, together with the increasing tendency to make 

 the show a society affair, rather interfered w'ith its business pur- 

 poses. The crowd hung about the cars, only a small part of 

 them finding their way into the galleries, where most of the 

 accessories were. 



The exhibits of tires and rims showed tlie tremendous inllu- 

 ence of the Vanderbilt Cup race. Detachable flanges and remov- 

 able rims were everywhere, and attracted more attention than 

 the tires, though practically all of the patent rims are owned by 

 the great tire companies. /Xntiskids w'ere not numerous or 

 conspicuous, these being, except for the Midgley and Bailey types, 

 closely modeled upon the European makes. The Jenatzy antiskid 

 tire was exhibited on the curb, on a Peerless car. It was also 

 interesting to see that the Weed chain was used on nearly all 

 the demonstrating cars, being the only antiskid which could 

 handle the deep snow. Even Bailey treads were seen with chains 

 on them. 



Five new tires were exhibited for the first time: tlic Trident 

 tire and rim, the Dow selfsealing tube, the Punctureproof tire, 

 and the Pullman and Schneider spring tires. The Republic Rub- 

 ber Co. have made so many changes that their tire might prop- 

 erly be called new, as well as their new detachable flange. The 

 Shaler electric vulcanizer was also exhibited for the first time. 

 The Diamond Rubber Co. received a sample of their new anti- 

 skid during the Palate show, in December, but hardly in time 

 to advertise it fully. It drew much favorable attention at the 

 Garden, being much like the Continental tread. The Pennsyl- 

 vania Rubber Co. showed their new antiskid, which is a close 

 copy of the Michelin studded leather tread. The Firestone Tire 

 and Rubber Co., the Pernsylvania Rubber Co., th- .Ajax-Grieb 

 Rubber Co., the Harbu^j' Tire Co.. and the Fisk Rubber Co. 

 each showed a new detachable rim. 



The Trident tire is characterized mainly by its thickness — 

 in tread, walls, and bead — almost approximating the cushion 

 type. Both this and the Republic tire have square edges, meeting 

 in the middle, Fisk-like, the idea being to prevent rim cutting 

 and to make the tires waterproof. The Republic tire has its toes 

 tipped with soft rubber, to better gain this waterproofness. 



The Dow inner tube is reinforced over the outer half of its 

 surface, the space between the two layers being filled with a 

 simple compound, such as a pulp of paste and fiber. Though 

 the public were rather indifferent toward all accessories this tube 

 drew much attention, practical tests demonstrating that it would 

 bear frequent punctures without loss of air. It fits any tire. 



The Punctureproof tire is a split clincher cu,shion tire, the 

 support coming from the thickness of the walls, and side crack- 

 ing being prevented by several plies of canvas, according to size. 



The Pullman tire depends upon coiled springs for its elasticity, 

 the whole being covered by a rubber tread and side flaps. 



The Schneider is a rather heavy spring tire, in which the 

 resilience is derived from replaceable rubber arches. 



The Traction Tread tirt has cut off its characteristic pro- 

 jecting tread, decreased the depth of the corrugations, discarded 

 the rigid tread idea, and thickened the walls and beads, thus 

 approaching the standard flat tread type. 



The other tires remain much the same, the several inakers 

 duplicating here their exhibits at the Palace show a month earlier. 

 Nearly all are oflfering flat treads and Baileys. The Diamond 

 Rubber Co. are making a Fisk type, and the International Rub- 

 ber Co. are making Ounlops. The Firestone Tire and Rubber 

 Co. are extending their clincher type. The Sager Tire Grip is 

 new, differing from the Weed chain grip mainly in the side hold- 

 ing, the side chain being replaced by a perforated steel band. 



In the matter of rims there was much that is new. The Fisk 

 removable rim, invented by Superintendent J. C. Cole, of the 

 Fisk Rubber Co., is characterized by its great convenience. The 

 valve being nonprojecting, the rim can be slipped on the wheel 

 in any position, where it is held by an outspreading prismatic 

 ring, the expansion being gained by forcing llie split ring up 

 over an inclined plane by means of felloe bolts. 



In the Pennsylvania removable rim the felloe band bears sev- 

 eral countersinks, and lock slots, which receive corresponding 

 offsets on the rim. In attaching, the rim is slipped on the felloe 

 band and turned slightly, which moves the offsets into the lock 

 slots. Two felloe bolts further secure tie rim. 



The Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. showed a rim in which 

 the detachable flange is endless and provided with tw-o spurs, 

 the flange being held on by a split locking ring. The valve also 

 carries a spreading lug. The flange is put on so that the spurs 

 will be opposite the spreader. The ends of the locking ring have 

 holes to receive the flange spurs, where they are held by the 

 spreading lug. 



In the Republic Tire Co.'s rim the detachable flange has a 

 downset which fits against a similar downset on the rim. The 



The Dow Tire — Profile. 



two downturned edges are then clasped by a half-hollow split 

 ring, the ends of which are then held by bolts. 

 The Trident Tire Co. offered a simple and eflicient rim, in 



The Dow Tire. 



[Showing action of filling material in case of puncture.] 



which the detachable flange has an offset underneath, this offset 

 being engaged by felloe bolts with square washers. This rira 

 was much admired. 



