164 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February i, 1907. 



A BOOK ON RUBBKR TIRES. 



KUDBKR TIRKS AND ALL ABOUT TIIEM. PNEUMATIC, SOLID, 

 Cushion, Conibinatiuii — Kor Automobiles, Omnibuses, Cycles and 

 Vehicles of Kvcry Description. By Henry C. Pearson, Editor of The 

 India Rubber World. New York; The India Rubber Publishing Co. 

 1906. [Cloth. 8vo. p?. 28^. Price, $}.] 



IN view of the great importance of rubber tires in modern econ- 

 omy, and the fact that within the past few years tliey have 

 come into such widespread use, it is rather surprising that a 

 comprehensive work relating to them has not appeared until now. 

 If we consider that what is called civilization is the result of 

 intercourse between different peoples, it will be realized that no 

 factor in l.uman progress has been or is of greater importance 

 than transportation. The steam railvvay brought about a new era 

 in social and commercial life, but it was an innovation no less 

 marked than that which we seem destined to see in the case of 

 the automobile and the allied vehicles, and these would have been 

 impossible without rubber tires. 



Not only is the subject of tires of nnich general interest, there- 

 fore, but it is of particular and practical interest to almost every 

 individual nowadays, for who does not own, or hope to own, 

 some sort of rubber tired vehicle? But whoever has sought to 

 become informed in regard- to the nature of rubber tires, or their 

 proper use and care, by reading, has had to be content with frag- 

 mentary bits picked up at haphazard, with no guarantee that the 

 writers understood their subject. 



Our author disclaims any purpose of teaching rubber manufac- 

 turers ho\v to make tires. He aims rather to help the rest of the 

 world to choose the particular wheel equipment best suited to 

 each man's needs, and, by explaining the nature of rubber and the 

 construction and function of tires, to show the owner or user 

 how to derive the greatest amount of benefit from his tires. It is 

 in no sen.se a technical book, and yet there is condensed within 

 its pages the whole theory of what the resilient tire does, and 

 how ; why such tires are "fast" ; where their weak points lie ; 

 the relation of size to capacity, and so on. These are subjects 

 of equal importance to manufacturer and consumer, but whereas 

 the former class has at its command the combined experience 

 of the tire making craft, the individual buyer of a tire is apt 

 to begin with everything to learn, and it is desirable that he 

 should be able to learn it without his experience being too costly. 

 It is for the benefit of the latter that the book before us seems 

 more particularly to be designed. 



Starting with chapters on what india-rubber is, and the general 

 details of the rubber manufacture, the author proceeds to tell 

 briefly how rubber tires of dififerent types are made, and the uses 

 for which they are fitted. The question of the proper care of 

 tires is treated fully, and the repairing of damaged tires. There 

 are chapters of historical interest, tracing the developinent of 

 solid, cushion, and pneumatic tires; a record of tire patents and 

 litigation ; and some account of "Where Tires Are Made." 



The value of the book is greatly enhanced by about 300 illus- 

 trations, relating to every known type of tire, rims, pumps, valves, 

 and other accessories; machines used in tire constructions; and 

 details of repair outfits. In brief, the book is a practical work 

 by a practical man, written in plain language without the use of 

 too many words, and the publishers have brought it out in an 

 attractive form. h. s. 



OBITUARY. 



nPHE death is reported of Benjamin F. Good, vice president 

 * and treasurer of the American Steam Packing Co. (Bos- 

 ton), having occurred on January 10 at Newton Centre, Massa- 

 chusetts, at the residence of A. Montgomery, his stepfather, and 

 the president of the company named. The company, indeed, 

 was composed of the two here named. Mr. Good had been a 

 member of the New England Rubber Club from the inception of 



that organization, and at a special meeting of the Club on Jan- 

 uary 12 the following resolutions were adopted : 



Whereas, Our friend and associate, Ben F. Good, has been stricken by 

 death and removed from our midst, we, his fellow membtrs, in recognition 

 of our loss, record the following resolutions: 



Rcsolz'cd, That during his connection with the rubber trade, and during 

 his membership in our Club, extending practically over the whole time of its 

 Lxistenee, his liberal and generous nature, good heart and the general 

 loyability of his character made of evtry business acquaintance a personal 

 friend, each one of whom now laments his untimely decease. Straight- 

 forward and true in association with his business companions, upright and 

 honest in his dealings with men, the trade has lost a valued member. 



Rcsolz-cd, That we extend to his family, and to his business associates, 

 our deep and sincere sympathy. 



Resolved, That thtse resolutions be spread upon the records of the Club, 

 and that a copy be sent to his family. 



arthur w. stedman. 

 i;eor(;e p. whitmore. 



EL.STON E. WADBROOK, 



Committee on Resolutions. 



The funeral was attended by a delegation from the Rubber 



Club. Of the six pall bearers, three represented Masonic bodies 



and three were from business associations. Something more than 



a year ago Mr. Good suffered a bereavement in the loss of his 



wife, from which he seemed never to recover. 



The many friends of Mr. Theodore S. Bassett, president of 

 the U. S. Rubber Reclaiming Works, will be pained to hear of the 

 sudden death of his wife, which occurred on January 27, at their 

 residence at Milford, Connecticut. Mrs. Bassett was the eldest 

 daughter of the late Harmon K. and Caroline B. Wells. There 

 were funeral services at the Second Congregational Church at 

 Derby, Conn., on January 30. 



* * * 



The death is reported of Mrs. Mary E. Sawyer, on January 18, 

 at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. B. G. Work, president of 

 The B. F. Goodrich Co., at .A.kron, Ohio. Mrs. Sawyer was 

 Miss Mary E. Monsaratt, of Louisville, Kentucky, at the time of 

 her triarriage to the late Ezra Thomas Sawyer, who became 

 president and general manager of the Easthampton Rubber 

 Thread Co. (Easthampton, Massachusetts), which position he 

 filled for more than 20 years. Mr. Sawyer died in the latter part 

 of 1897, and during most of the time since his widow has resided 

 with her daughter in Akron. 



THE TEXTILE GOODS MARKET. 



■"THE present consumption of cotton by the rubber trade — espe- 

 ■^ cially in its mechanical and hose and belting departments — 

 has never been equaled in the history of the trade. The capacity 

 of the principal mills in the cotton industry has been and is being 

 overtaxed, despite which the call of these branches of the trade 

 is not being satisfied. As far as can be determined this paucity 

 of supply is attributable to the inadequate facilities for the pro- 

 duction of the finished article, rather than on account of any 

 scarcity of raw cotton. The existing demand is claimed to be 

 abnormal and there is no doubt that the mills could readily meet 

 the requirements of an ordinary market. 



The general situation is reflected in a published report, showing 

 an increase in the movement of cotton into sight in the week end- 

 ing January 19, compared with the corresponding period last 

 year, in round figures, of 215,000 bales, an increase over year 

 before last of 262,000, and an increase over 1904 of 174.000. For 

 140 days of the season the aggregate is ahead of last year 

 1,526,000 bales, ahead of year before last 578,000, and ahead of 

 1904 by 152.000. The total movement for the United States for 

 140 days of the season from September I, amounts to 9,153,674 

 bales, against 7,627,237 last year, 8,575,262 year before last, and 

 7.633.309 in 1904. 



The report of the world's visible supply shows a steady in- 

 crease, the gains for the past week being 105.579 bales, as against 

 a decrease of 67,161 year before last. 



The total visible s 5,479,706. 



The recently issued government report shows the amount of 

 cotton ginned to January 16 to have been 12,167,873 bales. 



