244 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May I, 1907. 



THE RUBBER TIRE FIELD. 



A TIRE CUSTOMS DECISION. 



■"THE protest 01 the Auto Import Co. (New York) and otiiers, 

 *• against the payment of duties on automobiles as an entirety 

 — on the ground that the tires should be admitted as manu- 

 factures of india-rubber, the rate on which is lower — has been 

 overruled by the United States general appraisers, in a decision 

 which upholds the collector of customs at New York. The 

 rate on automobiles is 45 per cent, nj valorem; that on manufac- 

 tures of india-rubber, 30 per cent. In the cases under review, 

 the decision said, "The tires accompany each machine ; arc 

 packed in the same case with it; they are of the particular size 

 for and are intended to be used on it, and without them the 

 machine would be practically useless." The decision added : 

 "Bulky machines are usually imported in a knocked down condi- 

 tion — any other mode of shipping them is impracticable — but they 

 are nevertheless entireties and dutiable as such just as if they 

 arrived set up." 



The board of appraisers were unable to see why the tires 

 forming part of a given automobile should be admitted at a rate 

 of duty apart from that assessed against automobiles, any more 

 than other parts — Avooden bodies, leather or cloth upholstering or 

 chains, bo'ts, or nuts — all of which materials are covered by pro- 

 visions of the tariff law equally specific with that for manufac- 

 tures of india-rubber. 



It may be of interest in this connection to note that 1,295 

 automobiles were imported into the United States during 1906, 

 presumably each equipped with tires. If the contention of the 

 importers liad prevailed, it would affect the import duty on about 

 100 sets of tires each month. 



TREKTON INNER TUBES. 



.-\ DiSTiNiTiVE feature of the inner tubes for automobile tires 

 made by the Trenton Rubber Manufacturing Co. is their lack of 

 porosity, resulting from a special treatment of the rubber which 

 has led to some remarkable records in the way of long runs on 

 tires equipped with these tubes, without reinflation being neces- 

 sary. Two motor cars owned in Trenton and fitted with the 

 "Trenton inner tube" have been run 10,000 miles each with a 

 single niflation. The process referred to adds to the strength 

 and durability of these tubes, in addition to the quality of re- 

 taining air. 



EMPIRE AUTOMOBILE TIKE. 



The Empire automoliile tire is cured in one operation in open 

 steam, which method permits the fabric to retain its full original 



strength, while making the rub- 

 ber lough, elastic, and durable. 

 In addition to the use of good 

 materials, the makers of this 

 tire bring to their work the ad- 

 vantage of long experience in 

 the rubber industry, and the 

 sale of the tires is in equally 

 experienced hands, so that 

 while the Empire Automobile 

 Tire Co. have only been organ- 

 ized of late, the men who are 

 doing its work are by no means 

 new to the business. The illus- 

 tration herewith shows a sec- 

 tional view of the Empire tire 

 of the raised tread type, which 

 The factory of the company is at 

 Trenton, New- Jersey. Anotlier specialty of this factory is the 

 Empire Peerless inner tube 



E.Ml'IHE 1 IRK. 



is now the preferred style. 



( Pontiac, Michigan), embraced 450 reels, holding 202.500 feet of 

 lire stock, from -J-^-inch to ij^-inch in size. This was probably 

 the largest shipment of such goods ever made at one time to 

 one concern. The total length of tire stock was more than 38 

 miles. The Pontiac Buggy Co. makes vehicles with wheels of 

 different sizes, one size requiring 41 feet of tires for four wheels; 

 another size 46 feet, and a third, 58 feet per set. Taking 46 feet 

 as the average, the carload of rubber would equip 4,400 buggies 

 with tires. 



DUNLOP TIRE PROFITS. 



At: the annual meeting of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co., 

 Limited (London, March 20), the reports showed profits during 

 the business year, from all the Dunlop undertakings, of £226,303 

 -s. yd. The profits for the preceding year were £146,711. These 

 figures are much lower than for some of the earlier years of 

 the company, but during the last two years, owing to the 

 expiry of their patents, the company has not had any income 

 from royalties. Their principal subsidiary company is the Dunlnj) 

 Rubber Co., Limited, engaged in manufacturing, at Birmingham, 

 and th.? earnings of this constituted the larger part of the totals 

 given above. Harvey Du Cros, m. p., the chairman, informed the 

 shareholders that the demand for Dunlop cycle tires was larger 

 than ever, the production of cycles was larger than ever, and 

 that their motor tire production exceeded that of all other British 

 makers combined. He asserted that no foreign cycle tires had 

 ever gained a footing in the British market. Dividends : 5 per 

 cent, on the preference, 8 per cent, on the ordinary and 5 per 

 cent, on the deferred shares. It is to be noted that the "parent" 

 company's trading was conducted at a slight actual loss, the 

 profits having been derived frum the sulisidiary companies. 



TIRE MISCELLANY. 



In selecting the name "Troubleless" for their latest type of de- 

 tachable tire, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (Akron, Ohio) 

 have hit upon something that cannot fail to appeal to every 

 motorist of experience. 



The Continental Caoutchouc Co. (New York) are making the 

 published statement that they fear only one competitor — "Lack 

 of Knowledge." General Manager Gilbert does not specify 

 whether he is the possessor of this "lack," whether he lacks this 

 lack, or whether the luckless public does the lacking. 



The Chase Motor Truck Co. (Syracuse, New York) now own 

 a complete tire repair outfit, which they will use in connection 

 with their constantly growing business. 



The Western Rubber and Supply Co. have been incorporated 

 to handle the G & J Tire Co. products at Denver, Colorado, 

 with a location at No. loio South Main street. Guy West is the 

 house manager. 



II. & F. Mesinger Manufacturing Co. (No. 1801 First avenue, 

 New York) are meeting with success in marketing an all-leather 

 automobile tire; that is, everything is leather except the rubber 

 inner tube. They may be obtained with the tread formed of 

 steel plates fastened to the tire with .special screws. 



THIRTY-EIGHT MILES OF BUGGY TIRES. 



.A c.vRi.n.M) of rubber tires shipped recently by the Firestone 

 Tire a'l I Rubber Co. (.-\kron, Ohio) tf> the Pontiac Buggy Co. 



Allen Tire Lock — .\ Preventive of Thefts. 



[Tor holding two s-inch shoes. Made of Parsons's iii.iiiganese bronze. 

 -Mien Auto Specialty Co., New York.] 



The 



