382 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August i, 1903. 



ber faucet connection with nickel plated mountings; price 

 $3.50. [Knickerbocker Manufacturing Co., No. 40 Dearborn 

 street, Chicago, Illinois.] 



THE GOODRICH RUBBER SPONGE. 

 There have been all sorts of rumors with regard to the suc- 

 cessful manufacture of rubber sponges by American manufac- 

 turers, and a great variety of samples have been sent to the 

 writer. Few of them, however, have approached even the 

 European sponge. It was to be expected, perhaps, that when 

 The B. F.Goodrich Co. (Akron, Ohio) took up the matter, they 

 would either produce something particularly fine or else would 

 not put a sponge upon the market at all. They now announce 

 the production of a " perfect rubber sponge " and from the 

 samples seen their contention is sustained. The cells are more 



even than any we have yet seen and the color is bright and at- 

 tractive. These may be minor points, but after all they go far 

 to make a perfect article. The cut accompanying this shows 

 their •' No. 7 " sponge, and it is understood that the manufac- 

 turers, having ceased experimenting, are now accumulating a 

 large stock prior to putting them on the market. The new 

 sponge also promises what has heretofore been most difficult — 

 absolute evenness of product, and prompt delivery in any quan- 

 tity. From a careful examination of several samples seen it 

 would appear that a fine or coarse cell can be produced at will, 

 and either a hard or a soft cure. This being the fact it will be 

 seen that the very finest grades of natural sponges can be 

 equalled if not surpassed. 



THE CANTON SEAMLESS HOT WATER BOTTLE. 



In view of the fact that, when trouble does occur in the use 

 of hot water bottles, it is most apt to 

 be traced to the seams, the new article 

 here illustrated is made without seams. 

 It is referred to as being made of rubber 

 ^k, of a high quality, vulcanized with ex- 

 \ treme care, and the manufacturers show 

 their confidence in it by offering to re- 

 place any " Canton " seamless bottle 

 which may prove to be defective in 

 material or workmanship. It is not 

 offered in competition with "bargain 

 counter" goods. It is understood that 

 a very satisfactory patent has been al- 

 lowed on this bottle, though not yet 

 officially issued. It is made in 2 quart 

 and 3 quart sizes, each bottle in a neat 

 box. [The Canton Rubber Co., Can- 

 ton, Ohio.] 



THE RUBBER " TOM CAT. 



There are certain games that the boy primitive catches on 



to by intuition and plays regularly at certain seasons no matter 



what new ones may allure. They remain ever popular, ever 



new, because of a certain inherent simplicity and excellence. 



Of them are "shinney," "marbles" and "cat." The latter is 

 very old and, like golf, has known no especial change or im- 

 provement, until the American inventor began to study it. 

 Then came a change, not in the rules of the game, but in the 

 chief appliance — the "cat." This, according to immemorial 

 usage, was simply a round piece of hard wood sharpened at the 

 ends. It was so simple and so cheap that it seemed beyond 

 improvement. The new " cat," however, with its wooden core, 

 its black rubber cover, and its octagional body, is sure to win. 

 It will last longer, lie more solidly, fly farther, and is not so 

 fatal to the integrity of window panes. [Gedney & Schaufele, 

 No. 102 Fulton street. New York.] 



THE " GRANGER " RUBBER BOOT. 

 This is a new boot, designed particularly (or farmers' wear, 

 which suggests the reason for its name. Instead of being lined 

 with a heavy felt, which when it becomes damp from perspira- 

 tion is hard to dry, this boot has a knit wool lining, which dries 

 more readily and is also warmer. While having as much rub- 

 ber in it as the old style short boots, it is materially lighter 

 in the leg, because of the difference in the lining. This lat- 

 ter fact is important, since the other advantages of wearing a 

 rubber boot, in many cases are offset by the fatigue caused by 

 their weight. Manufactured by the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe 

 Co., and handled from their Boston office, Nos. 177- 181 Con- 

 gress street. 



JOSEPH FALLEK'S PATENT RING GUARDS. 

 There are people who. for sentimental or other reasons, will 

 not willingly remove their finger rings, even when there is dan- 

 ger of losing them, as for instance 

 in sea bathing. The illustration 

 shows a newly patented safe- 

 guard, intended to prevent the 

 loosest ring from slipping off. 

 The contrivance consists of a 

 series of rubber cords, attached 

 at one end to wrist ring and connecting at the other, by means 

 of clasps, with the rings. The wrist ring may be used to hold 

 the bathhouse or other keys. There is nothing unsightly about 

 the device, and nothing to hinder the free use of the hand, in 

 or out of the water. According to the inventor, "statistics 

 show that 75 per cent, of rings worn in bathing get lost." The 

 Ring Guard retails for 25 cents, and already has come into good 

 demand at the seaside resorts. [Joseph Fallek, No. 47 East 

 Eighth street, New York.] 



THE CLELAND DAVIS GOLF BALL. 



The India Rubber World is asked to correct a statement 

 which appeared in its issue for July 1 [page 352], in a description 

 of the " Gyro " golf ball, covered by patents granted to Cle- 

 land Davis, U.S.N., to the effect that its construction involves 

 " layers of elastic material, wound on under tension." A spec- 

 imen ball, which has been shown us, was made by stretching 

 over an inner shell of celluloid a large number of small rubber 



