342 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 



1905. 



MEN'S RUBBER PONCHO FOR MOTORING 



long coat— and it is to the full garments that one invariably 

 leans — nothing could well be more fetching than one which 

 is pictured here. It is of the tan sillc rubber, made very full, 

 with large bishop sleeves, which make it possible to be worn 

 over an elaborate gown without disastrous effects. The charm 

 of this coat is in its simplicity, for 

 its sole trimming consists of a series 

 of box plaits which form a yoke and 

 which extend over the shoulders 

 and down both sides of the front to 

 the bottom of the garment. The 

 back is made in the loose box style, 

 confined by a wide belt. 



Another model which is seen in 

 Hroadway shops appeals at once be- 

 cause of its practicability for long 

 motor trips. It is a full length coat 

 in dark blue silk rubber, made with 

 storm collar and dust cuffs, and 

 trimmed with Danish leather of the 

 same shade. Its chief point of ex- 

 cellence is its manner of fastening. 

 It buttons down the center on a 

 false fly and again at the extreme 

 right, thus protecting the wearer 

 from wind and dust. 



Grey silk rubber is the material 

 used in the automobile suit of three- 

 quarter length jacket and skirt 

 which is shown here. The coat is a 

 box style with a full belt and a fancy 

 stitched yoke, extending in points over the shoulders and down 

 the back ; and the circular skirt has two wide straps of the 

 fabric stitched on both sides and trimmed with black buttons. 

 The large sleeves have tab ends finished olT with buttons. 



In men's automobile garments the silk rubber in grey, brown, 

 or navy blue is most often seen. The two models here illus- 

 trated are good examples of motoring styles for men. Prob- 

 ably no other garment of its kind has met with as much fa- 

 vor as this long coat model. It is pleasing to the eye as well 

 as a splendid protection from the elements. The coat is single 

 breasted in reality, buttoning down the center on a false fly, 

 f but a double breasted effect 



is given by the flap which 

 extends over to the extreme 

 right when it buttons all 

 the way down to the edge 

 of the coat. A ball and 

 socket fastener confines the 

 extreme end of the wide 

 skirt. 



Men seem to consider 



the "auto shirt" one of 



the cleverest garments that 



j have yet been designed for 



them. This may be had in 



plain black rubber or in the 



more expensive and prettier 



silk rubber of single text- 



\ ure. It is made to slip on 



ovpr the head, and by this 



- piecaution obviates all 



chance of dust sifting 



LAP AND FOOT ROBE. through to the clothcs be- 



[Covert or Serge Mackintosh Cloth, or 



Cambric Rubber.] neath. The shirt and the 



«-<a-. 



full sleeve of this garment are each in one piece. 



No description of automobile garments for men's wear would 

 be complete without mention of the poncho coat — made in 

 one circular piece extending a little below the knees and with- 

 out armholes. By this arrangement the arms are kept entirely 

 under cover and the skirt is made 

 with such a wide sweep that the 

 wheel of the machine may also be 

 protected. The entire yoke of this 

 coat is elastic and to the body of the 

 garment a hood is fastened, which 

 has an ingenious arrangement of 

 straps and fasteners that allow it to 

 be quickly drawn over the hat and 

 about the face. 



Rubber waterproofed material has 

 become no less popular for caps and 

 hats for both men and women mo- 

 torists. For the " Yankee " cap, the 

 brim of which is turned down to 

 protect the back of the head ; for 

 the tourist cap, which has a long 

 head and face shield in which gog- 

 gles are inserted, and for a dozen 

 other styles in caps for automobile 

 wear, rubber is indispensable, while 

 its use for hats has changed the au- 

 tomobile millinery question for wo- 

 men from a bore to a pleasure. 



The toque-poke bonnet pictured 

 on page 341 is only one from a large 

 variety ot pretty fashions of headwear for the fair tourist. This 

 particular bonnet, designed by a French milliner, is of navy 

 blue silk rubber trimmed at the front with chiffon rosettes. By 

 a simple arrangement of elastic bands the flexible brim, which 

 shields the ears and hair during a trip, may be turned up ar.d 

 fastened, thus connecting the poke bonnet with a fashionable 

 toque. Such a model as this has no small part in converting 

 public opinion from the old idea that to be a motorist a woman 

 must look like a fright. helen l. stout. 



RUBBER FROM THE ISLE OF PINES. 



F"'OR some time past a report has been rife that there were 

 valuable rubber trees on the Isle of Pines, near Cuba, 

 and many interesting stories have been told concerning them. 

 Some months ago The India Rubber World undertook to 

 discover exactly what tree or vine on the island produced rub- 

 ber, if any, and while so far neither bark, leaves, or fruit, or in- 

 deed a description of the tree have been received, a bottle of 

 latex was secured, and its rubber contents have been carefully 

 appraised. In coagulating this latex, the best process seemed 

 to be a simple air drying, as neither acids nor alkalies affected 

 coagulation any better than did exposure to the air, while the 

 addition of alcohol to the /(r//.v gave only a moderately success- 

 ful result. The gum itself at best was very sticky and would 

 hardly bring more than African paste in the market. Submit- 

 ted to Professor S. P. Sharpies of Bjston, for analysis, the re- 

 port was that the article was more in the nature of a gum resin 

 than of a rubber, nearly the whole of it being soluble in alco- 

 holic potash and also in acetone. Taking into account that 

 labor is high priced in the Isle of Pines there is very little rea- 

 son to think that even if the gum proved itself to be useful to 

 rubber manufacturers, that is, if it would take up compounds 

 and vulcanize, it would be too cheap to gather profitably. 



