October i, 1902.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER \VORLD 



23 



RUBBER EXHIBITS AT THE FIRE CONVENTION. 



THE exhibits of rubber goods in connection with the thir- 

 tieth annual convention of the International Association 

 of Fire Engineers, at the Grand Central Palace, in New York. 

 September 16-19. were quite varied, and on the whole well ar- 

 ranged. It might have been better, however, had the hose ex- 

 hibits been grouped in one part of the hall, with the rubber 

 tire exhibits adjacent, though perhaps this may not have pleased 

 all of the exhibitors. 



Notable among the fire hose exhibits was that of the Eureka 

 Fire Hose Co. (New York), who had gone to considerable ex- 

 pense in making a pyramidal case ol oak and glass, with an up- 

 right cabinet on either side, and the whole surmounted by a 

 huge eagle, in representation of the trade mark of the com- 

 pany. In these cabinets and under the glass, away from the 

 dust and handling — a point of importance — were displayed the 

 company's full line of fire hose fabrics, marked with their vari- 

 ous trade marks. 



The next important exhibit was that of the Fabric Fire Hose 

 Co. (New York), which occupied a space near the middle aisle, in 

 which were displayed, on counters draped in red, rows of fire 

 hose, and also samples of crude Pard rubber and of the wax 

 used in treating the company's fabrics, while on either side stood 

 a rubber tree and a cotton plant in blossom. 



The Gutta Percha and Rubber Manufacturing Co. (New 

 York) had an exhibit of Baker Fabric hose, rubber 

 landing mats, and quite a variety of other goods which 

 they manufacture for fire department use. 



The Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Co. (Boston) 

 had a small but well arranged exhibit, draped with 

 American flags, showing their specialities in fire hose, 

 and also a full line of brass work such as they manu- 

 facture in connection with this industry. 



An important feature of this exhibit, which has 

 been developed only in recent years, embraced rubber 

 tires for fire engines and other wheeled apparatus. 

 The manufacturing companies represented in this de- 

 partment were The Hartford Rubber Works Co., The 

 Consolidated Rubber Tire Co., The India Rubber Co. 

 of Akron (showing the "Wheeler Endless" tires), and 

 The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Not only were 

 specimens of the various tires shown, but illustrations 

 were on hand of the largest size engines and trucks 

 employed by the fire departments, equipped with rub- 

 ber tires manufactured by the companies exhibiting. 



Other goods shown representing the rubber trade 

 were firemen's rubber coats and mackintosh jackets, 

 firemen's rubber boots, rubber smoke protectors for 

 the protection of the faces of firemen while at work, 

 rubber hub bands for the wheels of engines and 

 trucks, and so on. The National India Rubber Co. 

 (Bristol, Rhode Island) showed their regulation and 

 double coated patrol covers. A. H. Finley iv: Co. 

 (Lynn, Massachusetts) showed waterproof clothing 

 fastened with their "quick hitch" appliance. An- 

 other exhibit was that of Wigg's patent rubber tire 

 support, for relieving solid rubber tires of the weight 

 ol the vehicle when not in use. 



Many of the leading rubber men in mechanical lines 

 were in attendance. In fact, nearly all of the compan- 

 ies had representatives on the ground meeting the 

 fire chiefs. This association has steadily gained in 

 strength and importance since its first meeting in Bal- 

 timore, October 20, 1873, and now has over 400 act- 



ive and associate members. England and Australia were repre- 

 sented in the attendance. Edward F. Croker, chief of the New 

 York fire department, was elected president of the association 

 for the ensuing year. 



AMERICAN BILLIARD CUSHIONS. 



'T'HE production of billiard tables in the United States is re- 

 A ported now to be greater than in any country, many ta- 

 bles made here being exported. " A fair estimate of the amount 

 of business done in this country every year in the making of 

 billiard tables and supplies is $5,000,000," says a member of the 

 trade quoted in the New York Sun. The same authority con- 

 tinues : 



" Different parts of the world contribute to the material used 

 in the construction of billard tables and accessories. The cloth 

 is made in Belgium, the ivory comes from Africa, the wood 

 from this country— except the fancy woods— and the rubber 

 comes in its crude state from South America and Africa. No 

 small part of the business is the making of the cushions. Para 

 gum is the foundation material for cushions and of the amount 

 imported to this country annually between 300,000 and 400,000 

 pounds are used for billiard cushions alone. Akron, Ohio, is 

 the billiard cushion center of the world. The cushions made 

 here easily excel any others. Most of the tables made abroad 

 are equipped with the American-made cushion." 



EXHIBIT OF THE EUREKA FIRE HOSE CO. 



