October 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



57 



NEW TRADE PUBLICATIONS. 



FIRE HAZARDS IN RUBBER MANUFACTURE. 



IN commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the l'"ranz 

 Clouth Rhciiiish Rubber Factory of Cologne, a festival 

 souvenir volume has been isued, which is a notable example of 

 typography and illustration. Various interesting statistical data 

 are supplemented by a chart representing the movement of rubber 

 prices from 1861 to the present time. 



The personal features of the volume are represented by a full 

 description of the works, embellished with a number of illustra- 

 tions, representing the various portions of the installation and 

 the chief manufacturing processes. The reader is conducted in 

 imagination through the processes of washing, mi.xing and vul- 

 canizing, as well as the manufacture of hose, belting and other 

 products ; including roller-coverings and diving appliances. Rub- 

 ber tiling also constitutes a prominent feature of the firm's pro- 

 duction ; having been supplied for the smoking saloon of the 

 "Prinz Wilhelm," which is effectively illustrated. The frontis- 

 piece is a portrait of the late Herr Franz Clouth, the founder of 

 the firm, whose history is graphically told. 



Under the title of "Merck's .Analytical Methods for Testing 

 Analytical Reagents," Merck & Co. have issued a handy booklet 

 containing a full price list of their "Blue Label Reagents," indi- 

 cating their analyses, and the tests to which they are intended to 

 apply. The alphabetical order in which the various reagents are 

 treated, facilitates reference and renders this little book a vade- 

 niecum for the busy chemist and analyst. To those already us- 

 ing Merck's chemicals, it will recall familiar compounds, while to 

 those contemplating the extension or improvement of laborator- 

 ies, it will serve as a useful guide. 



The B. F. Goodrich Co. has just issued a manual of tire 

 repairing with complete descriptions and full illustrations suffi- 

 cient to give professional repair men full information as to 

 materials to be used and metliods to be pursued in the repair 

 of pneumatic tires. The information therein contained is based 

 on the experience of the oldest and most complete repair depart- 

 ments in existence. The methods mentioned therein are ap- 

 plicable to ordinary shops. 



The monthly publication of "The Goodrich'' for' September, 

 their birthday number, contains an e.xcellent article by ."Mexander 

 P. Rogers, entitled, "In the Heart of South America — Part Sec- 

 ond," which gives a vivid account of the country bordering the 

 Madeira River and of the difficulties overcome in surveying and 

 building a railroad around the rapids in that turbulent river. 

 It also contains a map of Europe, giving the Goodrich service 

 abroad. The September issue numbers 46,000. 



NEW TENNIS LIST FOR 1S12 AND 1913. 



The United States Rubber Co. has issued its tennis lists for 

 the year beginning September 1. 1912. These lists follow the 

 usual form, being about 3'< inches x 6 inches, a convenient size 

 for mailing in the ordinary envelope. 



Three different lists are issued by the company, one entitled, 

 "The United States Rubber Company's Tennis. Yachting, and 

 Gymnasium Shoes"; the second entitled, "Tennis-Glove Brand"; 

 and the third, "Lycoming and Keystone Tennis and Gymnasium 

 Shoes." 



The first list describes and illustrates the company's Tennis, 

 Yachting, "Champion" Gymnasium, Bathing, and Basket Ball 

 shoes, most of these being made in Oxfords and bals. 



The "Glove Brand" price list describes and illustrates the 

 "Bon Ton," Outing, "Racquet," "Marblehead," and "Athlete" 

 shoes, being similar in character to those shown in the list de- 

 scribed above. 



The Lycoming list includes yachting, gymnasium, and a general 

 tennis shoe called "The Rival." 



IN an article on "Rubber Manufacture," with particular refer- 

 * ence to the fire hazards attendant upon the making of me- 

 chanical rubber goods, written by L. .Mexander Mack, for the 

 Weekly I'lidenvrilcr, of June last, the following paragraphs 

 appear; which will be of interest to all rubber manufacturers: 



THE FIRE H.\Z.\RDS. 



"The greatest hazard in the manufacture of rubber products 

 is not the rubber itself but its solvents. 'Rubber cement,' as it 

 is commonly called, is composed of pure rubber, cut fine and 

 softened in carbon dioxide, after which this mixture is dissolved 

 in benzine, making a powerful adhesive. The dangers of volatile 

 fumes of benzine are well known to every underwriter, and the 

 danger from careless use of rubber cement cannot be too strongly 

 emphasized. The inspector should devote particular attention 

 to this material, first, as to its storage, and, secondly, 'as to its 

 actual use. It is worth noting, however, that once the cement has 

 been aiiplied and becomes dry, the danger point appears to have 

 been passed. 



STOR.^GE OF RUBBER CEMENT. 



"Manufacturers realize that with a costly product like rubber 

 cement it is important that every gallon purchased should be 

 used. This result cannot be obtained when the wooden barrel 

 which has served for its transportation is afterward used for 

 storage. Such a barrel is more or less porous, and so in the best 

 plants the cement is at once transferred to metal tanks, buried 

 underground at least thirty feet from any building. This is the 

 only safe and approved method of storage of rubber cement. The 

 inspector should satisfy himself that only a day's supply of 

 cement is kept in the factory at one time, and this must be kept 

 in self-closing metal cans. It seems almost needless to say 

 that smoking should be prohibited within any portion of a 

 plant where such material as rubber cement is used in almost 

 every department. 



ST.\TIC ELECTRICITY. 



"Next to the hazard of rubber cement is the danger from 

 static electricity. Instances are of frequent occurrence, where in 

 moving a sheet of rubber-lined cotton duck or belting across a 

 table top enough static electricity is developed to generate a 

 good sized spark. This is extremely dangerous if there is any 

 rubljer cement nearby. The best safeguard against this hazard 

 is to have all tables in this department 'grounded' — a simple- 

 expedient within the reach of every manufacturer. 



BITFING. 



"Some attention should be given to the department where 

 buffing is carried on. The fine dust, here given off, though com- 

 posed partly of rubber, has an admixture of lint from the buffing 

 wheels themselves. This finely divided material if allowed to 

 accumulate would make an excellent subject for spontaneous 

 combustion, especially if left where any grease or oil could drop 

 on it. Complete blower systems should be installed to carry the 

 dust direct to the boiler room, where it should be destroyed as 

 soon as practicable. There is very little danger of the friction of 

 the buffers developing enough heat to set fire to any fumes of 

 benzine in this department. 



ST0R.\nE .XND W.\SHING. 



"The storage of crude rubber under suitable conditions does 

 not present any undesirable features from the underwriter's view- 

 point. Nor does the process of washing, for, in spite of the 

 frequent presence of foreign substances, water is so necessary an 

 adjunct to this process as to make fire an impossibility at this 

 stage of the work. 



The rubber manufacturer thus need not fear the risk of fire 

 through the storage of crude rublier. or the processes incidental 

 to purification. 



