154 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[December 1, 1912. 



in the rubber wks JOd per cerrt!^^ Analysis of flie product showed 

 that each C,(,H„ reacted with four atoms of oxygen, the results 

 therefore not being in agreement with those obtained by Herbst. 

 In the discussion which followed the reading of the paper, Mr. 

 H. L. Terry referred to the figures published by Burghardt in 

 1883 relating to the oxidation of vulcanized elastic thread, and 

 supported Burghardt's statement that the percentage of water 

 found in decayed rubber formed a good index of the amount of 

 deterioration which had taken place. He (Mr. Terry) had ob- 

 served that where the rubber had oxidized to the degree at which 

 it could be powdered in a mortar, the amount of water was al- 

 ways greater than in the earlier stages of oxidation, and further 

 that the harder the rubber was the greater was the amount of 

 free acid present. He thought that Mr. Peachey's experiments 

 were of great interest, but would prove of more practical im- 

 portance if applied to vulcanized rubber. The rate of oxidation 

 of rubber was very largely a matter of tenuity, and conclusions 

 must not be drawn too hastily with regard to rubber goods gen- 

 erally, on the basis of the extremely thin filins used by the author. 

 Professor Perkin inquired whether the oxygen used was dry or 

 moist, as he would expect a different result in each case, and was 

 any volatile body produced ? The answer was that the oxygen 

 used was saturated with moisture, and that some drops of an 

 oily liquid were volatilized. Mr. S. Frankenburg suggested that 

 if the author had used Brazilian Para instead of plantation rub- 

 ber, he would have found that a much longer time was required 

 for oxidation. In the course of discussion when the meeting 

 was over, some visitors from rubber works expressed surprise 

 at the resinous rubber giving better results than the resin free — 

 this not being in accord with their practical experience. 



A COMMITTEE, consisting largely of members of Parliament, 

 belonging to both political parties, has been appointed by the 

 government to inquire into the Puto- 

 mayo atrocities, and, in particular, to 

 decide whether or no the Englishmen 

 on the board of the Peruvian Amazon Company are to be cen- 

 sured for what has taken place. An application made to the 

 courts for the removal of Senor Arana from the position of 

 liquidator in the present voluntary liquidation, has been ad- 

 journed until the above committee gets to w-ork. 



Another committee has been appointed to inquire into the mat- 

 ter of the celluloid goods manufacture in Great Britain, This 

 is the outcome of a fatal fire which occurred in London a few 

 months ago. These committees, though of a lower status than 

 a royal commission, have much the same powers. Witnesses 

 may be examined on oath, and persons whose actions come into 

 question may be represented by counsel. The proceedings are 

 always open to the reporters of the press. 



The article on this topic in the "Weekly Underwriter," and re- 

 produced in The Ixdi.\ Rubber World of October 1, is of in- 

 FIHE HA7AEDS IN terest, though all manufacturers will 

 RUBBER not agree with it throughout. We read 



MANTJEACTUBE. jhat in making rubber cement the rub- 



ber is softened in carbon dioxide ; presumably carbon disulphide 

 is meant, though it is not customary in this country to use any 

 special softener before dissolving in naphtha. The darigers at- 

 tached to this branch of the manufacture have often been exag- 

 gerated, and what trouble has arisen has usually occurred after 

 it has left the manufacturer's hands. It seems to be going rather 

 too far to expect the manufacturer who knows his business and 

 its associated risks, to restrict himself closely to the amount of 

 cement he has on hand at any particular time. With regard to 

 danger of firing from static electricity, I suppose a case does 

 occur every two or three years. This will be when the at- 

 mosphere happens to be very dry. The suggested precaution of 

 "grounding" the machines has been followed to some extent in 

 this country, but a good system of ventilation where naphtha 

 vapors are heavy, will obviate any danger. I have no experience 



SELECT 

 COMMITrEE. 



of the danger alleged to exist in the buffing department, and pass, 

 on to the chemical room. It is entirely news to me that "barium- 

 sulphate" is a rapidly oxidizing metallic substance which is a 

 frequent source of trouble if allowed to become damp. The 

 writer seems entirely off the track here, and I am sure there is 

 no truth whatever in the statement. With regard to unslaked 

 lime becoming slaked and setting fire to things about it, this is 

 quite possible, though the probability is quite remote, at any rate 

 in this country, as all the lime sold for rubber purposes, though 

 nominally the oxide of calcium, is always partially hydrated be- 

 fore sale. The reference to lamp-black is important — too im- 

 portant to be adequately treated in a couple of sentences. There 

 are plenty of instances where blacks have suffered spontaneous 

 ignition in rubber works, but a great deal depends upon the na- 

 ture and origin of the black. In my experience calcined lamp- 

 black is quite safe — it is certain qualities of vegetable black that 

 always have danger associated with them, and these should be 

 stored in a suitable place apart from anything of a combustible 

 nature. 



THE GORTON RUBBER CO., LIMITED. 



The annual meeting of the Gorton Rubber Co., Ltd., Man- 

 chester, England, was held November 9. There was a large 

 attendance, including all the directors ; George H. Cartland 

 (chairman) presided. F. Walmsley and W. H. Veno were re- 

 elected directors. This was immediately followed by an e.xtraor- 

 dinary general meeting, at which it was resolved unanimously to- 

 increase the capital of the company by 30,000 pre-preference 

 shares, 20,833 of which will be issued to the present shareholders- 

 at the rate of one new share for every three shares now held. 

 This was agreed to by a separate meeting of the preference 

 and ordinary shareholders. It was stated that the orders on- 

 the books at the present moment are double the number at this- 

 time last year. 



NEW LONDON RUBBER FIRM. 



A new firm, under the style of Ritter & Hankin. has been 

 formed in London, as importers of and dealers in india rubber, 

 gutta percha and balata, at 27 Mincing Lane. The partners are 

 Alfred Westendarp, M. A. Ritter and George Hankin, all of 

 whom have long been engaged in the india rubber, gutta percha 

 and balata trades, both as importers and dealers. 



MISTOVSKI BECOMES MINTON. 



Louis Mistovski, a merchant dealing in raw rubber in the 

 Trevelyan Buildings, Manchester, England, announces that lie has 

 changed his name to Louis Minton. and that hereafter he will 

 transact all business under that name. 



THE PERCENTAGE OF RUBBER IN ENGLISH CASINGS. 



One of the American consuls in Great Britain has been looking 

 into the possible tire market in that kingdom for American tires. 

 According to his opinion, it ought to be possible to sell American 

 tires there because of their better quality. He writes as follows: 



"Despite the large sales of American automobiles here, Ameri- 

 can tires have not been introduced into the United Kingdom to 

 the degree that might have been expected, especially as it is 

 stated that there is more actual rubber in the American article 

 than tliere is in the British or European prodiitt, In which, it is 

 said, there is not more than 7 to 10 per cent, of rubber in the 

 outer casing and 35 per cent, in the inner tube, substitutes land 

 fillers being extensively used." 



The Empire Rubber Co. (Messrs. E. Hodgson & H. Water- 

 house), of the Leeds Old Rubber Works, pioneers of the scrap 

 rubber trade in Yorkshire. England, have recently purchased 

 the business of the L'nion Rubber Co., of Leeds, and have again 

 added to their premises by leasing extensive ground acjoining^ 

 including the wholesale premises so long occupied by the late 

 John Robshaw in St. Columbia street, Leeds. 



