March 1, 1913. 



THE INDIA RUPBER WORLD 



325 



MOISTURE IN 

 RAW RUBBER. 



panics to specify that Fine Para rubber only was to be used. A 

 few years ago, however, the word Para was deleted, and what is 

 known as the Admiralty 8 A specification now reads, "to be 

 made of fine rubber, with no added ingredients other than sul- 

 phur and white oxide of zinc. The sulphur is not to exceed 3 

 per cent, and the white oxide of zinc 40 per cent. To endure a 

 dry heat test of 320° F., without impairing its quality; the mate- 

 rial to be non-porous, of uniform quality and free from defects." 



In the paper on Raw Rubber Contracts read by Mr. Stcdman 

 at the late Rubber Conference in New York, reference was made 

 to the moisture question, which is under- 

 stood to have received attention from 

 the National Bureau of Standards at 

 Washington. From the absence of any other information, and 

 from other remarks in the paper, I gather that the condition of 

 affairs in America is the same as in England ; that is. there is no 

 guarantee that the rubber when delivered in bulk will have the 

 same moisture content as in the original post sample, on which it 

 was purchased. I don't say that the case is parallel with that 

 of silk, which has long smce been put on a satisfactory basis, or 

 with cotton, on which discussions are now taking place, with 

 regard to the moisture in American cotton delivered in Europe. 

 That the present state of affairs is not considered altogether sat- 

 isfactory is, however, a fact. Quite recently a rtianufacturer was 

 complaining to me that while the moisture in a sample of rubber 

 sent him was 8 per cent., the bulk delivery, which the sample sent 

 was supposed to represent, showed 14 per cent, moisture. For 

 this discrepancy the seller said he could take no responsibility, 

 and the buyer considered himself rather hardly treated. Doubt- 

 less this is not an isolated case and the the matter certainly 

 seems one which is worthv of attention. 



LEARNING FROM COMPETITORS. 



The Advisory Committee of the English Board of Trade has 

 arranged with the Trade Commissioners in various British Col- 

 onies, to collect and send home samples of foreign made articles 

 which are competing with the sale of English goods in the re- 

 spective markets. The branches first taken up include hardware, 

 cutlery, etc., the samples having been placed in the hands of 

 the Birmingham and Sheffield Chambers of Commerce for the 

 benefit of manufacturers in those districts. 



Efforts are being constantly made by the hard-worked United 

 States consular staff in foreign countries, to obtain and forward 

 such samples, but their work requires for its complete utiliza- 

 tion, an organization in this country of a nature analogous to 

 that which exists in England. 



INCREASED ACCOMMODATION FOR LONDON RUBBER STOaAGE. 



With a view of meeting the storage requirements, necessitated 

 by the largely increased receipts of rubber at the port of London, 

 the St. Katharine's Docks warehouses, where the article has 

 hitherto been stored, have been replaced for that purpose by the 

 more commodious London Dock Warehouses. As the two docks 

 are near each other, this change has not caused any inconven- 

 ience to the trade. 



Three large single-story sheds, with ample overhead light, have 

 been placed at the disposal of the trade for the preliminary 

 operations connected with the examination of rubber, gutta- 

 percha and balata. Two of these sheds are more than 250 feet 

 in length. For subsequent storage, a cool vault of between two 

 and three acres has been set aside. 



In order to ensure a sufficient degree of moisture for the rubber 

 in the vault, the cases are placed upon scantling, resting on mold. 

 Being under the wool warehouses, the vault presents a minimum 

 variation of temperature. 



The first thing done when rnliher arrives is to weigh, sort, and 



sample it ; the tare of the package being also taken, and the gross 

 weight ascertained before it is sent to the vaults for storage. 



Rubber reaches London in packages of various kinds, often in 

 old tea chests ; this form of packing being no doubt the most cor»- 

 venient for estates interested in both tea and rubber. Balata is 

 generally shipped in canvas coverings, and occasionally in barrels. 

 This article was formerly stored at the Crutchedfriars (city) 

 warehouse belonging to the port authorities, but since the recent 

 change, it has been transferred with other rubber to the London 

 Docks. 



.Satisfaction has been expressed with the new arrangements for 

 the convenience of the London trade, as being calculated to 

 enhance the importance of that market as a point for the dis- 

 tribution of rubber. 



The quantity of rubber passing through the London auctions 

 during 1912 was 18.069 tons, as compared with 9,945 tons in 1911; 

 so the need of increased warehouse accommodations was evident. 



NEW GERMAN WASTE CONCERN. 



With a view to carrying on a similar business to that hitherto 

 conducted by the waste firm of Meyer Cohn. Hanover, a new 

 concern has been formed, under the style of the Vervvertungs 

 Gesellschaft fiir Rohmaterialen m. b. H. (Company for Utilization 

 of Crude Materials, Limited). A number of the members of 

 the management of the old firm have entered the employment of 

 the new company, of which Ilerr Erich Bonwit has been ap- 

 pointed temporary sole manager. 



A GAME PLAYED IN GERMANY. 



Here is a photograph of a group of German girls playing push- 

 ball. This evidently is a game somewhat like basket-ball, ex- 

 cept that the ball is vastly magnified in size, and the game played 

 on skates, on ice, rather than on a gj'mnasium floor as is the 



P7..\YixG Push-ball on Ice Skates. 



case with basket-ball. Evidently, this big ball is not as heavy as 

 it looks ; being composed of rubber and air, its weight is probably 

 not commensurate with its size. These players must be hardy 

 young persons, as their costume would seem to indicate a sultry 

 day at Atlantic City, rather than an ice-skating rink and the 

 wintry conditions that usually obtain at such a place. 



