Junk 1. 1913, 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



493 



business are." One certainly hears that certain firms are not as 

 busy as tliey have been; but taking things all around, in the light 

 of the continuance of the trade boom, it cannot lie said that any 

 falling off in the demand for rubber is to be expected. No one 

 expects the price to fall below 3.f. per pound during the present 

 year, though 2/6 is freely mentioned for next year. Of course 

 we are told that with a fall in price to that level new uses for 

 rubber will arise; well, they may, but this cannot be expected all 

 at once, and it must not be overlooked that among the various 

 other components of the goods destined for new uses there may 

 be rises in price suiTicient to discount the advantage of cheap 

 rubber. As far as the investing public is concerned the ruljbcr 

 boom is quite dead, and its immediate successor — oil — is in much 

 llie same state. 



Tlie next boom is likely to be coconuts, now th:it ibe demand 

 for coconut oil as a basis of margarine has outgrown the supply. 

 1 know something of what is going on and expect to see the pul)- 

 lic scrambling for coconut company shares in the near future. 

 Those ruliber companies, therefore, whose properties contain 

 coconut trees, can look upon the future with more complacency 

 than those which depend entirely upon rubber to come to fruition 

 during the next two years. 



XEVV FLOT.\TION'S. 



Under the title of Stelastic Tyres, Limited, a company was 

 formed in April with a capital of i200,000 in £\ shares, to take 

 over tile interests of the Torkington tire. The prospectus was 

 issued to the public, with what rejoinder I have not yet heard. 

 Among the various agreements ratified in accordance with the 

 Companies Acts is one between Torkington Tyres, Limited, the 

 vendor syndicate, and Chas. Macintosh & Co., Limited. This 

 tire has been on show at the principal motor exhibitions of late, 

 and its tests on the road appear to have quite fulfilled expecta- 

 tions. The issue has been favorably received by the press, one of 

 the leading papers, which has a reputation for criticism, describ- 

 ing it as fair industrial investment. In contradistinction to the 

 Wood-Milne tire which has its tread compounded with finely 

 powdered steel the Torkington employs a network of steel fibres. 



On May 1 was issued the prospectus of the .•\ssociated Rubber 

 Manufacturers, Limited, a company formed with a capital of 

 £10U,000 to take over the business of Almagam, Linfited, which 

 concern was formed three years ago to work tlie Harpenden mills 

 associated with the new Motor & General Rubber Co., and the 

 Warwick tire. The new company is to manufacture general 

 rubljer goods, as well as to carry on the retreading of tires with 

 Alma.gam (whatever that may be). Tliis part <i\ the Iiu-;iness 



seems to have made great strides and to be now of considerable 

 importance ; a fact which those interested in taking advertisements 

 can point to as an object lesson for hesitating advertisers. Four 

 out of the \h-c directors of the new company were directors of the 

 old one and the flotation generally seems to be practically an 

 appeal for further capital under change of name. 



COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE EXHIBITION IN LONDON. 



Interest in the Liiited Kingdom as to commercial motor 

 vehicles has been developed to such an extent that a special exhi- 

 bition devoted to that 1)ranch will be held at Olympia, London, 

 from July 15 to 30. Its title will be "The Heavy Motor Vehicle 

 Shinv." 



RUBBER CLUB PROPOSED FOR LONDON. 



The idea of a rubber club for London has been ventilated. 

 It has been suggested that those interested in rubber, coffee or 

 copra should be eligible, while planters at home for a holiday 

 would enjoy the privileges of tlie institution. 



VISITS OF COMMERCIAL EXPERTS TO GERMAN INDUSTRIAL CENTERS. 



An important feature of German export development consists 

 of the periodical visits to German industrial centers of the com- 

 mercial experts belonging to tlie Inijierial Consulates in foreign 

 countries. 



Herr de Haas, who is attached to the Consulate General, Syd- 

 ney, is now visiting the principal centers of tlie national indus- 

 tries, commencing at Breslau, May 2. and terminating at Magde 

 burg, June 30. During his tour he will visit thirty important 

 cities, where he will be accessible to manufacturers at the local 

 Cbamljcrs of Coninierce. 



ENGLISH OPINION OF THE PEOPOSID NEW TARIFF. 



In discussing the proposed new .American tariff, the "India 

 Rubber Journal" remarks that on the face of it. British manu- 

 facturers stand to gain a good deal from this re^luction if car- 

 ried out. But, it is added, whether the material reduction in the 

 tariff' now proposed will really enable British manufacturers to 

 re-enter the .American market is uncertain. 



Scottisli manufacturers are considered likely to make special 

 eft'orts to profit by such reduction as may eventually be made in 

 tlie duties "ii rubber .goods. 



X 



4 ^. 





B.\TTERY OF "Ancle" Belt-Driven W.\shing M.^ciiines. 



Made by David Bridge & Co., Limited, Castleton, Manchester, England. 



