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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August 1, 1913. 



TO ENCOURAGE NEW USES OF RUBBER. 



THE secretary of the Mincing Lane Tea & Rubber Share 

 Brokers' Association, Limited, of London, has sent out 

 a letter — which is reproduced below — to the plantation com- 

 panies of the East, suggesting that they co-operate to en- 

 courage the devising of new ways in which rubber can be put 

 to practical and profitable use. 



THE MINCING LANE TEA & RUBBER .SHAKE BROKERS' 

 ASSOCIATION. LTD. 

 6, Mincing Lane, Lo.vdon, E. C, June 11, 1913. 

 To the Secretary. 

 Dear Sir; 



The increasing output of rubber from the East, points to the 

 advisability of those interested in rubber plantations organizing, 

 with the object of fostering new uses for the product. 



My committee would point out that an organization exists, 

 both in India and Ceylon, for pushing the sale of tea from these 

 coiintrie.'i. but so far no steps have been taken by the plantation 

 rubber industry to find new outlets for the product. 



The committee of this association, in order to give some in- 

 centive to place rubber to new uses, proposes to offer one hun- 

 dred guineas at the Rubber Exhibition to be held in London next 

 year, for the best new use for rubber. 



It has been in the mind of the committee that if each individual 

 company took a small interest in the object of pushing plantation 

 rubber, it would probably result in a larger consumption, and it 

 is suggested that an association be formed with a view to achiev- 

 ing this end. 



There are some 530 rubber companies mentioned in the new 

 book about to be published by this association, and if each com- 

 pany would subscribe a small amount, say 10s. for every il.OOO 

 capital, to such a scheme, a fair sum would be available, and, 

 with a practical committee would be in a position to consider any 

 scheme, such as laying experimental rubber roads, etc., and if 

 thought desirable to foster such enterprises. 



.■\s there would be no promotion expenses in forming such an 

 association, all moneys subscribed would be available for ex- 

 penditure for practical benefit to the industry. 



My committee will willingly subscribe i50 to such an associa- 

 tion, and will be pleased to hear the views of your directors on 

 the proposition. 



Should a sufficient number of approving replies be received, my 

 committee are prepared to take further steps to formulate a prac- 

 tical scheme. 



By Order of the Board, 



A. KENn.\LL, Secretary. 



RUBBER AT THE LONDON BUILDING EXHIEITION, 



Rubber occupied a leading position at the recent Building 

 Exhibition, held at Olympia, London. Its various uses in con- 

 nection with floor covering were illustrated by the e-xhibit of 

 the India Rubber Flooring Co.. of London, which likewise showed 

 mosaic tiles of rubber. 



Another prominent exhibit was that of the India Rubber, Gutta 

 Percha and Telegraph Works Co., of Silvertown, which dis- 

 played a full line of its products applicable to the Iniilding in- 

 dustry. 



Xoticeable among the articles which attracted attention were 

 rubber stair treads, which have in England practically superseded 

 those made of brass. 



There was a full exhibit of the wall protecting appliances 

 known in England as "Damp Courses," which were shown by 

 17 nrius. Storm- and rain-proof roofing was likewise an item 

 of interest. 



It has been remarked that the use of rubber in the building 

 industry is making progress, but various misconceptions have 

 to be overcome, arising from insufficient acquaintance with the 

 properties of the article. 



NEW USE FOR BALLOON MATERIALS. 



Recent European fashion journals report the introduction for 

 wear in traveling and at the seaside of dust cloaks composed of 

 the material used for balloons. They are of course provided with 

 ventilation. 



AN ENGLISH VIEW OF PROSPECTIVE RUBBER CONSUMPTION. 



In discussin.g tlic question of future rubber consumption, the 

 "Economist" of London remarks: 



"If prices fall to 2s. a pound, it is perhaps not unreasonable 

 to assume that consumption will continue to increase in the 

 existing uses of rubber, and rise, perhaps, to 150,000 tons or 

 even 200.000 in a few years, for as prices fall, not only will the 

 consumption of rubber goods increase, but also genuine, good 

 rubber will be substituted for the poor and composite materials 

 which so frequently masquerade as 'rubber.' 



"Unless, however, a very large demand arises for new indus- 

 trial purposes which are not yet apparent, it will be impossible 

 to dispose of the enormous quantities mentioned except at very 

 nuich lower prices than have ever yet been known in the rubber 

 market. In these circumstances clearly one of two things must 

 happen. Either large tracts of land that have been planted 

 must be abandoned to the jungle, or else the cost of working the 

 estates must fall to the neighborhood of 6d. a pound — a cost 

 which has already been realized in favorable circumstances in 

 Ceylon." 



RUBBER SOLES FOR MALTSTERS. 



German malt workers have found that the soles and heels of 

 their wooden shoes were liable to make them fall on the slippery 

 floors of malt houses. Felt soles and heels failed to fulfil 

 expectations. Some thirty years ago rubber shoes were intro- 

 duced and were found to answer the purpose intended, but the 

 price was prohibitive ; a pair of maltster's shoes coming as high 

 as $10. A way out of the difficulty was found by putting rubber 

 soles and heels on the wooden shoes, which thus cost much 

 less than all-rubber shoes. This plan has since continued in 

 vogue. In some cases the soles are provided w'ith a rubber 

 sponge foundation, which obviates any pressure on the malt. 



DIRECT SHIPMENTS OF RUBBER TO NEW YORK. 



]\ /I R. C. A. L.\MPARD of London being a recognized au- 

 ■^'■'- thority on plantation rubber from the companies' stand- 

 point, it is of interest to note his remarks at the recent meet- 

 ing of the Malayalam Company, on the subject of direct ship- 

 ments : 



"I believe that the future developments in regard to rubber 

 will necessitate our shipping the produce more freely than we 

 have done hitherto to the market where it is consumed, and that 

 we do not penalize our product by bringing it to this market and 

 saddling it with a load of expenses, which are really unnecessary, 

 when we have shipping facilities for selling it direct to the mar- 

 kets of consumption, and where, if we did that, it would meet 

 with a very cordial reception." 



In commenting on these remarks of Mr. Lampard, the "Finan- 

 cier" adds : 



"The foregoing should serve as a hint to those who are in- 

 terested in the preservation of the London rubber market, and a 

 warning to the shipping ring, which, by its exorbitant freight 

 charges, threatens the life of the goose which lays the golden 

 e,ggs. It was prominently stated by large American rubber con- 

 sumers at the late exhibition in New York that they could ob- 

 tain supplies at less cost and of a more satisfactory character 

 by purchasing the same on the spot, and shipping direct from 

 mid-eastern ports. It was furthermore complained that the con- 

 consignment of plantation rubber to London and the subsequent 

 handling and sorting which it underwent before reshipment 

 sometimes resulted in such a mixup of plantation grades as no 

 manufacturer cared to accept. Needless to say, such results are 

 very prejudicial to plantation rubber as a whole, exaggerating 

 as they do the lack of uniformity in the cultivated product." 



Should be on every rubber man's desk — The Rubber Trade 

 Directory of the World, 1912. 



