214 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[Ai'Rii, I, 1 90 1. 



THE MONARCH RUBBER CO. (ST. LOUIS.) 

 The factory of thiscompany is one thateastern rubber men are 

 not likely to visit very often, because of its remoteness. At the 

 same time, it is well worth a journey to St. Louis to have a look 

 at the most southern of American rubber shoe factories. Strictly 

 speaking, the plant is not in the city, but is some six miles out, 

 the distance being easily covered, however, by means of a well 

 equipped trolley road. The factory buildings are of brick, sub- 

 stantially built, and sit- 

 uated close to the rail- 

 road, so that the ship- 

 ping facilities are excel- 

 lent. In addition to this, 

 there is the feature of 

 cheap coal, the price per 

 ton being $1.30 at the 

 factory. The plant is 

 equipped with a 900 

 horse power Hamilton- 

 Corliss engine, and two 

 Heineboilersof 250 

 horse power each. The 

 rubber machinery, 

 which consists of the 

 usual equipment of 

 washers, mixers, warm- 

 ers, calenders, etc., is of 

 Birmingham make, and factory of the monarch rubber co. 



in addition there are heel presses, accumulators, dieing-out 

 machines, and a variety of lesser mechanical appliances com- 

 mon to all rubber shoe factories. This plant, however, is indi- 

 vidual in many ways. For example, the largest friction clutch 

 in use in any rubber factory (1600 horse power) is operated on 

 the main shaft, with an arrangement so that the slight pressure 

 on a wire running over any of the mixing mills serves to stop 

 all the machinery instantly and incidentally shuts steam of! 

 from the engine, effectually closing it down 

 in a moment's time. Another original feature 

 is the improved shoe rack at the making up 

 tables, where each girl has her day's work 

 displayed in front of her, and, by the system 

 followed, the same lasts return for her indi- 

 vidual use. By an ingenious yet simple post- 

 office system, everything that comes from the 

 cutting room is assembled in boxes for each 

 worker, so that the product known as " waste 

 stock " is practically eliminated. There are 

 many other lesser innovations, every one of 

 which is practical. Indeed, Secretary Hem- 

 enover, who is both superintendent and as- 

 sistant superintendent, has proved himself 

 one of the ablest and most practical rubber 

 shoe builders to-day in the field. This is not 

 altogether surprising, as he had long experi- 

 ence both among users of rubber goods and in 

 the factory. It will be remembered that for 

 years he was with the Goodyear Rubber Co. at Middletown, 

 Connecticut, and that each year he went out on the road for 

 forty-five days and in that time placed a year's product. The 

 rest of the time he was in the factory, designing styles and 

 learning every detail of the business— an experience that is 



showing most excellent results in the Monarch goods.= While 



one naturally would expect the product of this company to be 

 marketed in the southwest, President H. E. Wagoner was 

 heard from recently, making sales in New England. 



INSTEAD OF THE OLD TIME RUBBER AUCTIONS. 

 The plan adopted last year by the United States Rubber Co. 

 for selling all imperfect and out of date goods through a job- 

 bing house, instead of by the former November auctions, has 

 proved so satisfactory to the trade, that the contract with 

 William F. Mayo & Co., Nos. 197-203 Congress street, Boston, 

 for handling these goods has been renewed for another year. 

 The various slioe jobbers' associations, particularly, are under. 



stood to have favored 

 the new departure. 

 Messrs. Mayo & Co. 

 handle this class of 

 goods exclusively, in- 

 cluding the makes of all 

 the factories controlled 

 by the United States 

 company, and issue cat- 

 alogues at frequent in- 

 tervals. 

 TENNIS SHOE TRADE. 



The production of 

 tennis, yachting, and 

 gymnasium shoes is re- 

 p or ted to have been 

 larger this season than 

 ever before. The ship- 

 ment of these goods to 

 the west and northwest 

 is less dependent upon 



W. E. HEMENOVER 



began about March 20. Their sale 

 weather conditions than that of rubber boots and shoes, though 

 a backward cool spring has a tendency to retard orders. F. 

 D. Balderston (Boston), special sales agent for the United 

 States Rubber Co.'s tennis goods, has been busy in the western 

 trade of late, with good results. A report from his office is to 

 the efTect that the lasts for the current season have all been 

 improved, and the demand for the goods is greater than in any 

 previous year. " If there is one shoe more 

 than another with which we have made the 

 greatest success, it is the ' Vacation ' shoe." 

 This has an extra heavy sole and is made in 

 balmorals and oxfords. The " Vacation " is 

 the latest addition to the United States Rub- 

 ber Co.'s tennis catalogue, which otherwise 

 has been the same for several seasons. The 

 price list also is unchanged this spring. 

 A NEW RUBBER BRUSH COMPANY. 



The Flexible Rubber Goods Co. was or- 

 ganized at Winsted, Connecticut, on March 

 2, with $10,000 capital, to manufacture the 

 hollow tooth rubber brushes patented by 

 John G. Doughty, of that city. For eight or 

 nine months past these brushes have been 

 manufactured for the inventor at Naugatuck, 

 but it is now planned to -install a small rub- 

 ber plant, with a view later, perhaps, to begin 

 the making of other rubber goods. The 

 brushes referred to are made for bath, toilet, and massage pur- 

 poses, besides which the "Military" horse brush is made. 

 John G. Doughty is president of the new company, Joseph R. 

 Sanford secretary and treasurer, and Henry Gay, director. 



TRENTON RUBBER MANUFACTURING CO. 

 An office and warehouse have been opened in Chicago at 

 No. 21 South Canal street. Mr. F. B. Mcllroy, who has han- 

 dled this company's goods for a number of years with great 

 success on the Pacific coast, will be the selling agent, taking 



