262 



THE INDIA RUBBER V/ORLD 



[June i, 1901. 



eter. At the luncheon, which was provided by Messrs. Iddon, 

 Mr. J. E. Baxter, chairman of the Rubber Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation, spoke strongly on the desirability of the different mem- 

 bers of the trade foregoing their inherent jealousy of one an- 

 other. In the presence of increasing foreign competition, he 

 said, it was of the utmost importance that they should sink 

 personal interests and work together more harmoniously than 

 had been the case in the past, their object being to maintain 

 the supremacy of the trade as a whole. Such occasions as that, 

 he thought, when they met on common ground to discuss the 

 merits or demerits of new machinery, was a step in the right 

 direction, and one that might be repeated with advantage. 

 Other speakers included Mr. Thomas Rowley, Mr. Iddon, and 

 Mr. H. L. Terry, but the limitations of space preclude further 

 detailed reference to what was voted on all hands an instruc- 

 tive and enjoyable day. 



On the subject as to how far accuracy is obtainable in the 



analysis of complex rubber mixings much might be written, 



but the space at disposal in these notes precludes 



AMjfvciTc ^^^ introduction of the topic. There is one feature 

 of the subject, however, on which it seems convn- 

 ient to say a word or two, and this is with regard to the limi- 

 tation of the utility of such analyses. Admitting that the 

 analysis of a manufactured rubber article is correctly made by 

 a competent authority, yet it is frequently found that those 

 who wish to use the figures as a guide to manufacture a simi- 

 lar article frequently find themselves quite at sea with their re- 

 sults and not infrequently the blame for the fiasco is heaped 

 upon the unfortunate analyst. The fact is that in all cases of 

 manufactured goods, and perhaps especially so in that of rub- 

 ber, the working details have an influence and importance often 

 of the first magnitude, but which cannot by any means be de- 

 tected in the ordinary course of analytical procedure. The 

 analyst, if an expert, may probably arrive at sound conclusions 

 as to the procedure followed in the manufacture, but in many 

 cases this would be quite impossible and sins of omission can- 

 not fairly be laid at his door, in the present incomplete state 

 of our knowledge of rubber chemistry. 



Reference has been made previously in this correspond- 

 ence to the sale by tender of India-rubber and Gutta-percha by 

 the general postotlice. In the case 

 OLD RUBBER gf jjjg admiralty, however, the bulk 



GovERNMENT^DOCKYARDS. "' material which has to be disposed 

 of is nothing like so large as that of 

 the postofiice, and it does not attract much attention. In con- 

 tradistinction to postotlice procedure, the sale at the dock- 

 yards is not by tender, but by public auction, which is duly 

 advertised, the old rubber being only one item in the miscel- 

 laneous assortment of old ships' stores which duly come up for 

 sale on these occasions. A good deal of the rubber, it may be 

 mentioned, is in no way decayed, being merely the fresh waste 

 which results from cutting valves, etc., out of the large rec- 

 tangular sheets which it is the custom of the admirally to buy, 

 though this particular waste is supplemented by valves and the 

 like which have done service. With regard to Gutta-percha, 

 there is never more than a small amount of this for sale, and no 

 attempt is made, as in the case of the postotlice, to separate 

 what is comparatively new and sound from what has become 

 practically resin by oxidation. A man-of-war's stores include 

 a small amount of Gutta-percha among the sundries, and this 

 is often returned to the dockyard untouched. If the quantity 

 for sale was larger it might be advisable for the officials to 

 store it when awaiting sale in some position where it was not 

 exposed to the full glare of sunlight, Dut in view of the cheer- 

 fulness with which the country votes millions for new arma- 



ments it is rather out of place to insist on such very petty 

 economies. One more difference between the admiralty and 

 the postoflice may be mentioned, and this has reference to the 

 old cables offered for sale. In the case of the comparatively 

 small quantity sold by the admiralty, the cable is sold as it is, 

 whereas the postoffice sell the metal core and the dielectric 

 separately, which procedure is to the advantage of buyers who 

 are interested in one or other of the materials and not as gen- 

 eral dealers in all and everything. 



It seems probable that the near future will see the existing 

 underground telegraph wires largely augmented, as owing to 

 snowstorms and gales the overhead wires have 

 suffered a good deal of late years, thus causing 



SUBTERRANEAN 

 TELEGRAPHY. 



trouble and loss to business men. Some time 

 ago a cable was laid from London to Birmingham insulated 

 with paper by the British Insulated Wire Co., and this having 

 proved a success, the system will be further extended, especially 

 in exposed districts in the North of England. The general 

 public have not up to the present evinced much curiosity or in- 

 terest as to the means whereby telegraphic communication is 

 carried on, but with the general introduction of the overhead 

 system of electric cars into our cities there has arisen consider- 

 able agitation, in view of the fatalities which have occurred in 

 Liverpool, for the general adoption of subterranean lines. 



Another large ground sheet order is being tendered for as 



I write, thus making the orders for these goods given out since 



the South African war began up to the large figure of 



'"*'' /8oo,ooo. I understand that as the result of long 



OFFICE. ^ ^ 



trials Dermatine has been adopted by the war depart- 

 ment instead ot vulcanized rubber for certain purposes in con- 

 nection with the use of cordite in field artillery, the preference 

 given to it being largely due to its unalterability when kept for 

 a lengthened time in store or in hot climates. 



The state of affairs with regard to this company seems to be 



somewhat lamentable. So far the insurance people have shown 



themselves indisposed to pay the claims made on them 



ECCLES and this has frustrated the intention of rebuilding the 



RUBBER j^^gg p3f[ Qf j[^g factory which was destroyed by fire, 



the company apparently having no available cash in 



hand. I hear also that Mr. Sgal [and Mr. Coops, the managing 



director, have come under the censure of the shareholders and 



transmitted their energies to other spheres. It is somewhat 



matter for speculation as to what will be done with the patent 



rights of the ball making machine which, since Mr. Hille's 



patent was taken out, has been improved] upon by Mr. Cox, 



late works manager at Eccles. 



This branch is pretty brisk at the present time, especially in 

 ladies' goods. Apropos of these it seems somewhat singular 

 that, although a large business is done by British 

 WATERPROOF firms in Canada, the business with the United 

 TRADE States is practically «;7. Certainly in the double 



texture men's trade firms on this side cannot 

 compete with the sort of proofing that is now in vogue in 

 America, and which does not seem to merit the term rubber 

 at all. In the case, however, of the single texture printed arti- 

 cle it would seem as if the requisite amount of business enter- 

 prise would result in a good trade, as at the present time these 

 goods are imported into the States from Canada, thus paying 

 double profit. 



I UNDERSTAND that this tire, which was recently the cause 

 of litigation between the original patentees and the Dunlop 

 company, is now the property of Mr. F. Redda- 

 way, and that it is shortly to be manufactured on 

 the large scale at one of the north of England 

 rubber works. 



WAP8HARE 

 TIRE. 



