

THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 1, 1911. 



PROSPECTS OF INCREASED RUBBER 

 CONSUMPTION. 



PROMINENT amongst the many interesting features of the 

 * recent Berlin meeting of the Rubber Commission, attached 

 to the German Colonial Economic Committee, was a paper by 

 General Director Louis Hoff, President of the Central Associa- 

 tion of German Rubber Goods Factories, Harburg, on the 

 "Expansion of Rubber Consumption." 



In his opening remarks, Herr Hoff stated that neither he 

 nor the largest proportion of his colleagues, shared in the ap- 

 prehension which had been e-xpressed in certain quarters, that 

 the consumption of rubber would not easily absorb in the im- 

 mediate future the increased supply coming forward. He 

 pointed out that there was scarcely a branch of science or of 

 technical industry, in which rubber has not already been used, 

 with the prospect that consumption would increase, provided 

 its progress were not impeded by a high price for the raw- 

 material. 



Old and Regenerated Rubber. 



Nor does the prospective additional supply of regenerated 

 rubber give cause for alarm. It is estimated that while within 

 the last five or ten years, the production of crude rubber has 

 increased by about 5%, the manufactured product has been 

 augmented in a much larger proportion. This could only arise 

 from the more extensive use of plastics and of regenerated 

 rubber; the latter fact to a great extent arises from the im- 

 portant progress made in regenerating processes. Statistics of 

 imports and exports do not represent, with any degree of com- 

 pleteness, the quantities of old and regenerated rubber used 

 by manufacturers, but Herr Hoff considers himself justified 

 in estimating, that in a factory of average character, the quan- 

 tity of those components used, exceeds that of the crude rub- 

 ber employed. According to information received, the use of 

 regenerated rubber has tripled or quadrupled within the last 

 five years. 



The extent to which the consumption of old and regenerated 

 rubber has of late increased, is further illustrated by their enor- 

 mously increased prices. Thus old rubber which 10 years ago was 

 worth $12.S0 to $15 per ton, now varies between $60 and $90. 

 By these conditions, the varied applicability of rubber and the 

 practical impossibility of replacing it, are demonstrated, so that 

 an extension of consumption is a very easy matter. 



At the same time, articles which contain more or less old 

 rubber, are not, it is remarked, of the same quality as those in 

 which only pure crude rubber has been used. Many articles 

 have in this manner deteriorated in quality, thus opening the 

 way for increased competition on the part of other materials. 

 Another difficulty has arisen from the advanced cost of rubber 

 manufactures, which has impaired their selling capacity. In- 

 stances of these conditions are afforded by rubber toys and 

 rubber balls. 



Advantages of Cheaper Rubber. 



In electro-technical manufactures, rubber has had an im- 

 portant opportunity of regaining ground, which had been more 

 or less lost through the employment of all possible substitutes, 

 of a more or less suitable character. The same remark applies 

 to erasing rubber and to the so-called "artificial rubber," from 

 which numerous small articles arc made. The latter, which 

 have the appearance of rubber, but are lacking in durability, 

 would disappear from the market if a cheap rubber material 

 were available for their manufacture. 



With regard to the future, Herr Hoff remarks in conclusion, 

 that with an abundant supply of rubber, it would be possible 

 for the industry within a few years, to regain supremacy in 

 the positions where it had been forfeited through the high cost 

 of raw material. As it is not to be anticipated that manufac- 



turers of regenerated rubber will retire from the field of com- 

 petition, but that its use will likewise increase, the adoption of 

 new articles by the regular industry will become necessary. 



Possible New Outlets for Rubber. 



Illustrating the above remarks, Herr HofT refers to the fol- 

 lowing branches of manufacture as affording opportunities for 

 the more extensive use of crude rubber. 



1. Rubber mats and floor coverings at equivalent prices, 

 would undoubtedly prove superior to linoleum. 



2. With cheap raw material, the use of hard rubber toys, 

 con?bs, ornaments and toilet articles would certainly much 

 increase. 



3. Enameling factories. The utilization of rubber for coating 

 objects exposed to the weather and corresponding influences, is 

 a purpose for v/hich the use of rubber could, with suitable prices, 

 be considerably extended. 



4. For use by artificial leather factories, and likewise for the 

 impregnation of textile fabrics. In the latter branch other 

 materials are now being largely used, while impregnation with 

 such a reliable material as rubber would be preferable. 



5. Flooring tiles, etc. In many cases rubber floor tiles would 

 be more desirable than those of porcelain or pottery. 



6. Rubber might be successfully used, it is suggested, as a 

 veneer for wood. 



No Grounds for Discouragement. 



It is further urged that the danger of an over-production of 

 crude rubber is not to be seriously regarded. On the contrary, 

 it is maintained ;t would benefit the entire rubber industry, 

 planters as well as manufacturers, if, as a result of large quan- 

 tities coming upon the market, prices attained stability, without 

 being exposed to the extensive fluctuations, caused last year by 

 speculative manipulations. 



A Word to Planters. 



Herr Hoff in conclusion tenders the following advice to 

 planters : 



"I would ask planters not to be discouraged, but quietly to 

 plant their rubber. Let them deliver us a good, uniform qual- 

 ity, and we shall in due time see to working it up. Of course, 

 care must be taken, only to plant rubber, where conditions ex- 

 ist for the successful production of crude material, fit to com- 

 pete in the world's markets." 



SOME LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE PRESENT CON- 

 TRACT IN USE IN SELLING CRUDE RUBBER 

 IN THE PORT OF NEW YORK. 



""P HE Court of Appeals, the highest court of the State of New 

 •*■ York, has recently decided a rubber case in which the form 

 of contract now used in the port of New York, in the selling of 

 crude rubber, was questioned on several grounds. 



No opinion was written in this case, and, therefore, it is 

 thought that some account of the questions which were before 

 the court would be of interest and practical value. 



The contract in the above case was made by the president 

 of the purchasing corporation. It was contended by this com- 

 pany that the contract was not binding upon it, because its 

 by-laws contained provisions which vested the buying power in 

 the treasurer. This by-law was not called to the attention of the 

 seller at the time of making the contract, and was raised by it 

 only after the contract was made. The court held that the 

 by-laws of the purchasing corporation were not in any way 

 binding upon third persons dealing with the corporation unless 

 a knowledge of these by-laws was actually brought home to the 

 seller and was known to it at the time the contract was entered 

 into. 



