August 1, 1911.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



405 



Some Rubber Interests in Europe. 



GEBMANY. 



MITTELDEUTSCHE GUMMIWAARENFABRIK, VORM 

 LOUIS PETER. The last meeting of the directors of 

 the company, which lasted, with a noon recess, from 9 

 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at niglit, and wound up 

 with the resignation of the entire board, with the exception of 

 Councellor Peter and his legal advisor, was decidedly interest- 

 ing. Commercial Councillor Peter was accused of making un- 

 authorized written statements, of revealing to the press important 

 company secrets, and of meddling with the manufacturing opera- 

 tions. The half yearly balance of March 31 showed a loss of 

 several hundred thousand dollars and a more unfavorable result 

 of the business of the current half-year, ending September 30, 

 was predicted, than for the preceding year. Before adjournment 

 the directors summoned an extraordinary general meeting to con- 

 vene on July 31. The above company has a producing rubber 

 plantation in Sumatra. 



The Gummi Industrie Hugo Thele, Niedersachsen, of Xienberg, 

 is terminated by the expiration of the firm agreement. 



Commercial Councillor Peter, head of the Mitteldeutsche 

 Gummi fabrik, vorm. Louis Peter, is reported as having met with 

 a serious accident. While driving, the carriage horses became 

 unmanageable and ran away in the direction of a precipice. Rec- 

 ognizing his danger, Mr. Peter jumped from the carriage, sus- 

 taining painful but not dangerous injuries. 



Gummiwerke Elbe, Hamburg, reports for 1910 that while busi- 

 ness during the first nine months was good, for the last three 

 months it was decidedly bad, which, with the fact that the com- 

 pany had stocked up with rubber at high prices and lost heavily 

 on the decline, causes the directors to recommend that the profit 

 for the year, of 81,964 marks ($19,507) be applied exclusively to 

 writing off and reserve purposes. It was also decided to increase 

 the capital by the issue of preference shares to the value of 750,000 

 marks ($178,500). Of this sum a syndicate had agreed to take 

 500.000 marks at par, the remainder being in like manner pro- 

 vided for. 



A LEADING GERMAN ASBESTOS AND RUBBER MANUFACTURER. 



The founder and active head of the firm Asbest und Gummi- 

 werke, Alfred Calmon, is so well known in the United States 

 and Canada that a sketch of his industrial accomplishments is 

 sure to be of interest. 



The firm of Alfred Calmon was registered in the Hamburg 

 Commercial Register on the twelfth of January, 1886. Its opera- 

 tions at first included the manufacture and sale of steam pack- 

 ings and mechanical rubber goods, with many asbestos and 

 rubber specialties. 



The business rapidly developed and in 1890 they became inter- 

 ested in the asbestos works of Otto Kohsel & Sohn, in Hanover, 

 and the steam packing factory was transferred to that city. On 

 the 27th of December, 1893, the Asbest-und Gummiwerke Alfred 

 Calmon G. m. b. H. was established with a capital of $128,520 

 The founders of the firm were Alfred Calmon and the Allge- 

 meine Elecktrizitats Gesellschaft, Berlin. The new company took 

 over the factory and business of the firm of Otto Kohsel & Sohn, 

 and rented the property belonging to the Allgemeine Elcktrizitats 

 GeselUcliaft, in Berlin. 



In 1896 the business was turned into a public limited company 

 with a capital of $357,000. The further rapid developments 

 are demonstrated by the following increases in the capital of 

 the companj', viz : 



1897 to $595,000; 1899 to $714,000, and then to $1,071,000; 1906 

 to $1,428,000. 



The rubber business developed to such an extent as to lead to 

 the erection of a rubber factory in 1899, the manufacture of rub- 



ber shoes being added and later cycle and automobile tires. 



The asbestos factory, situated in Berlin, occupies an area of 

 about 150,000 square feet, and the rubber factory takes up about 

 410,000 square feet. 



The company has many branches and is also interested in 

 several other concerns, and trades in all parts of the world. 



It is also said that the Calmon interests own and control large 

 asbestos mines both in Canada and in Russia. 



Mr. Calmon's life has been one of industry, of extraordinary 

 energy coupled with clever understanding and keen foresight. He 



.Alfred C.\lmox. 



was one of the pioneers of the German asbestos industry. The 

 field of operations afforded in asbestos-spinning, weaving and 

 millboard manufacturing was not enough so he added rubber lines 

 and today his company is one of the great German producers. 



GENERAL DIRECTOR LOUIS HOFF HONORED. 



General Director Louis Hoff, of the important firm of 

 Vereinigte Gummiwaaren Fabrikcn, Harljurg-Wien, Harburg- 

 on-the-Elbe, Germany, has been appointed Royal Prussian 

 Commercial Counsellor, which is a very distinguished honor. 

 Mr. Hoff has been with the Harburg company since 1877 

 when he came with it as the representative of the works for 

 Paris. Upon the death of General Director Gerig he was 

 appointed Commercial Director and acted in conjunction with 

 the late Commercial Counsellor Karl Maret. Upon the death 

 of Mr. Maret he became sole head of the great company. 



Mr. Hoff has taken a vital interest in the city of Harburg 

 both in the building up of the rubber industry and the crea- 

 tion of galolith. He also began a pension fund among the 

 employees, the capital of which is now $325,000. Of the 

 Central Association of German Rubber Goods Factories he 

 has for many years been president, and a very popular and 

 capable official he has proved himself. He is also a member 

 of the consulting board of the Imperial Statistical Office, a 

 member of the local Chamber of Commerce and of the com- 

 mittee of the Commercial Diet. This last honor was con- 

 ferred upon him on the occasion of the celebration of the 

 Fiftieth Anniversary of the city of Heidelberg. 



Mr. Hoff is well known in industrial circles all over Europe 

 and has many friends in the United States. 



