AucL-ST-l, !9U.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



439 



A PUNCTURE-PROOF TIRE. 



COME years ago Cassinier Zegien invented a bullet-proof 

 '~' fabric that would successfully turn a .38 calibre bullet, the 

 projectile being flattened, without injury to the fabric. It was 

 a close w'eave of pure silk, but the aduption by the various 

 countries of high-powered arms, with their extraordinary pene- 

 trating power, led the inventor to abandon the bullet-proof fabric 

 field and turn his attention to the utilization of his invention in 

 the manufacture of puncture-proof tires, burst-proof hose, and 

 other specialties. 



In its employment for tires, the iiiodus of'cniiidi differs but 

 little from the methods at present in use. The Keglen fabric, 

 which forms the basis of the tires, is passed between calender 

 rolls, in connection with properly prepared rubber, which, by 

 this means, is forced into all interstices of the fabric. Upon 

 the surface thus prepared, the outer rubber covering, or tread, 

 is vulcanized, the result being a substantial, compact casing, 

 lacking nothing in resiliency and guaranteed to be non-punc- 

 turable. 



The tests to which tires thus constructed have been subjected, 

 as described by the manufacturers, would appear to substantiate 

 the latter claim. Several hundred nails of different kinds — cut 

 nails, wire nails, spikes, thick and thin, and all filed to sharp 

 points — are driven through a heavy plank, so as to project from 

 one-half to two or more inches in all directions. Over these 

 projecting points a fully loaded automobile equipped with the 

 I)uncture-proof tires, is driven up and down, at varying speeds, 

 the nails perforating the rubber but failing to penetrate the 

 fabric. Broken bottles, angle irons, horse-shoes with nails in 

 them, and other things that automobUists encounter on the roads 

 to their great discomfort, are also run upon, without puncturing 

 the tire ; experiments such as are above described having been 

 made many times and invariably with the same results. 



It is proposed to weave the material in circular form, for the 

 manufacture of fire hose, which it is claimed \yould never burst, 

 and its use for the manufacture of air, steam and brake-hose, 

 etc., is likewise suggested. The American Rubber and Fabric 

 Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are the manufacturers of goods 

 under the Zegien bullet-proof fabric patents and are making 

 arrangements to exploit the invention in various practical forms. 



MOTOH TRTTCKS AND GOOD TIRES. 



The United States Army officials have for some time had 

 under consideration the employment in the military transporta- 

 tion service, of motor trucks, especially for long hauls, that 

 have to be quickly made. As a result of their investigations, 

 the successful employment of motor trucks, in connection with 

 recent military operations, may be quoted and the outcome has 

 thus far proved eminently satisfactory. 



The manufacturers of the Saurer Motor Trucks have re- 

 cently undertaken a unique test that may prove fruitful of in- 

 formation, not only for the army transport officials, but for all 

 who are interested in carrying heavy loads over long distances. 



With a five-ton vehicle they recently started a trip from 

 Denver to San Francisco, the truck carrying a load of three 

 to four tons. The return trip will be made by way of Salt 

 Lake City, Cheyenne, Omaha, Chicago, New York and back to 

 Chicago. 



Bearing in mind the vast importance as a factor -in the 

 success of such a journey of the quality of the tires, it is in- 

 teresting to note that the truck is equipped with wireless 

 tires, made by the B. F. Goodrich Co., Akron, O., the single 

 pattern being used on the front and twin tires on the rear 

 wheels. 



THE UNIVERSAL TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE. 



AUTO.MOHlI.h: tire manufacturers unite in emphasizing the 

 importance of proper inflation of tires, as the surest means 

 of preventing tire troubles and prolonging tire life to the maxi- 

 mum. In nicist in>l;nicos tliey issue a schedule of pressures to 



be maintained in tires of 

 difTcreni sizes under 

 varying loads, if the best 

 results are to be ensured. 

 Empirical methods of 

 determining air pressure 

 in tires, have long since 

 given w-ay to an exact 

 system, and here a tire 

 pressure gauge is needed. 

 Such a device, the 

 Schrader Universal Tire 

 Pressure Gauge, we il- 

 lustrate. Applied to the 

 end of the valve, after 

 the removal of the dust 

 cap, it records the pres- 

 sure of air in the tire 

 and remains at the read- 

 ing until returned to 

 zero. This, and the fact 

 that it can be used with 

 the valve in any posi- 

 tion, will a])pval In the motorist, and it is sold imder the guar- 

 antee of the makers, who are old-time experts in this line, as to 



UnIVERS.M. 1mK1£ FuKSSfRE G.M'CE. 



.\ liiiiiK fur cveryliody interested in tires — "Rubber Tires and 

 All .Miout Them" — this office. 



Tire Pressure G.\uge in Use. 



its material and workmanship. [A. Schrader's Sons. Inc., New 

 York, N. Y.] 



RECOHD EXPORT OF AUTOMOBILES. 



A srECl.\L report from the Department of Commerce and 

 Labor records the fact that the total increase of exports during 

 the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, as compared with 1910, 

 was $304,000,000, being a larger gain than in any previous single 

 year. The last five years of our exports would thus show (in 

 millions of dollars) : 

 Year. 



1907 $1,881,000,000 



1908 1,861.000,000 



1909 1.663.(X)0.000 



1910 l.;4.^.(X)0,(K)0 



1911 .'.04y.0(X),000 



For the first time, the two-billion mark has thus been passed. 



In this last increase, farmers and manufacturers have shared 

 about equally, this fact being of a nature to encourage Ameri- 

 can national industries. .Xutomobiles and parts are said to be 

 three millions of dollars ahead of last year, as 1910 showed 

 exports of eleven million dollars. The latest return represents 

 a gain of more than 25 per cent., decidedly an encouraging 

 result. 



