76 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1913. 



thickness. Each "S" spoke is placed in the wheel under 250 

 pounds pressure. When at rest the wheel is perfectly circu- 

 lar, but when under pressure it assumes a slightly elliptical 

 form, thus expending all concussion force on a line at right 

 angles to the line of pressure. In this action vibration, de- 

 clared to be the most expensive evil in the wheel using world, 

 is eliminated. 



Speaking of his wheel and its merits, the inventor says: 

 "The Elliptical Wheel embodies a shock absorbing principle 

 in which the forces of concussion are utilized to create trac- 

 tion, reducing rebound of wheel from impact, as compared 

 with properly inflated pneumatics, by more than 50 per cent., 

 all conditions of speed, load and force being equal. Ordinary 

 solid tire mileage is largely increased due to yielding wheel 



center. 



» » * 



The annual convention of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 

 held at the home office in Akron, October 7-10, was attended 

 by over 200 branch managers, salesmen and representatives 

 of the firm. The first day of the convention was devoted to 

 welcoming the out-of-town guests. On the second day the 

 branch managers held a meeting, and the next two days 

 were spent in business discussion, in the formation of plans 

 for the future, and in visiting the plant, which has been con- 

 siderably enlarged since the last annual convention. The 

 convention was concluded by a banquet, and all who attended 

 returned to their work better prepared for its successful 

 execution and with renewed enthusiasm. 



This company reports that it is about to open two addi- 

 tional branches, one in Rochester, New York, and the other at 

 Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to carrying a complete line of 

 Firestone tires, rims and accessories, the Des Moines branch 

 will be equipped with the necessary machinery for repairing 

 wheels and applying tires — constituting a service station. It 

 will be the distributing point for Iowa and parts of both 

 Minnesota and Missouri. The Rochester branch will carry 

 a stock of tires and rims for local use. 

 * * * 



At the annual meeting of the Swinehart Tire & Rubber 

 Co., three new members were added to the Board — Fred H. 

 Snyder, of Massillon; Charles Currie and T. E. Barry, of 

 Akron. They replaced Oliver Toomey of Canal Dover, and 

 T. E. Borton of Cleveland, who declined re-election owing 

 to other business affairs. There had been one vacancy on 

 the board. 



Earnings for the year ending August 31 were reported as ap- 

 proximately $120,000. Of this, $48,000 will be required for divi- 

 dends. Net earnings for the year were about $200,000 on the 

 $800,000 capital stock. None of the increase in stock— from $800,- 

 000 to $1,000,000— will be disposed of at this time, and is to be 

 offered first to stockholders when it is finally offered. 



* ♦ * 



At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the McGraw 

 Tire & Rubber Co., held at the company's office at East 

 Palestine, Ohio, on October 7, officers were elected for the 

 year as follows: E. C. McGraw, president; R. W. McGraw, 

 vice-president; John Morgan, treasurer; L. M. Kyes, sec- 

 retary. These officers, together with Lenore H. McGraw, 

 J. C. Chamberlin. George Flaccus, R. F. Taggart, James 

 C. Chaplin. John S. Wilson and F. H. Rea, constitute the 

 board of directors. The report of the treasurer showed the 

 company's business for the year to have been in excess 



of $2,000,000. 



* * * 



The change of policy announced by The Portage Rubber 

 Co.. Akron. Ohio, is designed to reduce the cost of market- 

 ing its product, as well as carrying so many accounts. Portage 

 tires are now offered to customers in Akron and vicinity through 



the factory representative, The Portage Rubber Sales Co., 

 Garfield Hotel Bldg., Akron, Ohio. 



* * * 



A cut of 20 per cent, made by the Falls Rubber Co., 

 Cuyahoga Falls, on certain work on a special tire which 

 they put out, resulted in dissatisfaction among the workmen, 

 twenty of whom are reported to have left the company's 

 employ as a consequence. The company claimed the cut in 

 prices was made because of simplification of the work; the 

 workmen asserted that it was due to the company's having 

 underbid on a job and that the prices paid by the company 

 before the cut averaged about the same as those of other 

 Akron factories. 



* * * 



By action of the Council, the City of Akron has agreed 

 to take over Buchtel College as a municipal institution, to 

 be known and maintained as the University of Akron. The 

 institution will be widened in scope, tuition being free to 

 residents of the city. This College is widely known for its 

 splendid course in rubber chemistry, which department will 

 be even more extensive and thorough than before. 



* * * 



The moving picture companies have been showing films 

 of the local rubber industry, as well as of school fire drills, 

 etc., and at a recent photo-play were shown the Goodyear 

 and Firestone plants, the children of the town between 7 and 

 15 years of age being invited to a free performance. Need- 

 less to say, this particular performance was well attended and 

 proved very instructive and entertaining. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN BOSTON. 



By a Resident Correspondent. 



B'JSINESS in the rubber industry is in a most lively and pros- 

 perous condition. New England had a "spell of weather" 

 for more than half the month. When it wasn't foggy it was 

 rainy, and sometimes when it rained it poured. Just for a change 

 there was one snow storm, and some few dashes of hail. Taken 

 altogether it was just the weather to give people generally the 

 blues, but which gladdened every retailer of rubber clothing 

 and footwear. The clothing people were almost snowed under 

 with orders, and the footwear jobbers and manufacturers were 

 similarly affected. 



The factories were called on for their reserve stocks, and trade 

 received a send-off which helped amazingly. In the line of 

 druggist's sundries, the two syndicate drug store concerns have 

 been competing with each other, and by means of cut prices, 

 large amounts of hot water bags, fountain syringes and similar 

 goods, as well as hard rubber specialties have been distributed 

 quite liberally among consumers; which must have its effect on 

 the manufacturing end. The tire men are turning out their 

 customary seasonable quota, with some of them in receipt of 

 large orders for future shipment. Belting and packing specialties 

 are moderately called for, and hose, while not going out very 

 liberally, is being ordered for early spring shipment. 



* * * 



The addition to the Art Museum, given by Mrs. Evans, in 

 memory of her husband, Robert D. Evans, known to rubber 

 men all over the country, is now approaching completion, and 

 will have a fitting setting by the laying out of a park approach 

 which will allow the full beauty of the edifice to be seen and 



properly appreciated. 



* * * 



The Lynn Rubber Co., is manufacturing a rubber heel that 

 works on the partial vacuum principle, which is having a good 

 sale, as are also the rubber shoe soles made by this company. 

 The concern has adopted the word Lynco as a trade mark, which. 



