78 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1913. 



were cast by the famous Val d'Osne Co., of Paris. These bronzes 

 were imported direct by Col. Colt at a cost of $7,000, and the 

 completed entrance represents an outlay of more than $30,000. 



* * * 



A. M. Bannister, local agent of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber 

 Co., stole a march on his associates recently by quietly becom- 

 ing married. It was more than two weeks before they became 

 aware of the change in his affairs, but having learned thereof 

 they proceeded to make amends by presenting him with a hand- 

 some mahogany dining table. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN CHICAGO. 



By a Resident Correspondent. 

 ■ I 'HE old adage, "The darkest hour is just before the dawn," 

 •*• is applicable at the present moment to the condition 

 of the Chicago rubber market in some lines — especially 

 to dealers in footwear. The fall season is practically at a 

 close, and the salesmen await only a change in the weather 

 to usher in the new season. "News? No, really nothing of 

 interest this month. Just put me down on the list with 

 those praying for an early snowstorm," is the general 

 answer given to all inquiries concerning the condition of 

 trade. But according to W. E. Carver, of the United States 

 Rubber Co., Chicago will have an early snowstorm. Mr. 

 Carver has a reputation among his friends as a weather 

 prophet; in fact, those who know him say they would put 

 as much faith in a weather prophecy of Carver's as they 

 would in the prediction of the official weather man. 



To cheer those in the rubber clothing line who may be 

 inclined to feel pessimistic, Mr. Halaburt, manager of the 

 local agency of the Chicago Rubber Clothing Co., is de- 

 cidedly optimistic. Mr. Halaburt is a veteran in the rubber 

 industry; in fact, he has been with the present firm twenty- 

 eight years. Hence his prophecy that a brisk season is the 

 outlook may be regarded as substantial autliority. This 

 seemingly dormant state by no means applies to all branches 

 of the rubber trade. For instance, the demand for rubber 

 tires continues brisk. 



* * * 



The manufacturers of rubbers are complaining about the 

 sudden changes in the styles of shoes. One season the 

 high heel is worn, the next the medium, and this season the 

 clamor is for the low, flat heel. If the manufacturer could 

 only in some way predict the duration of these styles, the 

 difficulty of having a surplus stock of old styles might be 

 done away with, but this seems impossible. To cite an 

 instance: Only last week one of Chicago's largest houses 

 closed out a lot of the best grade of rubbers (made to fit 

 the Cuban heel) at ten and fifteen cents per pair. 



* * * 



The Tango and other dances of this type have taken 

 Chicago by storm and without a doubt will furnish the chief 

 amusement of the winter season. This innovation is pro- 

 ducing a large sale of the tango shoe — a type of tennis shoe. 



* * * 



The W. D. Allen Mfg. Co., is at present putting a new 

 steel hose clamp on the market. It will appear under the 

 name of the "Allen Galvanized Hose Clamp." In the words 

 of the manager, "This is bound to be a winner." In ad- 

 dition to its high utility the price will be moderate, which 

 should further commend it to the use of the consumer. 



Mr. Allen, president of the company, and Mr. Pease, the 

 treasurer, have left for a business trip in the East. 

 » * * 



Salesmen are beginning to start out on their regular trips. 

 ariving the country merchant opportunity to place his size-up 



orders. The United States Rubber Co., the Standard Rubber 

 Co., The Quaker City, the Revere, the Rubber Manufactur- 

 ing and Distributing Co., and in fact all the jobbers, are com- 

 pleting their salesmen's sample lines and sending them out 



as rapidly as possible. 



« « * 



The Apsley Rubber Manufacturing and Distributing Co., 

 reports a visit from the president of the firm, Mr. L. D. 



Apsley. 



* * * 



Chicago is infested with a multitude of raincoat em- 

 poriums, nearly all of which advertise to be an "outlet" for 

 one or more of the big manufacturing concerns of the east. 

 One well known name in the rubber trade appears more 

 frequently than the others and the unsuspecting wayfarer 

 would almost be led to believe that the particular company 

 represented by this name had a monopoly of all the rubber 

 business in the United States. So far as anyone can tell 

 from reading the advertisements and window cards, nothing 

 in any of these stores is sold at a regular price. Everything 

 seems to be marked down to an absurdly low figure and 

 it would appear that all these stores are constantly on the 

 brink of bankruptcy. 



t * * 



Automobile row, extending up and down Michigan avenue, 

 is flourishing and sales are reported as being large. Ac- 

 cessory dealers also report a good business, particularly 

 those who handle automobile tires. The demand is about 

 equally distributed among all grades and sizes, altho the sudden 

 increase in the sale of small machines has about doubled the 

 call for the smaller sized tires. 



* • * 



Inquiries among the proprietors of the shoe shining "par- 

 lors" bring the information that the use of rubber heels, 

 rubber soles and inlaid rubber soles is on the increase, especi- 

 ally the use of rubber heels. The rubber specialty houses 

 are doing a large business with the "repaired as you wait" 

 shoe shops, which are not infrequently operated in con- 

 junction with shoe shining and often by the same manage- 

 ment. The persistent advertising of the rubber heel manu- 

 facturers is bringing its reward, in Chicago, at least. 



* * * 



Rubber has made another contribution to the general 

 propaganda for hygiene and sanitation. Many drug and 

 novelty houses are making prominent displays of a rubber 

 "finger" toothbrush that at least has the merit of economizing 

 space. It has long, pointed rubber "bristles," and the con- 

 trivance is slipped over the index finger while in operation, 

 just like the stalls that doctors used to prescribe to protect 

 a crushed or wounded finger from further injury. Each brush 

 comes in a separate metal box, the whole fitting easily into 

 a vest pocket or a lady's purse. Some of the stores are 

 devoting whole windows to the display of this article. 



* * » 



The process of erecting a number of enormous office build- 

 ings is now under way in Chicago, and in many of these 

 rubber tiling is being laid in the upper hall floors as a sound 

 deadener, taking the place of the more common tile flooring. 



* * * 



A Jackson Boulevard stationer recently had a novel win- 

 dow display that engaged the amused attention of nearly 

 every passerby. The window was filled with almost two 

 hundred rubber dolls, male and female, and of every kind 

 and type. They were arranged in artistic groups, each kind 

 to itself. In the front was a large group of "men" dolls, 

 wearing tiny band uniforms. At the back of the window 

 space was a broad strip of rubber, across which was painted 

 in red letters: "We have all kinds of rubber bands," 



