128 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[DECEMBE2 1. 1913. 



RUBBER TRADE IN BOSTON. 

 By a Resident Corresfondent. 



A^OST departments of the rubber industry are more or less 

 ■^•■*- affected by the genera] conserv-arism which pre\-aiU in 

 all bnes of business. However, there are exceptions, and the 

 most notable one is the clothing business, which seems not only 

 to have escaped the general tendeno.-. but has been and still is 

 enjoying a lively demand which, in more cases than one. has 

 caused ilie producers some trouble to keep pace with the wants 

 of their custoniers. The lire business seems excellent for this 

 time of the year, which is in many respects regarded as the quiet 

 season. While some factories are making up stock for spring 

 deliver}- or in anticipation of the demand that will certainly 

 'e year, others claim to have enough to keQ> their 

 -le time yet on orders already taken. 



manufacturers would have larger order; 

 ■;ons more favorable for retail trade, but the 

 :rease m the call for tennis lines and the demand for 

 :_. .- l.s help to make business good for the factories which 

 are turning their attention to these lines. Mechanical goods go 

 moderately, and druggists' goods manufacturers are not com- 

 p'aining. 



shifts at work regularly for 



The Goodyear Tire & Rubber G>. has opened its new store 

 and offices near the Fenway Park baseball grounds. This section 

 is fast being appropriated by automobile warerooms. tire manu- 

 facturers' agencies and supply stores. Commonwealth avenue, 

 originally intended exclusively as a residence ' 'fare, now 



has been almost entirely built up between -.reet and 



Brighton avenue w-- warerooms for a^iiv-m^biles and 



motor accessories. ^ ear company occupi^ a fine build- 



ing at 61 Brookline : a short distance from the junction 



of Beacon street t: r.nwealth avenue. Thus another 



leading house has deserted the Boybton street automobile dis- 

 trict, which has been in a tnraroil of confusion for months owing 

 to the building of the new subway. 

 « « * 



Boston went football mad en Saturday, the twentv — .. ;. . .: 

 last month, when Har\-ard and Yale met in the stadium. The 

 Enterprise Rubber Co., equal to the occasion, nlled one of its 

 big show windows with a football display which was the talk of 

 the town. The floor of. the window was jnarked off like a 

 regular "gridirdL" Two teams of players faced each other, the 

 ball on the central line. The players were red rubber toj- dolls 

 about six inches high. One set had crimson ribbons across their 

 breasts, the other similarly designated by blue ribbons. Hanard 

 had a donkey as a mascot; Yale was famished with a goat and 

 also a dwarf player, \\lth this as a central attraction, the rest 

 of the window was appropriately nlled. There were lay ngures, 

 lifesize, of a man and woman, at each side, one couple displaying 

 the crimson, the other the blue. There were footbaU shoes, foot- 

 t-alls. warm overshoes and windproof coats to complete the 

 advertising effectiveness of the window. 

 « • * 



The .Avon Sole Co., which manufactures soles for leather boots 

 and shc*5. is now running a night shift, to keep abreast of the 

 demand. Originally started in a small way, under the direction 

 cf the i-vcn*or. Raymond E. Drake, the day force has now 

 reached 35 hands and the night force 30 hands. The sole, which 

 is known as the "Ihi-Flex.' is made of shredded leather and 

 rubber, well mixed and firmly vulcanized together. This sole, it 

 is claimed, will wear longer than either a leather or a rubber 

 sole, while its composite nature makes it non-slip in effect. It 

 sews well en the shc'e machines, finishes well on the edge, and 

 while the present demand for rubber soles continues it must 

 enjoy a good trade. The company makes a sole with double-wear 

 heel and toe. but has given one shoe manufacturing concern in 

 Brockton the exclusive right to this specialty. The company has 



Christmas is coming, and many lines of business which do not 



naturally gain much by the holiday trade, because of the staple 



character of their product, are endeavoring to catch some of the 



g.-;__ -:-"--s by giving a holiday touch to their goods. Some 



four years ago — maybe five — the -\psley 



R'.ibber Co. made a daintj^ little rubber 



I : ot, gracefully curved at the top, with 



pebbled leg, bright finish and a pink 



fleece lining. Each pair was packed in a 



substantial pasteboard box, covered with 



paper embeUished with holly leaves and 



berries. A handsome card, appropiiately 



worded and illuminated, was also en- 



closed- 



About the same time, the Hood Rub- 

 .r Co_ taking advantace "f t'le rettais- 

 sance (if so it might the 



little red-top leather ren, 



got out a red-top rubber boot for Christ- 

 mas circulation. This was a regular 

 short boot, except that it had a band of 

 red fabric about t'ottr inches wide at the top. Like the Apsley 

 boots, these were sent to the trade in Christmas souvenir boxes. 



The latest, however, is a combination made for the Duck Brand 

 Cr. !t is called the '"Kid's Combination Set.'' and consist; -t a 



ilip-on, a pair of rubber boots, and a hat of wa 

 --_..:. J. All •"nese are packed in a Jjolly-trimmed box, :.:.^ ,;- 



lix^^^ s^*' 



"Kid's Combix.itiox Oitfit." 



tainly should be attractive to the active boy or girl who isn't 



afraid of wet weather. The illustration shows a youngster 



clothed in the outfit, while a duplicate set is shown with the box 



in which it comes from the factory. 

 * * * 



The Rubber Tire Bowling League, which has been so suc- 

 cessful in former years, starts out for a busy season. The league 

 has transferred its activities to the -\dams Square alleys, con- 

 tiguous to the automobile district, where eight teams are 

 able to contend at one time. Contests are booked for 

 every Friday night. The league officers are: Fred Dougherty, 

 of the Lee Tire Co.. president: .A L. Cherry, secretary; P. L 



