252 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February 1. 1914. 



THE FAMOUS HOUSE OF FABER. 



THE rubber factory of Eberhard Fabcr, known as the 

 Eberhard Faber Rubber Co., was established in Newark 

 in 1858 by Christopher Roberts. Mr. Roberts, born in Man- 

 chester, England, in 1827, where he learned the business of 

 rubber manufacturing, came to Providence. Rhode Island, in 

 1849, to install some rubber machinery for a relative in busi- 

 ness there. He concluded to remain in this country, and 

 established a small factory, removing to Newark in 1858. .\t 

 that time he entered into an arrangement with Eberhard 

 Faber. father of the present head of the firm, to manufacture 

 rubber bands and rubber erasers, the entire product of the 

 factory to be taken exclusively by Eberhard Faber and mar- 

 keted in his name. It is a remarkable fact and one worthy of 



Eberhard I-'aber. 



note that the arrangement n.adc al that tniie, by word of 

 mouth only, was continued without interruption until the 

 death of Mr. Roberts in 1903. During that entire period there 

 was absolute harmony in the business relations of the two 

 companies — a commentary indeed upon the high character of 

 these two men. 



From 1858 to 1884 the rubber factory was conducted under 

 the name of Christopher Roberts. In 1884 the style was 

 changed to C. Roberts & Co., a firm in which the present 

 Eberhard Faber was a partner. In 1898 a corporation was 

 formed known as the C. Roberts Rubber Co.. of which Mr. 

 Faber was vice-president. In December, 1910, the interests 

 of the Roberts heirs were purchased by Eberhard Faber. and in 

 1913 the name was changed to the Eberhard Faber Rubber Co. 



Eberhard Faber. the head of the house of that name since 

 the death of his father in 1879, has assumed the management 

 of t'le business. He has taken an active interest in all de- 

 partments, including not only the rubber factory, but the large 

 Brooklyn factory, where the lead pencils and penholders are 

 manufactured. Tho an enthusiastic golfer and one of the 

 best known whist players in the country, having formerly 

 been president of the .'American Whist League, he is assiduous 

 in his attention to the extensive business of which he is the 

 head. 



Mr. I'aber is a prominent clubman, being a member of the 

 .Mdine Club, the Fox Hills Club and Richmond County Coun- 

 try Club of Staten Island, the New York Athletic Club, the 

 German Club and the German Liederkranz. His summer 

 residence on the north shore of Staten Island enables him 

 to conveniently indulge in his favorite sport of golf. During 

 the winter months he occupies a spacious residence on West 

 End avenue, New York. 



REDUCTION OF RUBBER FOOTWEAR PRICES. 



171 I.IILLI.XG the general expectation that prevailed in the 

 *■ irade. the new price lists of the L'nited States Rubber Co., is- 

 sued on January 1, show a material price reduction through the 

 entire line. The company issues both gross and net lists. The 

 changes in the gross lists are few and immaterial, but the 

 changes in the net list are general and substantial. Below there is 

 ■.lidwn in tabulated form the prices of a year ago of twelve diflfer- 

 cnt staple varieties of rubber boots and shoes, the new prices of 

 this year, the amount of the reduction and the percentage of re- 

 'luction. This list includes boots, lumbermen's shoes, arctics, 

 i;aiters and light shoes for both men and women. In the par- 

 ticular goods listed the reduction exceeds 10 per cent, in every 

 instance except one, viz., women's croquets in cartons: and in 

 one instance — in men's heavy four-buckle gaiters — the reduction 

 is over 16 per cent. From this table it will be seen that the 

 average reduction is over 11 per cent. 



r.Mil.E SHOWING AMOUNT AND PERCENTAGE OF REDACTION IN FOOT- 

 WEAR PRICES ANNOfNCED JANUARY 1. 1914. 



Per- 

 Net Net .Amount centage 

 Price Price of Re- of Re- 

 1913. 1914. duction. duction. 



Men's Duck Hip Boots .>14 4 S3 0.61 11.87 



.Men's Gum Storm-King Boots.. 3.78 3M 0.45 11.90 



Men's Duck Short Boots 3.67 3.24 0.43 11.71 



Men's Gum Short Boots 3.18 2.75 0,43 13,52 



Men's One-Buckle Duck Perfec- 

 tions 1.74 1.54 0.20 II. .^0 



Men's One-Buckle Gum Perfec- 

 tions 1.63 1.44 0.19 11.66 



Men's Heavy Arctics 131 1.15 0.16 12.21 



Men's Heavy Four-Buckle Gait- 

 ers ' 2.22 1.85 0.37 16.66 



Men's Plain Sandals in cartons. 0.78 0.69 0.09 11.54 

 Women's Four-Buckle Gaiters in 



cartons 2.06 1.82 0.24 11.65 



Women's Croquets in cartons... 0.54 0.49 0.05 9.26 



Women's Storm Slippers in 



cartons 0,59 0,53 0.06 10,17 



Both the trade and the consuming public ought to be very well 

 satisfied with these lower prices. To be sure, crude rubber in 

 January. 1913. ranged from 102 to 109, while in the January 

 just past Upriver Fine ranged from 73 to 77 — being a decrease 

 of about 30 per cent, from the prices of a year ago. But crude 

 rubber is not the only ingredient of rubber footwear (tho it is an 

 exceedingly important one, notwithstanding the gibes of the 

 humorist and the complaints of the chronically grouchy to the 

 contrary) and the other items of cost have in some cases shown 

 an increase— as, for instance, the general cost of labor. So that, 

 taking the situation as a whole, the manufacturers seem to have 

 lowered their prices as much as is consistent with conservative 

 business policy. The other manufacturers will undoubtedly fol- 

 low the schedule of prices announced liy the United States 

 Rubber Co. 



Replete with information for rubber manufacturers — Mr. 

 Pearson's "Crude Rubber and Compounding Ingredients." 



