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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August 1, 1914. 



RUBBER NOTES FROM JAPAN. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 THE LONDON EXHIBITION. 



JAP.AN contributed two exhibits of rubber goods to the Lon- 

 don Exhibition, which were respectively from the Rato 

 Co., of Asakusa, Tokio, and the Nakajima Co., of Honjo, Tokio. 

 The special feature of the former was the "Shield" (or protective) 

 tire, by which friction is avoided, while the latter mainly con- 

 sisted of plain and printed rubberized silk (Habutae). It in- 

 cluded a "Patent Life-Preserver of Rubber Fabric," as well as air 

 pillows and other articles which the company is in a position to 

 manufacture on a large scale. 



NEW J.'\P.'\NESE RUBBER COMPANIES. 



The present year has witnessed the establishment of several 

 new Japanese rubber companies. Among the most prominent is 

 the Kyokuto Rubber Co., incorporated April, 1914, with an au- 

 thorized capital of $75,000, one-fourth of v^hich has been paid 

 up. Its products are bicycle and solid tires, water-pillows, etc. 

 After the removal of the \Vatanal)e Works, its premises were 

 purchased by the newly established Fukagawa Rubber Works, of 

 Tokio. Rubber heels and gas tubing form the principal manu- 

 factures of this last-named company. 



Since last autumn the Nihon Rubber Works has been arrang- 

 ing to extend its line beyond medical specialties, so as to in- 

 clude tires, toy balloons and rubber cement. Last spring the 

 Kobe Rubber Co. sold out to its selling agents, its products 

 being bicycle tires, tubings and other rubber goods. The staff 

 now includes U. Inokuchi, a chemical manufacturer, as consult- 

 ing chemist. In May last, the Ebisa Rubber Co. was established 

 at Tokio for the manufacture of waterproof fabrics. This com- 

 pany's Osaka works, which have been making rubber hand balls, 

 now contemplate the addition of bicycle tires. 



RUBBER EXHIBITS AT THE "TAISHO" EXHIBITION. 

 The "Taisho" exhibition opened at Uyeno Park, Tokio, in the 

 spring of this year represents a capital of $800,000, being in- 

 tended to promote the development of Japanese commerce and 

 industry, in connection with the Imperial accession ceremonies. 

 With a total area of 82 acres, and with buildings covering 46,9.000 



1 liK .M.u iilNERV J;L"IU»I.\.... 



square feet, the 200,000 exhibitors have an excellent opportunity 

 for the display of their products, while the fourteen divisions 

 include a full representation of modern arts and industries. 

 Special structures are devoted to Industry, Transport, Fine 

 Arts, Forestry, Corea, Saghalien, Formosa, South Seas and 

 other subjects. The president is His Imperial Highness Prince 

 Kanin, and the director-in-chief is the Governor of the Prefecture 

 of Tokio. 



The rubber exhibits are broadly divided into those respectively 

 affecting production and consumption, the former being grouped 

 in the "South Sea" building, by which generic name the Chinese 



and Japanese call Siam, the Malay Peninsula, Java, Borneo, 

 Celebes, Sumatra, etc. In 17 large photographs are to be seen 

 the processes of making plantation rubber, while the exhibits in- 

 clude many grades of crude rubber, tapping knives and cups, 

 rubber plantation tools and other appliances. 



Exhibits of rubber manufactures are displayed in various of 

 the special buildings, a prominent position being occupied by 



The Indu.stry Building. 



the Dunlop Rubber Co. (Far East), Limited, of Wakinohama. 

 Kobe. This company (a branch of the English one) claims to 

 be making the best tires in Japan, and to be filling a large part 

 of the demand. Its exhibit includes automobile tires and tubes, 

 solid tires, bicycle tires, suction hose, packings, rubber heels, 

 etc. 



Jinrikishas with pneumatic tires are shown by about a dozen 

 Tokio makers, while a large number of exhibitors display motor 

 cars and bicycles constructed in Japan. 



Among various other exhibits of rubber manufacture are the 

 following : 



IMeiji Rubber Works, Tokio. — Electric workers' gloves, rubber 

 rolls for paper mills, rubber hose, ebonite. 



Nihon Kautchuk Work£, Tokio. — Spraying hose and repairing 

 compounds. 



Ida Rubber Co., Tokio. — Tubing and hose. 



Xipon Rubber Co., Ltd., Tokio. — Tires for military automobile 

 transport. 



Mitatsuchi Rubber Manufacturing Co., Tokio. — Ebonite bars, 

 tubes, plates and insulating materials. 



A large variety of rubber goods and druggists' specialties is 

 displayed by other leading Japanese exhibitors, some two dozen 

 or more in number. 



In the "Foreign Building'' the Japanese agents of various lead- 

 ing European automobile makers have specimens of their cars, 

 the tires being of Goodrich, Firestone, Continental, Michelin and 

 other makes. 



THE GOODRICH EXHIBIT. 



The B. F. Goodrich Co. is the largest rubber goods exhibitor, 

 occupying a space of nearly 7,200 square feet, its lines form- 

 ing an interesting display for the rubber trade of the world. 

 Included in the exhibit are all varieties of tires, repair outfits, 

 hose of various kinds, packings and a large assortment of 

 sundries, the total number of items being about 80. 



This comprehensive exhibit is a striking example of what 

 such an enterprising firm can do to bring its products before 

 the attention of foreign buyers in the face of such keen com- 

 petition as exists apparently in the Japanese market. 



Should be on every rubber man's desk — Crude Rubber and 

 Compounding Ingredients; Rubber Country of the Amazon; 

 Rubber Trade Directory of the World. 



