12 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[O IER I. IC)OQ. 



PROGRESSIVE RUBBER 

 CO., LIMITED. 



ton-covered fuse. 1 am not in the secrets of manufacture, 

 but an examination of some fuses, called by the miners 

 gutta percha fuse, showed that the coating consisted entirely 

 of sonic resinous matter. This, however, has in my own 

 experience always given satisfaction. Where this fuse is 

 i" explode the detonator in the gelignite when sinking. 

 the man who ignites it i- drawn up by the windlass or 

 engine as fast as possible to get out of harm's way. It is 

 not often that hitches occur in the means of escape, but 

 ■when they do. it is an anxious tunc for the miner who 

 knows that tin lighted fuse is rapidly approaching the dy- 

 namite. In the interests, therefore, of humanity, as well as 

 of the cable trade, the extended use of electric firing in mines 

 is desirable. In connection with this topic it is interesting to 

 note that tin- government have just announced their intention 

 to appoint a committee to consider the whole subject of the 

 employment of electricity in mines. 



In connection with this topic, it is interesting t" note that the 

 government have just announced their intention to appoint a 

 committee to consider the whole subject of the employment of 

 electricity in mines. 



This is a new concern, located at g Charles street, Man- 

 chester. The main object is the exploitation of certain pat- 

 ents relating to football covers, these, up 

 to now. having been invariably made of 

 leather. The cover being put on the 

 market by the Progressive Rubber Co. is made of rubber, or, at 

 any rate, principally of rubber, and it is claimed for it that it is 

 much superior to leather, especially in wet weather, when the 

 leather-covered sphere is apt to swell and undergo changes 

 in its symmetry. The rubber ball is said to retain its original 

 dimensions in any sort of weather, and thus to ensure greater 

 accuracy of play. My football days are long past and I am 

 not prepared to enter into any discussion on the mathematics 

 of a footballs's trajectory. I may say. however, that the new- 

 ball has received the approval of some of the football authori- 

 ties and will be used this season in recognized competitions. 

 The Progressive Rubber Co.'s patents relate to some other 

 classes of goods as well and I shall refer again at a later date 

 to the companys' doings. 



Mr. (). A. Ki.ias. a London analyst, has discovered a spe- 

 cific chemical which he says will revolutionize the present 

 methods of coagulating Para latex, both 

 he smoking and acetic methods. The 

 cost is not tn lie increased while the 

 product is in I., much improved. A small quantity is to be added 

 to the latex, when instantaneous coagulation will take place, 

 with the complete elimination of the proteids and the pro- 

 duction of a rubber which, when squeezed free from excess 

 water can be quickly dried to good white color. He ex- 

 plains that the tacky conditions which rubber often gets 

 into is due entirely to the proteids, which amount to 3 or 

 4 per cent, in Para latex. This figure seems rather high, and 

 1 don't know that there are any complaints about tackiness 

 in Brazilian line, though with some rather serious realities of 

 plantation line something of the sort may be met with. So 

 far the exact composition of the new specific does not 

 appear to have been made public. 



The report and accounts presented at the annual meeting 

 nf this company, held on August 24, showed a very satis- 

 factory state of affairs. In addition to 

 the 7 per cent, dividend on the prefer- 

 ence shares, the ordinary shares received 

 pel 'Hi and the sum of £1,936 was carried forward after 

 £2,300 had been allotted to reserve, etc. In its earlier years the 

 company had a somewhat chequered existence, paying no divi- 

 dend for 20 years, but of late years, under the energetic 

 managership of Mr. Hart, great progress has been made in 

 the recognition of the company's manufactures by engi- 



RUBBER 

 COAGULATION. 



THE DERMATINE 

 CO.. LIMITED. 



neers, whose wants are especially catered for. Considering 

 the long sustained depression we have experienced in so many 

 branches of engineering, and the reduced demand for me- 

 chanical rubbers, the Dennative company's balance sheet is 

 the more noteworthy. Last year the dividend on the ordi- 

 nary shares was 5 per cent. Since the death of Mr. John 

 Cooper, in October, 1004. Mr. R. F. II. Webb has been the 

 managing director. 



()\ August 2(1 two tank-, each containing 500 gallons of 

 naphtha, took lire at Messrs. Frankenstein's proofing works, 

 Newton Heath, Manchester. The efforts 

 of the Manchester lire brigade were suc- 

 cessful in preventing the destruction of 

 any part of the works, and the loss was confined to the naphtha. 

 No explanation as to the cause of the outbreak was forthcoming 

 at the time. I have no recollection of a similar fire in this 

 district where naphtha tanks are in common use. 



NAPHTHA 

 BLAZE. 



CARD FROM THE MURAC SYNDICATE. 



■"TO the Editor of the India Ri/ubek World: Referring to 

 ■*■ the article and comments on "Rubber Washing in the 

 Trade," in your September issue (page 430), we observe that 

 you mention our name, as being responsible for the business in 

 question, at the same time inferring that we are engaged in a 

 similar business to that carried on by another firm. 



Our business is quite distinct, being an entirely new departure, 

 to which the leading india-rubber brokers throughout the world 

 are giving their hearty support. We do not work or excessively 

 handle the rubbers, using no rolls, drying chambers or currents 

 of hot air. such as your article indicates. W'e produce our rub- 

 bers in practically their natural state, thus preserving in every 

 respect their good properties and behaviors. 



That our efforts are appreciated by all connected with the 

 crude rubber trade, we can only say in confirmation, that the 

 volume of business has been so rapid, that in a number of in- 

 stances we have had to decline further contracts, owing to our 

 outputs being nearly, if not entirely, sold. 



We trust you will kindly give this publicity, by the insertion 

 of this letter in your next issue. Yours truly, 



THE BRITISH MURAC SYNDICATE, LIMITED, 

 MoBLAMi M. Dessau, Joint Managei 

 Lower Edmonton, London, September 1.1, 'gog. 



MEXICAN RUBBER PLANTERS AND THE STATE. 



I FROM nit: MEXICAN HERALD.] 



THE rubber planters of the northern part of the republic 

 have held two meetings for the general advance of the 

 rubber interests In tin last session a committee was 

 named to approach the secretary of fomento and obtain 

 government assistance. 



The association, represented by the committee, mad. se> 

 eral requests of the minister. They desire that a central 

 body be formed ill Mexico City for the investigation of 

 questions relating to tin subject of rubber producing and 

 that eleven experiment station, be established in various 

 parts of the republic for the purpose. An appropriation oi 

 $10,000 is asked for the maintenance of the central body and 

 its laboratory. A further appropriation of $35,000 is requested 

 for the publication of works relating to the subject, giving 

 results achieved by the expt riment stations. 



The secretary of fomento has not yet taken any action with 

 regard to these requests. He may. in place of authorizing 

 this association to pursue investigations at the expense of the 

 government, order greater emphasis on the subject in the 

 work of tin- agricultural stations already established. 



A copy of the Index to "Crude Rubber and Compounding In- 

 gredients" is s t ni free on request. 



