440 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD. 



[September i, 1910. 



BIRD'S EYE \ IEW OF 



Mil PLANT OF THE B. I GOODRICH CO. (AKRON, OHIO). 



for making molds. It was not long after the incorporation of 

 this company that the first factory enlargement was made. "I his 

 was small, but it was followed by others as the business of the 

 company developed, until buildings began to be added every year. 

 Ultimately plans were adopted for the entire rebuilding of the 

 plant, so that all structures put up since 1906 have been of rein- 

 ncrete. and to-day the removal of all the old buildings 

 has been about completed. 



Upon the site of the first little brick structure occupied by Dr. 

 Goodrich and his friend, Tew, now stand'- a complete building, 

 six stories high, .350 x So feet, and there are several other build- 

 ings of the same size. A single new building now under con- 

 struction will contain a greater floor area than the entire Good- 

 rich plant did ten years ago. The company is said to have the 

 largest mechanical rubber goods factory in the world. It is the 

 I extensive institute n in existence with an output represent- 

 ing every kind of rubber product other than insulated wire and 

 waterproof clothing. The buildings cover twenty-two acres of 

 nd and an army of empli yes w rks in well lighted and clean 

 I lie thousand men who work at night have the benefit 

 of 10,000 incandescent and [35 arc lights. Naturally the develop- 

 ment of a bit situ--- from Mich small beginning to our justifying 

 a capitalization of Jjo.oco.ooo, has been the result of a finely or- 

 ganized system, re]. resented to-daj by combination of twenty-five 

 Separate department-, each largely independent, but all combined 

 together under one administration. 



The buildings in Akron are not all that are owned by the 



company. The structure which they own in New York is a 

 notable addition to the business buildings of the city. In Boston 

 a very extensive building is devi -ted entirely to the needs of the 

 company. They have branches in twenty other American cities, 

 and likewise in London, in Paris, in Mexico, and in Toronto. 

 Thus wdierever a demand exists for their goods there is a center 

 from which their customers can readily be served. 



I he development which the company has contributed to the 

 entire rubber manufacturing industry is no less striking. Be- 

 ginning with the primitive effort of Goodrich, Akron is regarded 

 no,w throughout the world as the rubber factory center of the 

 United States. It is the manufacturing home to-day of fourteen 

 rubber companies. 



|0©0!QGGS R til 1 m* 



From ax Early Goodrich Letter Head. 



Dr. Got drich did net live to witness the substantial success of 

 his company, having died in time for his obituary to be reported 

 in the initial issue of The Inmi \ Rubber World twenty-one years 

 ago, Many fortunes have been made meanwhile by his asso- 

 ciates, who remained in the business, or who grow up in its 

 emp li y. This din- not apply, however, to his earliest business 

 partner, who retire.] before he Eelt the profits of the business 

 to 1 ■■ assured. 



Sketches of Colonel Perkins, li ng time president of The B. F. 

 Go drich Co., of Mr. Bertram G. Work, long the active head 

 and n w president; the late Henry C. Corson, and of others who 

 have c mtributed actively to the success of the company, have ap- 

 1 ■. an d in these pages. 



Tim imports into Germany of Mexican rubber during the 

 first six months of 1010 amounted to 1,383,140 pounds, 

 against 050.180 pi unds for the same months of last year. The 

 ereater part of this must be presumed to be guayule rubber. 



The Original Goodrich Rubber Factory. 



In the interest of economy orders have been issued to the 

 employes of the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. to be more careful 

 in the use of rubber bands, and to use twine whenever this will 

 answer the same purpose. The company used $7,000 worth of 

 rubber bands last year. 



