J-u-KE 1, 1921 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



685 



properties of alum. The behavior of alum as a coagulant has 

 been investigated from time to time and it was reported to be 

 a little inferior to acetic acid for this purpose. Its use was 

 recommended only in cases where acetic acid was not procurable. 

 It was also pouited out that acids such as sulphuric acid, which 

 were acetic acid one part to 1,200 parts of latex, and alum one 

 probably more harmful, particularly if used in quantities exceed- 

 ing the minimum needed for coagulation. 



To ascertain to what extent potash alum reduces the rate of 

 cure as compared with acetic acid, a number of samples were 

 prepared, vulcanized and tested. The propoitions throughout 

 were: acetic acid one part to 1,200 parts of latex, and alum one 

 p4rt to 400 parts of latex. 



The difference in rate of cure is altogether negligible. The 

 latex used contained a very small quantity of sodium sulphite 

 and, as the proportions of acetic acid and alum taken were only 

 just sufficient to produce complete coagulation in "unsulphitcd" 

 latex, it followed that the presence of sulphite resulted in a 

 slightly incomplete coagulation. The residual liquors were milky 

 in almost all cases. The results show that with "sulphited" latex 

 and barely sulficieiit coagulant to produce a clean coagulation, no 

 difference in the rate of cure results from substituting alum for 

 acetic acid. 



In a second series of tests the latex contained no sulphite, and 

 the proportions of acetic acid and alum taken as stated, the sam- 

 ples coagulated with alum cured on an avcrge ten per cent more 

 slowly than those cured with acetic acid. Incidentally, it may 

 be noted that this series of acetic and coagulated rubbers cured 

 about 20 per cent slower than the crepe samples of the preceding 

 series. This may be due to unavoidable changes in the condi- 

 tions of the experiments or the faster curing may have been 

 caused by the use of insufficient acid to produce complete coagu- 

 lation, resulting in. putrefactive changes setting in earlier than 

 in the later series. The efTect of excess of acids or acid reacting 

 substances, particularly strong acids, in retarding the rate of 

 cure may quite possibly be due to the inhibiting effect they exert 

 on putrefactive changes, tending to the formation of organic 

 bases. 



While it is not possible to make a direct comparison of alum 

 with sulphuric acid, one can indirectly arrive at an approximate 

 estimate of its effect on the rate of cure by comparing the results 

 in both cases with those obtained with acetic acid. The figures 

 appear to indicate that, while alum has a retarding effect on the 

 rate of cure when compared with acetic acid, this retarding efifect 

 is greater still in the case of sulphuric acid. Further samples are 

 in preparation for a direct comparison of all these coagulants. 



RUBBER TEA-POT SPOUTS IN ENGLAND 



A useful little article made of rubber is the tea-pot spout, 

 which is in growing demand in England, and may be used 

 either to protect a china spout from breaking or to replace one 

 already broken The colors most in demand are white and red, 

 although black is also used. In the case of the red and black 

 spouts, care must be taken to use a compound that will not 

 "bloom" after vulcanization. 



The manufacture entails considerable hand labor. The material 

 is first tubed to the required diameter, usually just a little under 

 9/16-inch. After standing for 24 hours the tubing is cut to 

 correct lengths, and into each piece a porcelain, white metal or 

 plaster of paris form is inserted. The spouts are then trimmed 

 carefully, packed in chalk in square tin trays, covered with a 

 piece of thin tin foil to protect them from wetting, and vul- 

 canized. They are then washed in a solution of soda and hot 

 water, then in clean water, dried and finally sewed on cards 

 which hold two dozen of each size, assorted colors, or all one 

 color, as the trade demand may require. — The India Rubber 

 Journal, London. 



THE "WILLARD"— A QUALITY FOUNTAIN PEN 



Though there are numerous styles of these fountain pens manu- 

 factured, all have the quality features — self-filling, 100 per cent 

 full, self-starting, self-cleaning, non-leakable, and non-sweating. 

 There are no projections on the barrel, and each pen is fitted with 

 a patented self-regulating automatic feed, preventing dropping 

 and flooding. With these superior qualities the pen having no 

 stubborn tendencies makes writing a pleasure. The barrel is 

 made of the best hand-turned Para rubber. The gold point is 

 of the best quality and tipped with the hardest iridium. — Willard 

 Pen Co., 318 West 39th street. New York, N. Y. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN THE MID-WEST 



By Our Regular Correspondent 

 THE MID-WEST RUBBER MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION 



THERE was marked interest shown at the Mid-West Rubber 

 Manufacturers' Association meeting held in Chicago, May 10. 

 While the Board of Directors was in session in the Chicago Ath- 

 letic Association, the Cooperative Committee held an important 

 session in the offices of the Association. A plan of action was 

 decided upon by the committee and deiinite recommendations were 

 made to the Board of Directors. 



W. W. Wuchter, Nebraska Tire & Rubber Co., presided at 

 the luncheon served to forty-eight members gathered about a 

 single table. The following were called upon for remarks : J. S. 

 Mouat, Ohmlac Paint & .Refining Co. ; Scott Kingwell, Tires; 

 S. P. Woodard, Gillette Tire & Rubber Co.; R. W. Lyon, The 

 Jefferson Rubber Co. ; W. F. Collins, Great Western Tire & Rub- 

 ber Co.; H. O. Smith, Racine Auto Tire Co.; S. W. Sweet, Elec- 

 tric Motor & Repair Co. ; Paul Elbogen, Fred Stern & Co. ; 

 Charles Christie, The Hawkeye Tire & Rubber Co. ; Wesley Wil- 

 son, Akron Rubber Mold & Machine Co.; J. A. Fleischli, The 

 Cupples Co., gave an interesting talk on air bags, and Harry 

 Herb, Harris Trust & Savings Bank, complimented the officers 

 and members of the Association. 



The principal speaker was Edward E. Gore, chairman of the 

 Federal Taxation Committee of the Chicago Association of Com- 

 merce, who ably discussed the difficulties encountered at Washing- 

 ton in seeking the correction of unjust taxation. He advocated 

 a court of appeals sitting in various centers of the country where 

 speedy corrections could be made. 



Twenty-two manufacturers from plants located in Wisconsin, 

 Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

 Ohio and New York met in executive sessions at 3 p. m., and 

 discussed most interestingly the business conditions prevailing in 

 their respective sections at this critical period. 



MISCELLANEOUS MID-WESTERN NOTES 



R. W. Smith, L. S. Neff and H. A. Boldt, who recently 

 purchased the stock and equipment of the Badger Tire Re- 

 pair Co., 142 Oneida street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and changed 

 the name to the Badger Tire & Equipment Co., hold the offices 

 of president and treasurer, vice-president, and secretary, re- 

 spectively. They were the former owners of the West Point 

 Tire & Supply Co., 27th and State streets, in the same city, or- 

 ganized as a copartnership by Mr. Smith and Mr. Boldt in May, 

 1919. The new company is state distributer for the "Liberty" 

 superheated steam vulcanizer, and also carries tires, accessories, 

 and vulcanizers' equipment. 



The Allied Golf Company, Chicago, III., makers of golf equip- 

 ment, have elected the following directors : A. J. Musselman, 

 Cliarles L. West, James S. White, T. Bendelow and C. R. 

 Wagner. There are about 200 stockholders in the company, prin- 

 cipally professional golfers, and most of the products arc being 

 sold to them at the present time. 



The Sieverkropp Engine Co., Racine, Wisconsin, has added 

 to its line a new' hydraulic mechanical press in several sizes, 

 for curing autoinobile tire beads and mechanical rubber goods, 

 as well as a cold press for automobile tire manufacturers. These 



