13: 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



November 1, 1920 



notices to the eflfcct that no notice is given or required. This 

 summary procedure, which is by no means common in our in- 

 dustries generally, seems to have had its origin in the tendency 

 of a workman under a week's notice to go back or possibly to do 

 damage to a serious amount. It is the few black sheep among 

 the hands that have caused manufacturers to apply this rule to 

 workmen generally. 



NEWS NOTES 



In a recent British report on progress in the chemistry of oils 

 and fats I read that a new use for lead oleate is reported from the 

 United States, where it has been used successfully to prevent 

 tackiness in manufacturing rubber goods. It is further stated 

 that the consumption for this purpose amounts to about one mil- 

 lion pounds a year. I do not remember seeing any reference to 

 this in rubber technical literature. The lead soap takes the place 

 of the ordinary soap which is used by the web mixers in pre- 

 paring the dough in proofing works. 



The writer recently had the pleasure of a call from John 

 Young, chief chemist of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.. Akron, 

 Ohio, and allowed him to depart without the ordeal of an "inter- 

 view" on the general conditions of the American rubber trade. 

 On the scientific side Mr. Young was informative on the continu- 

 ous progress which is being made in American works in the way 

 of laboratory equipment. 



A good index of the extent to which sponge rubber manufac- 

 ture has attained is the large amount of waste now arriving at the 

 reclaimers' premises. This does not consist of individual sponges 

 collected from bath rooms but of factory clippings. Sponge rub- 

 ber is not limited to its original use but is employed for making 

 a variety of rubber goods, hence the increased volume of waste 

 available. 



A business meeting to be followed by a luncheon is to be held 

 at the Queen's Hotel, Manchester, on October 8, in connection 

 with the proposed Rubber Club. It is reported that the initiation 

 of the club is progressing satisfactorily, though from what I hear 

 in the trade there is likely to be considerable opposition to the 

 proposal that agents, travelers, holders of junior posts in works, 

 etc., shall be eligible for membership. In fact, the fixing of a 

 datum line as to eligibility seems likely lo prove a difficult matter. 



At a recent Government auction of boots all the leather quali- 

 ties went off easily, while no satisfactory bid was obtained for 

 the rubber boots and galoshes. I suppose buyers were afraid 

 of having them left on their hands, as rubber footwear has not 

 really made much progress in this country in popular estimation. 



Walter Wild has severed his connection with the Victory Rub- 

 ber Co., Leyland, maker of rubber fiber boot soles. 



S. J. Peachey is to read a paper on his cold vulcanizing pro- 

 cess at the Manchester Section of the Society of Chemical In- 

 dustry in November. 



Horsfall & Bickham, Limited,, Pendleton, Manchester, maker 

 of rubber-faced and composition card clothing, has just com- 

 pleted a large extension to its wire-drawing department and 

 made other alterations to the works, which were founded in 1S35. 

 H. H. Worthington is the chairman of directors and P. C. Briggs 

 managing director. There are several firms in Yorkshire which 

 buy card cloth foundations, card and reed wire steel points, etc., 

 from the few manufacturers who do the whole of the processes, 

 and then they assemble the parts into the finished article. Prob- 

 ably there are not as many as half a dozen works in England 

 where the whole process of wire drawing and rubber manufacture 

 is carried on by the same firm. 



RUBBER GROWERS PLAN TO RESTRICT OUTPUT 



.Anticipating a large increase in the demand for tires and other 

 rubber goods, the Americans were heavy crude rubber buyers 

 last autumn and in the early months of this year, and as it 

 turns out, the rubber mills have over-manufactured. Transpor- 

 tation difficulties, the limitation of credits and failure of an- 

 ticipated tire demands, however, beset manufacturers who now 

 hold unusual stocks. We have learned that work forces are 

 greatly reduced in American factories. 



The position is much the same in this country. High taxa- 

 tion — especially the increase in excess profits duty — and labor 

 unrest have created uncertainty and thereby limited devel- 

 opment. It is unlikely that British manufacturers will take as 

 much crude rubber m 1920 as they did in 1919, and the defi- 

 ciency may reach, if it does not exceed 10,000 tons. Nor can 

 it be said that the immediate prospects are encouraging. The 

 increased tax on motor cars which will come into operation on 

 January 1, 1921, and the high cost of motor spirit will reduce the 

 use of motor cars, curb development in motor traction and lessen 

 the demand for tires. 



The Rubber Growers .Association has given the matter serious 

 consideration and has given the Output Control Committee in- 

 structions to submit a plan for restriction of crude rubber output. 

 It appears, however, that the situation is now worse than it 

 was in the early part of 1918, when the previous restriction plan 

 was adopted by the Association. Then, about 70 per cent of the 

 acreage represented by the Association restricted production. 

 Not only 30 per cent of membership, but also the local com- 

 panies of the East and the Dutch interests withheld support. 

 The plan was therefore only a partial success, but it eventually 

 had a most beneficial effect upon the markets. 



Entirely different conditions now prevail. As a result of the 

 previous restriction scheme there are now a number of strong 

 producers' associations. The Association of Singapore is a 

 strong body in good hands, and there was formed last May a 

 Chinese Planters' Association. Quite a large area is Chinese- 

 owned. The serious position which has arisen appears to be 

 realized in the East, and telegrams have been sent from prom- 

 inent agents in Malaya urging restriction. 



While the extent of the restriction is not yet known, it is 

 understood that the proposal is to restrict output during the 

 month; of October, November and December, and to continue 

 the restriction in a modified fonn during 1921, or until the present 

 stocks are brought within reasonable limits. An examination of 

 the crops return for the month of August indicates that very 

 large producing companies have followed the advice of the 

 association in the adoption of the alternate-day tapping. It is 

 made clear that there is no occasion for panic, as companies 

 whose directors have sold forward at prices current early in the 

 year will still have a fair average. The matter, however, de- 

 mands immediate attention and the application of the only pos- 

 sible remcdv. 



The American Chamber of Commerce in London is advised 

 by its Automobile Section to remind American exporters, not only 

 of automobile accessories but in all lines of trade, that American 

 trade-marked articles coming into Great Britain must bear th{ 

 words "Made in U. S. A.," or equivalent indication of the countrj 

 of origin. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN GERMANY 



By a Special Correspondent 



THE LEIPSIG FAIR 



ONK oi the leading indicators of industrial prosperity in Ger- 

 many is always the Leipsig Fair. From the attention which 

 this large wbolcs.ile market finds among German and foreign 

 buyers an impression may be gained of the state of the German 

 business during the next six months until a new Leipsig Fair lays 

 the foundation for the coming half year. The German rubber 

 industry is interested in two sections of the Leipsig Fair, the so- 

 called technical fair and the general sample fair which follows the 

 first. It may be said that the present autumn fair has been some- 

 what of a disappointment for manufacturers and buyers alike. 

 But the trouble lies deeper than may be expected from the actual 



