1/1. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Dkirmber 1, 1920 



The results are given in the table below as parts of sulphur per 

 100 ot rubber: 



Sulphur in Kciin 



Sulphur ill Coeflficieut and S. Compounds 



Alc.-KOH ofVul- (Sol. in .\cctonc) 



Extract canization (by Difference) 



0.00 6.61 0.00 



0.00 1.03 0.04 



0.03 1.21 0.02 



O.03 1.63 0.16 



0.07 1.93 0.46 



0.13 2.30 0.45 



0.26 2.51 0.47 



0.33 2.88 0.52 



0.49 3.14 0.52 



0.34 3.54 0.58 



From these results it is evident that the theories of vulcaniza- 

 tion proposed in the past, none of which took into account the 

 formation of these compounds, are based on false figures and 

 cannot be considered sufficiently accurate. 



SUMMAHY 



Of these two new methods for rubber analysis the first gives 

 the correct value for tree or elementary sulphur in rubber goods, 

 and the second a lower and more accurate value for the co- 

 efficient of vulcanization than can be obtained by any of the older 

 methods. This work was all done on pure gum stock without 

 any accelerator, and the methods developed are now being ex- 

 panded to meet the conditions which obtain in compounded stocks. 



TIRE PRICES REDUCED 



A-S their contribution toward the price adjustments being made 

 in most industries throughout the country, in order to 

 stabilize business and restore normal living conditions, several 

 leading American tire companies have announced sweeping re- 

 ductions which put prices back where they were before the 

 general price advance in March went into efifect. Other com- 

 panies are expected to take a similar course. 



These price reductions were not unexpected, as it had been 

 no secret for some time that the process of liquidating inventories 

 had proved slow and that cancellations of orders and a decline 

 of new business had found some manufacturers with rather 

 heavy stocks on hand. Evidence of this condition has been seen 

 in the gradual increase in unemployment in Akron and other 

 rubber centers attendant upon the curtailment of operations by 

 tire companies. 



Last spring price advances of 15 to 20 per cent were made 

 and dealers stocked up heavily in advance. Sales fell off greatly 

 during the -iummer, however, due partly to the wave of economy 

 and retrenchment which has swept the country and the resulting 

 general depression in the motor trades; partly to the declining 

 raw material market, and partly to the fact that cord tires are 

 giving a surprisingly long mileage. 



Instead of attempting to maintain a high level of prices until 

 the high cost tires on hand are moved, leading tire manufac- 

 turers are meeting the general decline in the raw material mar- 

 ket with a reduction in prices to stimulate trade, thus giving 

 consumers the benefit of the reduction during the autumn riding 

 season when many replacements are usually required and prepara- 

 tions are made for winter driving. 



Since last spring the two principal commodities entering into 

 tire manufacture have dropped off sharply in price, and these 

 are important factors in the price reductions announced. Crude 

 rubber, which a few months ago was selling at SO cents per 

 pound, is now quoted at less than 18 cents, the lowest price 

 in history. Cotton has dropped from 40 cents to 20 cents a 

 pound, and fabrics which were selling at $2.80 per pound early 

 in the year are now quoted at $1.85. Labor costs alone are still 

 at their highest figure. 



Following the lead of the Ford Motor Co. in reducing car 

 prices to meet the consumer demand, the Lee Tire & Rubber 

 Co. with commendable foresight led the way in tire price re- 

 ductions. Efli'ective October 1, reductions of IS to 20 per cent 



were made on its entire line of fabric, cord, puncture-proof 

 fabric and puncture-proof cord tires. Although raw material 

 costs on that date did not fully justify these reductions, officials 

 of the company were convinced that future costs of materials 

 would be certain to justify them. The new prices represent a 

 considerable sacrilice of profits, but it was felt that the company 

 in shouldering this loss was taking a big and necessary step 

 toward the restoration of general conditions to a pre-war basis. 



The United States Rubber Co., with no forward purchases 

 of crude rubber and favorably situated with respect to fabric 

 supplies, was quick to meet the trend of the times toward lower 

 levels, and eft'ective November 1 announced a reduction of 15 

 per cent on inner tubes ; 12^4 per cent on Ford size fabric tires ; 

 10 per cent on all other fabric tires and solid truck tires. Also, 

 a slightly smaller reduction on Royal Cords. 



The Mason Tire & Rubber Co., has published price reductions 

 up to 12;'2 per cent effective November 1 on all its production, 

 incluuing fabric, junior cord and regular cord tires and tubes 

 for passenger automobiles, and pneumatic, solid and cushion 

 truck tires. Ownership and operation of its own tire fabric 

 spinning and weaving mills, which produce its entire supply of 

 cord fabrics, is a big factor in this company's ability to reduce 

 prices at this time. 



Price reductions by The B. F. Goodrich Co., effective Novem- 

 ber 1, range from 9 to 15 per cent and average 12 to 13 per cent. 



The new list of the .\jax Rubber Co. shows reductions running 

 from 10 to IS per cent on all grades and types. 



The Fisk Rubber Co. reductions, effective November 1, were 

 10 to IS per cent on all cord and fabric tires except Ford sizes, 

 which were slightly advanced. 



Effective November 15, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. re- 

 duced its prices 75^ per cent on .\11-Weather tread cord casings 

 and 14 per cent on fabric casings. The prices of inner tubes 

 remain unchanged. 



The Miller Rubber Co. reductions, effective November 15, are 

 5 per cent on heavy duty tires ; 7 per cent on cords ; 12^ per 

 cent on Ford sizes, and 10 per cent on all others. 



The Pennsylvania Rubber Co. reductions, effective November 

 15, are 10 per cent on fabrics, 7 per cent on cords. 



The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. has announced reduced 

 prices on its line of fabric tires only, the manufacture of which 

 has been discontinued by the company. 



It is believed that these price reductions will induce many 

 motorists who had thought to put their cars into winter storage, 

 because new tires were needed, to reequip and keep them in com- 

 mission for the winter. Winter motoring affords many pleas- 

 ures and advantages, and with the numerous devices on the mar- 

 ket for comfort and safety has become increasingly popular in 

 recent years. Indications are that the winter will be a mild one, 

 and extensive preparations are everywhere being made to keep 

 the main roads open to traffic throughout the season. 



Tire company officials are optimistic and believe the bottom 

 of the slump has been reached. They report a steady movement 

 of surplus tire stocks from the warerooms of dealers throughout 

 the country, but do not anticipate a return to normal production 

 for some months yet. Several plants were closed a week for 

 inventory taking and most of them are operating with a cur- 

 tailed force or on a part-time basis. 



Tire price reductions are beginning to be reflected in other 

 lines of rubber goods, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and 

 the Manhattan Rubl)er Manufacturing Co. having cut prices on 

 certain lines of mechanical rubber goods 10 per cent. It is be- 

 lieved that reduced prices may be named on all lines of me- • 

 cli.-mical rubber products owing to the liquidating pressure in 

 certain quarters of the industry. 



"Crudk Rubber .\xd Compounding Ingredients" should be in 

 the library of every progressive rubber man. 



