!10 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



December 1. 1920 



American motor cars the demand for straight-side tires is con- 

 stantly increasing. The sources of supply for rubber tires are 

 France. Italy, England and the United States, in their relative 

 order. Solid tires are manufactured in Switzerland and imported 

 principally from P'rance and Italy. 



Swiss imports of rubber and rubber goods during 1919 as com- 

 pared with 1913 and 1918, follow: 



Cla.ssificalion ]913 I9ig 1919 



Tubes, hose, pipes without internal lavers of 



other materials ' $30,967 $43,584 $147,793 



Tubes, hose, pipes with internal layers of 



other materials 1,007,358 358,956 1,986,313 



Strips, sheets, plates, plugs, etc., without 



layers of otlicr materials 287,578 81.890 1,305,967 



Plates, rings, strips, etc., with internal lay- 

 ers of metal or textile materials 203,657 119.086 716,280 



Footwear 80,674 19,741 248,693 



Fabrics combined with india rubber for in- 



d'.i.strial use 49,553 70,689 87.165 



India rubber or gutta percha applied to fab- 

 rics or other materials; waterproof sheeting 60,795 12,146 60.092 



.Articles for india rubber or Kutta percha 



n. e. s 290,716 121,637 231,547 



In the first four classes in the foregoing table France supplied 

 the greater per cent of the shipments. Great Britain and Italy 

 also figured in this trade, but the part played by the United States 

 was small. However, in the rubber footwear trade the United 

 States led, followed by Austria. The value of shipments frnm the 

 l"nited States amounted to $177,691. 



Market for rubber boots is not favorable, but rubber shoes find 

 a ready sale. These goods are imported from America. France, 

 England, and Italy. This year a great many rubber shoes were 

 supplied by Austria. These, although very cheap, are of excellent 

 quality and of a style well liked by the people here. In pre-war 

 days Russia and Germany were the principal sources of supply. 



Electricity and motors have diminished the use of many mechan- 

 ical goods; leather is easily obtainable here, and rubber belting 

 is, therefore, little if ever used. There were no imports of rubber 

 belting in 1918 and 1919. In 1913 the total value of imports 

 reached $3,570. Metal is generally used here for packing purposes 

 in preference to rubber. 



Goods classed as "other rubber goods'' arc supplied by France, 

 Italy, England. United States. Germany, and Austria, and the 

 market conditions are good for most of them. These articles are 

 distributed by jobbers, retailers, and commission agents. Pay- 

 ments are generally effected by consignment, f. o. b., or cash with 

 order. 



Gabardines and rainproof cloth, such as oilskins, etc., of special 

 styles, are worn here ; but as a rule rubber clothing is little used 

 in Switzerland. 



There are five factories in Switzerland manufacturing cables 

 and rubber-insulated wire. Wire is greatly used, but this article 

 has to be of a special construction, with insulation consisting 

 chiefly of paper. The Italian firm of Pirelli makes the Swiss 

 specification, and most of the wire sold here is obtained from this 

 concern. The Swiss Government is the principal buyer of wire 

 and cables, and bids must be submitted for contracts. 



Regarding rubber soles and heels, as leather is cheap in Switzer- 

 land substitutes are in little demand, but soles to be nailed on 

 are salable if cheap enough. .\s concerns round heels and leather 

 center heels, very cheap qualities are mostly in use. 



Cheap rubber toys are imported from England, France, and 

 chiefly from Germany. During 1920 a great many toys have been 

 imported from the latter country at very low prices. Toys im- 

 ported from these countries appeal to the people because of their 

 design. Imports from the United States are small. 



Friction tape manufactured in Switzerland is of a poor quality. 

 American tape is preferred, and would find a ready sale if de- 

 liveries could be made within a reasonable time. 



As concerns druggists' sundries, market conditions are very 

 favorable. Sponges, syringes, hot-water bottles, tubing, etc., are 

 in good demand. These articles are imported mostly from Eng- 

 land, America. France, Italy and Germany. 



UNITED KINGDOM 



The total number of rubber workers in the United Kingdom in 

 January. 1920, was estimated at 71,000 (37,000 males and 34,000 

 females). In these figures arc included a small proportion of 

 rubber workers employed at establishments other than india rub- 

 ber manufacturing plants. 



In .'\pril. 1919, the number of firms engaged in all branches of 

 the india ruliber manufacturing industry, including the manufac- 

 ture of rubber goods, was 464. according to the Ministry of Labor. 



With reference to the marketing of belting, hose, packings and 

 similar goods, the usual method of supplying is through the me- 

 dium of rubber factors, or companies, selling engineering supplies. 

 There is a substantial amount of business, especially rubber belt- 

 ing, which is done direct with the larger plants, and there is also 

 a market for rubber goods with manufacturers of articles who use 

 a certain amount of manufactured rubber goods as a component 

 part of their production. 



The total imports of rubber l>oots and shoes reach a large fig- 

 ure, but an increasing production in British plants is expected. 

 British firms usually .sell such goods, including canvas shoes with 

 rubber soles, and plimsolls, on open account, and as a rule to the 

 wholesalers, who in turn sell them at an agreed selling price to 

 the retailer. 



There is not a heavx- demand for druggists' sundries in this 

 market, but there is said to be a chance for the sale of American 

 bathing caps. American rubber soles and heels are too expensive, 

 and due to the difference in styles, rubber clothing is practically 

 all of domestic make. However, there is a market for hard- 

 rubber goods, since the bulk of the trade was formerly in German 

 hands. 



The imports of raw and manufactured rubber for the seven 

 moiitlis ended July 31, 1920, as compared with like periods of 

 1919 and 1913. were as follows: 



January-July 



Kind of rubber ' 1913 1919a 1920 



Crude $66,627,392 $73,443,905 $76,934,241 



Boots and shoes 323,889 400,673 2,-194.144 



Tires and tubes 8,444.837 4,109,905 15,061.257 



Other manufactures of rubber 2,121.496 1,457.263 2.164.118 



a Full statistics for 1919 have as yet not been published. 



Of the imports of rubber manufactures, excluding tires, tubes, 

 waterproofed apparel, and boots and shoes, the 1916 imports 

 amounted to $4,714,137. of which total the United States supplied 

 $4,334,382; the 1917 imports reached $2,299,445. with the share of 

 the United States amounting to $2,048,810; and in 1918 the United 

 States furnished this class of goods to the value of $1,126,910 out 

 of a total import valued at $1,297,796. 



CONDITIONS IN THE SCOTTISH RUBBER TRADE 



The rubber manufacturing industry of the Glasgow consular 

 district is of considerable importance, there being five concerns 

 thus engaged, employing approximately 2,200 people. Their prod- 

 ucts are chiefly mechanical goods, such as packings, hose, belting, 

 etc., although one concern produces tires and a second waterproof 

 clothing. 



With the exception of bicycle and motorcycle tires, all rubber 

 tires used in the district are received from other districts in the 

 United Kingdom or are imported from other countries. The 

 imported tires are chiefly of .American origin and are estimated 

 to comprise about one-third of the total in use at the present 

 time. Tires are distributed through agents of the manufacturers, 

 jobbers in accessories, garages, etc., and the usual terms of pay- 

 ment are five per cent discount for payment in seven days, two 

 and one-half per cent for monthly settlement or 30 days net. 



There is not a large demand for rubber boots and shoes here, 

 due to the fact that they are not as commonly worn as in the 

 United States. Dealers as a rule carry only small stocks ; in fact, 

 some retail shoe dealers do not handle them at all. The majority 

 of these goods are imported chiefly from the United States and 

 are handled by agents in much the same manner as are tires. 



