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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Januaby 1, 1921 



THE RUBBER TRADE ON THE PACIFIC COAST 

 By Our Regular Correspondent 



RUBBER MANUFACTURERS OH the Pacific Coast froiiJ Seattle to 

 San Diego do not share tlie pessimism of many in the same 

 line in the East and Mid-West. Most of them regard the slowing 

 down in the industry as quite natural after a too rapid expansion, 

 and very few are said to hold large surplus stocks that may neces- 

 sitate much price reduction to sell them. Trade reports are that 

 there was very little, if any, overloading with raw rubber or 

 fabric at the high prices prevailing early in 1920. To a few of 

 the smaller concerns a lack of ample capital proved a blessing 

 in disguise, otherwise they might have been tempted to overstock 

 with raw material when it was much dearer. Inquiries for quota- 

 tions on tires, tire repair stocks, belting, and miscellaneous rubber 

 goods are steadily growing more numerous, indicating, as the 

 manufacturers say, an early and active revival of business. 

 Stocks of retail dealers are said to be exceptionally low for this 

 season of the year. 



A strong effort will be made at the January session of the 

 California legislature to secure the repeal or amendment of the 

 law requiring motor trucks on solid tires to present an inch in 

 width of tire surface to the road per 800 pounds of load, at the 

 point where the tire is in contact with the road. The law in most 

 states requires that the load carried be computed on the measure- 

 ment of the width of the tire at its base, which automotive 

 engineers declare to be more in accord with the efforts being 

 made everywhere at road preservation. Tire manufacturers are 

 much interested in the proposed legislation, and they are prepar- 

 ing considerable data on the subject. 



LOS ANGELES NOTES 



A new sales branch has been opened at 1232 South Grand 

 avenue, Los Angeles, by The Mason Tire & Rubber Co., 

 Kent, Ohio, in charge of J. W. McCoy associated with M. W. 

 Mitchell. Mr. McCoy was formerly assistant district manager 

 of the northwestern territory for The B. F. Goodrich Rubber 

 Co. and coast manager for the Portage Rubber Co. 



The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of California, Los Angeles, 

 announces a reduction in prices of both fabric and cord 

 tires, and also tubes, effective November IS. It ranges from 

 7y2 per cent on straight side cord tires to IS per cent on tubes. 

 A 10 per cent cut in the price of solid truck tires was made 

 October 29. 



A. F. Osterloh, vice-president and general manager of the 

 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of California, states that the com- 

 pany is looking forward to a very prosperous new year. Despite 

 a general slowing down in business throughout the country, the 

 Goodyear California concern increased its gross business from 

 $15,000,000 in 1919 to $17,000,000 for the fiscal year ended October 

 31, 1920. In the twelve western states comprising the company's 

 territory there are 5,420 Goodyear service stations selling its tires 

 and tubes. 



The Lobel punctureless tire, which the inventor, N. Lobel, has 

 just perfected, will be manufactured in Michigan, Ohio, New 

 York, Missouri and Texas on a royalty basis. The general offices 

 in Los Angeles are at 504 Mason Building, G. W. Cochrane being 

 in charge, and from this source dealers in New England and 

 abroad are being supplied. 



The new headquarters of the Western Auto Electric Corpora- 

 tion at Sixteenth and Hope streets, Los Angeles, has been 

 recently opened for sales and service for Willard batteries. A. J. 

 Tobey is president of the concern. 



John F. Scanlon, advertising manager of the United States 

 Compression Inner Tube Co., which is making rapid progress 

 with its plant at Burbank, near Los Angeles, has been recalled 

 to the company's home plant at Tulsa, Oklahoma. The com- 

 pany plans to supply eight western states, the Orient, New 



Zealand, Australia and part of South America from its Burbank 

 plant. 



Los Angeles interests identified with the Southwest cotton- 

 growing industry are renewing their efforts to have the city 

 designated as one of the spot cotton markets of the United States 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture. The city claims to be the natural 

 cotton market in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and 

 large areas in Texas; that it is a concentration point, a port of 

 export, has ample banking facilities, fair transportation rates, and 

 a municipal high density baling press. 



BAN FEANCISCO NOTES 



A particularly good demand for rubber belting is reported by 

 the Pioneer Rubber Works, San Francisco, which is still enlarg- 

 ing its plant at Pittsburg, Contra Costa County. Several heavy 

 belting presses have just been installed. Some of the depart- 

 ments are working 24 hours a day. Many of the products are 

 considerably oversold. The company has just received an order 

 for 17,000 feet of heavy fire hose for Los Angeles. 



The Seibel Air Spring Co., 785 Market street, San Francisco, 

 California, is contemplating the construction of a new plant at 

 San Mateo, California. Officers of the company are : Henry 

 Seibel, president ; A. W. McNulty, vice-president ; C. A. Shel- 

 hamer, treasurer; W. F. Gormley, assistant treasurer; E. M. 

 Massey, secretary. 



SOUTHWESTERN NOTES 



The long-staple cotton growers of the Salt River Valley, Ari- 

 zona, whose product is almost entirely supplied to tire manufac- 

 turers in California and the Mid-West, are being liberally 

 financed by local banks. The latter have loaned over $9,000,000 

 on this season's crop. 



Business is reported unusually good by the Spreckels "Savage" 

 Tire Co., of San Diego, despite the dullness in tire trade of the 

 country. Practically no changes have been made in the working 

 force and the management is anticipating a marked increase in 

 sales in the near future. Social welfare of workers is strongly 

 stressed by the "Savage" concern, and labor troubles are a neg- 

 ligible quantity at the big tire works. 



Tire dealers on the Coast report a marked improvement in 

 sales and inquiries following the recent reduction in prices, and 

 state that when automobile owners are satisfied that no further 

 reductions will be made the market will quickly stabilize and 

 active buying follow. J. M. Magee, general manager for the 

 Southern California and Arizona branches of the United States 

 Rubber Co., believes there will be a lively demand for standard 

 tires on the coast during the early spring, and it is possible there 

 may be a shortage. 



C. C. Gumm has been appointed receiver of the Hibbs Rubber 

 Co., Fort Worth, Texas, manufacturer of tire-building machinery, 

 dating from December 9, 1920. 



The Good-Wear Tire & Belt Co., 322 Bedell Building, San 

 Antonio, Texas, has purchased a 25-acre factory site five miles 

 south of that city, and expects to begin the erection of the first 

 unit of its plant before the end of the year. The factory will 

 produce rubber goods entirely, including a patent harness tug 

 and a patent fan belt. H. L. Fullerton is president of the com- 

 pany. 



The Miller Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, has appointed J. 

 L. Adams manager of its branch at Houston, Texas, and L. 

 Grain manager of its San Antonio branch in the same state. 



NORTHWESTERN NOTES 



The Victory Rubber Co., 646 New York Block, Seattle, Wash- 

 ington, is officered by George P. Endert, president ; Dr. Carl 

 Hoffman, vice-president ; H. C. Eagles, secretary-treasurer. The 

 factory operated by the company at East 38th and Brooklyn 

 streets, Seattle, will enter into the productive stage about the 

 first of the year, manufacturing mechanical rubber goods, in- 



