January 1, 1921 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



287 



able to prevent its application as motor spirit, otherwise the 

 supply may fail if there is dependence on distilling companies 

 outside the rubber trade. Probably the Americans before embark- 

 ing on their shale distillation scheme in Colorado and Utah will 

 note what success attends the company now developing oil shale 

 fields in Norfolk. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN EUROPE 

 By a Special Correspondent 



THE rubber sole business has experienced considerable activity 

 during the last few months and promises to be as important 

 and profitable as rubber heels. 



Before the war few rubber soles were sold in Europe owing 

 to the low price of leather soles. During the war, however, the 

 shortage of leather changed the situation in favor of the rubber 

 sole. 



The soles made during the war were mostly inferior owing 

 to the lack of good materials, which detracted from the repu- 

 tation of the rubber sole and it has taken some time to regain 

 the confidence of the buyer with the better quality of soles now 

 being manufactured. 



Much of the revival of this business is due to the improved 

 methods of manufacture. Formerly each sole had to be cut to 

 size by the boot maker, which required much time. Now they 

 are supplied in a variety of sizes that can easily be applied to 

 every form of shoe. In Germany the soles are packed two in 

 ' an envelope including the nails for attaching them to the shoes, 

 and are sold not only to shoe repairers but to general stores. 



BRITISH NOTES 



In accordance with the contemplated change of name of 

 Explosives Trades Limited, noted in our issue of October 1, 

 1920, this British concern has become Nobel Industries, 

 Limited. 



The American consulate at Swansea, Wales, keeps a file of 

 American trade catalogs for the benefit of local inquiries, and 

 requests American firms dealing in raincoats and druggists' sup- 

 plies to send their latest catalogs, and also, where possible, price 

 lists and trade discounts. These latter are important, even 

 though they be only approximate. 



FRANCE 



The Office du Commerce Exterieur, Paris, France, has recently 

 been reorganized on a more ambitious scale. This department is 

 a practical link between official France and the genera! public 

 at home and abroad, aided by the new Foreign Commerce Bank. 

 It controls the service of French commercial agents, and is re- 

 sponsible for organizing trade exhibits in France and other 

 countries. 



The department supplies trade information in the form of loose- 

 leaf pamphlets, responds to verbal and written inquiries, and 

 helps foreign traders seeking information as to the French market. 

 The publication of a periodical similar to the British Board of 

 Trade Journal will soon be begun. 



The commercial exhibition plans include a "touring fair" for 

 Canada, the Colonial exhibition at Marseilles in 1922, and an 

 inter-allied exhibition to be held in Paris in 1925. Permanent 

 exhibitions are being provided for branch offices of the depart- 

 ment in the principal countries of the world, and have already 

 been opened in Spain, Switzerland, Czecho-Slovakia, the Balkan 

 States and in London. 



HOLLAND 



The Dutch rubber trade was fairly satisfactory last summer 

 and the sales of most rubber goods have been better than ex- 

 pected under the circumstances. Mechanical goods have been 

 in demand since the beginning of 1920 and a good business 

 in druggists' sundries was reported. Exports suffered under 

 the irregularities of the foreign exchanges, and manufacturers 

 complain that many countries which in former years have 



bought rubber goods from Holland have issued import restric- 

 tions which make export to these countries difficult, while Hol- 

 land itself is open to foreign competition in the same articles. 

 The tire business increased materially during the Summer but 

 it is severely handicapped by foreign competition. During the 

 second quarter of 1920 exports of tires amounted to 556,000 

 florins while imports were valued at 3,265,000 florins. During 

 the second quarter of 1920. 2,869,000 kilograms of plantation 

 rubber were imported, 2,772,000 of which were from the Dutch 

 East Indies, The export of plantation rubber during the same 

 time amounted to 1,448,000 kilograms. Germany was the best 

 customer, taking 759,000 kilograms, followed closely by the 

 United States with 642,000 kilograms. Of balata, 7,608 kilograms 

 were imported and 20,000 kilograms exported. The general 

 situation of the industry has improved as compared with last 

 year but complaints are still heard about irregularity in the 

 supply of coal and supplementary materials. 



At the Secondary Colonial Agricultural School, Deventer, 

 Holland, a course in rubber has now been commenced. The 

 director of this school, Dr. H. D. Tjeenk Willink, has been 

 commissioned by the government to make a trip through Java 

 and Sumatra during 1921, and subsequently to introduce into the 

 curriculum, the information thus gained. 



SPAIN 



The quantity and value of imports of india rubber and gutta 

 percha and manufactures imported into Spain during the years 

 1918 and 1919, are given in the following table. A peseta 

 nominally equals $0,195 United States currency. 



1918 



Metric 

 Tons 



1919 



Pesetas 



3,765 24,471,050 

 709 18,830,589 

 657 6,614,704 



Metric 

 Articles Tons Pesetas 



India rubber, gutta-percha, and 

 substitutes, and manufactures 

 of: 



Unmanufactured 842 5,474 661 



Tir" 132 2,568,127 



Other manufactures 331 3,758,752 



PORTUGAL 



Imports of rubber and gutta percha manufactures into Portugal 

 during 1919, together with chief countries of origin, are given in 

 the following table, amounts being estimated in kilos of 2.2 

 pounds each and values in escudos, one escudo at par being 

 $1.08 in United States currency: 



Articles and chief countries of origin 



Kilos Escudos 



Rubber and gutta percha manufactures 308 190 12 834 434 



England 123,397 '60s!o88 



rrance 91,947 248 510 



United States 48,'932 232,'758 



|P^'7„- 30,852 130.675 



n-^^T ;;•. 2,416 11,600 



Oriental Africa ].260 4 000 



Oermany 47 \^ 



Wire, metallic (except gold, silver, or 'piatinum) 



rf?.Ij"i. .*'!'' "''>'=<•'" 208,208 324.353 



United States 



86,929 



150.123 



|"8:.'''nd 46,976 71.981 



gPa'n 36,332 62 903 



*■■»"« 31,187 28,806 



SWEDEN 



The Helsingborgs Gummifabriks Aktiebolag at Helsingborg re- 

 ports a total profit of 3,223,000 crowns and has distributed a divi- 

 dend of 20 per cent. This is the best year ever had by this 

 company. 



A new firm has been founded in Stockholm for the distribution 

 of rubber goods under the style Gummi-Engroslagerer Star, 

 Herbert Carlson. 



DENMARK 



The United States Rubber Export Co., Limited, has opened 

 offices in the Axelborg Building in Copenhagen. The building 

 is a modern structure facing the railroad station. 



The Oestasiatiske Industriog Plantagekompagni of Copen- 

 hagen which owns rubber plantations in the Malacca peninsula 



