288 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Januaky 1, 1921 



has distributed a net profit of 8,410,000 crowns upon its capital 

 •of 20,000,000 crowns. This is a dividend of 40 per cent against 

 the 25 per cent of last year. The company has 14,000 producing 

 acres and obtained a harvest of 4,700,000 pounds of rubber, 

 S00,000 pounds more than the previous year. The average price 

 obtained was 2j-. l.06d., with a production cost of Is. 8.9ld. 



BELGIUM 



The formation of a new company is under way in Brussels to 

 deal in Brazilian rubber. The capital is said to be 30,000,000 

 francs. 



GERMANY 



The depression in German rubber industry continues unabated. 

 There are few orders coming in and it has been necessary to 

 lay oflF more men. Many factories are compelled to reduce 

 working hours and in some cases only 12 hours are worked 

 ■each week. According to reports of the Demobilization Com- 

 mission there are now 419,000 men in Germany who receive 

 full out-of-work compensation, which is a heavy increase against 

 the last report. Most of the men out of work are unskilled 

 laborers and the Trade Unions which comprise mostly highly 

 skilled trades report less unemployment. 



The Hamburg rubber market reacted sharply with the leading 

 rubber markets of the world during the last few months and 

 business was very irregular all through October and November. 

 Forced sales in London had their effect upon Hamburg, where 

 prices remained very weak but showed a strengthening tendency 

 at the end of November when London sales became less frequent. 



The sale of German army goods which is still proceeding 

 has had a very depressing influence upon many branches of the 

 rubber industry, especially the surgical goods trade. These sales 

 lacked organization and goods were often marketed where there 

 was little or no use for them. They were then sold at very low 

 prices and sent elsewhere, swamping the market and causing a 

 drop in retail prices. These army goods now seem to have come 

 to an end, however; they have had their share in preventing 

 profiteering. 



Manufacturers and dealers in rubber hose have endeavored to 

 keep prices but find it impossible and large sales have taken 

 place during the last few months leading to considerable reduc- 

 tion in prices. The dealers blame the manufacturers for this 

 •condition. 



The German industry apparently regards the intended nation- 

 alization of the coal mines as only a partial blessing. Former 

 €.xperience does not seem to justify the claims that are made 

 on behalf of full nationalization. The principal objections are: 

 c National operation does not result in additional production; 

 strikes are as frequent under national management ; private 

 management has the advantage of individual initiative. As the 

 miners have a very great influence upon the conduct of govern- 

 mental affairs it is almost certain that some attempt of nation- 

 alization will be made. 



The Mitteland Gummiwerke Akt-Ges., Hanover, has increased 

 its capital 300,000 marks. This step was taken to eliminate the 

 danger of foreigners getting control of the management of the 

 concern by buying up a majority share of the 4,500,000 marks 

 of ordinary capital. To prevent this the new capital of 300,000 

 marks is issued in the form of preferential shares carrying a 

 five times voting power. 



The so-called Eastern Trading Fair which has taken place in 

 Koenigsberg was more successful than the Leipzig fair, although 

 It is not as important as the latter. The object of this fair was 

 to create a trading center on German soil for Eastern Prussia, 

 the free state of Danzig and the newly formed Baltic republics. 

 Approximately 1,700 firms were represented, including a great 

 number of rubber manufacturers. 



The "hole in the West" is a source of considerable trouble to 

 the German rubber industry, as many English and French tires 

 are smuggled into Germany. To stop this practice the German 

 Government has decided to make all foreign tires found in the 

 possession of dealers and private users subject to confiscation. 

 But the German tire industry is not quite satisfied that this ex- 

 pedient will work and therefore an appeal has been issued by the 

 Gumtm-Zeitung of Berlin to induce German tire users not to use 

 foreign-made tires but to patronize German firms. 



The German Belting Organization, in its market report for 

 July and August, 1920, takes a bleak view of prevailing condi- 

 tions. There is little demand for belting in Germany and many 

 manufacturers have been compelled to sell stocks, which, together 

 with similar sales by dealers, has had a very depressing influ- 

 ence upon the price situation. All price arrangements between 

 manufacturers and dealers are breaking down. 



The German cable industry has not prospered as might have 

 been expected following the good beginning during the early part 

 of past year. Orders have fallen off rapidly since the completion 

 of reconstruction business and during the first half of the present 

 year production has declined to approximately 30 per cent of 

 the normal peace output. There are indications that the second 

 half of the year will be even less satisfactory. The reason lies 

 principally in the complete destruction of the German oversea 

 cable business and in the lack of construction work in Germany. 

 In view of the increase in the use of wireless telegraphy it is ex- 

 pected that Germany will not return to oversea cable service, 

 which would mean a practical cessation of this part of the busi- 

 ness of the German cable industry. 



The rubber coat manufacturers of Germany have agreed to a 

 new list of minimum prices and selling conditions. Credit terms, 

 freight rates, payment for packages and similar other points have 

 been regulated. The new terms apply from August 1. 



A German manufacturer, the SB-Automobil-Gesellschaft m. 

 b. H., 33 Sophienstrasse, Berlin, has recently put on the market 

 a small one-passenger electric runabout, believed to be a novelty 

 in the automobile field. A trailer for an additional passenger 

 or for light delivery purposes can be attached. The car has a 

 wheel base of 57.12 inches and a tread of 33.45 inches and weighs 

 440 pounds. The body is of wood with imitation leather uphol- 

 stery. Electric current is furnished by two 24-volt lead-acid 

 batteries permitting a speed up to 13 miles per hour. Wire 

 wheels with clincher rims are employed, the tire size being 26 

 by 2y2 inches. At the factory, a car of this type equipped with 

 pneumatic tires can be purchased for 13,300 marks. Solid rub- 

 ber tires bring the price up to 14,800 marks, while a trailer so 

 equipped costs 4,500 marks. The company has produced and sold 

 approximately 300 cars in the fix months of its existence and 

 claims an output of 100 cars a month at the present time. 



The Gummiwerke Elbe A.-G. in Hamburg has increased its 

 capital to 1,500,000 marks. 



The Dunlop Rubber Co., Hanau-on-the-Main, has increased its 

 capital to £2,000,000. A stock dividend of three shares for each 

 existing share was distributed. 



The Vereinigte Gummiwarenfabriken Harburg-Wien, Harburg- 

 Wien, has issued a prospectus indicating a distribution of a 

 10 per cent dividend for the present year. 



The Anhalter Gummiwerke has started a new factory in 

 Zerbst. 



NEW HEMS 



Gummi Handelsgesellschaft "Liga," Carl Peter & Co., Hamburg. 



Auto Reifen Co., G. m. b. H. Konstanz. Dealer in tires. 



Norddeutsche Gummiwaren Fabrikation, Erich H. Krause, 

 Berlin. 



Helga-Gummiabsatz-Compagnie G. m. b. H. Berlin, Manufac- 

 ture and sale of rubber heels and similar articles. 



