THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



February 1, 19J1 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN MASSACHUSETTS 

 By Our Regular Correspondent 



WITH new price lists on rubber boots, shoes and canvas foot- 

 wear revised in accordance with the falling raw material 

 market and wage schedules equitably adjusted to present condi- 

 tions, increasing activity is beginning to be felt in this important 

 branch of Massachusetts rubber goods manufacture. The new 

 price lists, effective January 1. 1921. but subject to change without 

 notice, show average reductions of 10 per cent or more, based on 

 careful consideration of the manufacturing conditions likely to 

 prevail during the present year. The cooperation of retailers 

 through early orders to cover their requirements for the coming 

 season is being urged in order that at nor(nal factory capacity 

 and minimum prices the supply may meet the demand as normal 

 buying conditions are resumed. The open winter in many sections 

 ■of the country is curtailing the sale of rubber footwear consider- 

 ably, but it is hopefully recalled that I'eljruary and March are 

 usually among the best selling months. Canvas footwear orders, 

 while not yet heavy, are encouraging, and output in most factories 

 »vill increase during the ])rescnt month. 



MISCELLANEOUS MASSACHUSETTS NOTES 



.\n increase in the number of employes from 25 in 1908 to 

 1.700 in 1920 is one measure of tlie growth of the Converse 

 Rubber Slioe Co., of Maiden. Production during the past year 

 has been the largest in the history of the company. With two 

 shifts of gum sh' e makers, the daily ticket exceeded 19,000 pairs 

 in December, the output of rubbers, gaiters and arctics being 

 considerably above nonnal at that season of the year. It is 

 anticipated that the total sales figure for the fiscal year ending 

 March 3i. 1921, will be over $7,000,000. an increase of over SO per 

 cent. Rapid progress has beeit made by the tire division, also 

 operating with two shifts, and Converse tires are rapidly coming 

 to the front. While the night shifts have been discontinued the 

 factory is operating full time with no curtailinent of operating 

 force other than to increase its efficiency. The capital stock of 

 the company has recently been increased from $3,000,000 to 

 $4,000,000 by an issue of lO.OOO additional shares of non-redeem- 

 able preferred stock at not less than par. 



Damage of $3,000 was caused recently by a fire in the cement 

 shed of the Converse Rubber Shoe Co., Maiden, Massachusetts. 

 The blaze was due to spontaneous combustion and the building, a 

 structure 25 by 12 feet, was destroyed. A quantity of benzine in 

 the shed burned fiercely for a short time, but firemen protected 

 the other buildings. 



Shortly before Christmas an $87,000 bonus distribution was 

 made by the Boston Rubber Shoe Co., Maiden, Massachusetts, to 

 its employes. This was the result of action taken by the factory 

 council last May, when it was suggested that instead of a straight 

 weekly increase in wages the company lay aside a bonus each 

 ■week, to be payable before Christmas. 



The will of the late Harry E. Converse, former president 

 of the Boston Rubber Shoe Co., of Maiden, was offered for pro- 

 bate early in January before Judge Chamberlain in the Plymouth 

 County Probate Court. There is an estate of $1,400,000 personal 

 and $250,000 real. The greater part of the property goes to the 

 family, there being no public bequests. Moorfield Story, Parker 

 Converse, Edward N. Benson and Frank B. Bemis are named 

 executors. A clause in the will asks that no one shall wear mourn- 

 ing for the deceased or otherwise change the usual habits of 

 living. 



Lester Leland, vice-chairman of the United States Rubber Co., 

 has been elected president of the Boston Rubber Shoe Co., Mai- 

 den, succeeding the late Colonel Harry E. Converse, whose obit- 

 Tiary was published in our January issue. Mr. Leland is a brother- 

 in-law of Colonel Converse and has been vice-president of the 

 company. Colonel Harry P, Ballard, treasurer, has been elected 



vice-president to succeed Mr. Leland and will perform the duties 

 of both offices. 



The canvas footwear department of the Hood Rubber Co., 

 Watertown, Massachusetts, was closed from January 1 to 24, 

 adding some 300 operatives to the 900 from the tire department, 

 previously clo.sed, who were temporarily out of work. 



Alfred A. Glidden, general superintendent of the Hood Rubber 

 Co. plant at Watertown, who has been with the company since 

 1896, has been promoted to manager of the industrial development 

 department. Charles Roper, who has been in charge of the foot- 

 wear department, succeeds him. 



On the afternoon of December 31 gold pieces were presented 

 to 221 employes of the Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., Cam- 

 bridge, Massachusetts, men and women, who had been with the 

 company from ten to forty years. The meeting was held in the 

 gaily decorated cafeteria, with music by the Bowohoco orchestra, 

 and singin.g by the whole assemblage. General Manager George 

 E. Hall spoke frankly regarding the inevitable liquidation of 

 commodities and labor demanded by the times. He expressed the 

 hope that for a time at least it might be possible to maintain the 

 present wage scales of the older employes, although new em- 

 ployes w'ould be taken on at a lower rate. To do this, he said, 

 would require increased individual efficiency, as it made no differ- 

 ence to the company whether wages were reduced 10 ])er cent 

 or efficiency increased 10 per cent. 



In an effort to encourage wider reading of trade, business and 

 technical magazines by employes, the service department of the 

 Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., of Cambridge, has established 

 a reading club which maintains a route list for each of its many 

 industrial magazines, each person being, allowed the use of any 

 publication for three days. The low club-rate subscription to 

 The Indi.\ Rubber World is to encourage reading clubs. 



The Metropolitan Air Goods Co., Athol, Massachusetts, maker 

 of pneumatic rubber goods for campers, sportsmen, etc., is now 

 in its new factory and expects to be prepared for business on its 

 general lines after the middle of January. 



BOSTON NOTES 



J. D. Cary, a veteran tire man of national experience, has been 

 appointed New England distributer for McGraw tires in Bos- 

 ton. He joins the company after a sojourn of two years on 

 the Pacific Coast. Years ago he sold Morgan & Wright bicycle 

 tires. For a decade he was with The B. F. Goodrich Co., subse- 

 quently joining the Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., which he served 

 as branch and district manager, and in the general sales depart- 

 ment. 



The annual sales convention of the tire division of the Converse 

 Rubber Shoe Co., of Maiden, Massachusetts, was held January 

 17 and 18, at the Boston Athletic Association, with representatives 

 of the firm from all parts of the country attending. The speakers 

 at the morning sessions were F. R. Goodell, general sales man- 

 ager ; Dr. E. A. Wullcnw-eber, production manager ; D. W. Boyn, 

 service manager, and C. C. Parlin. of The Saturday Ezviiiitg Post. 

 After lunclicon l)oth days the party visited the factory, returning 

 to Boston for dinner at the Hotel Lenox, and later attending the 

 theatre. The dominant note of the convention was one of enthu- 

 siasm and confidence. 



George F. Willett, president of the Boston Belting Corporation, 

 has advised preferred stockholders in a recent circular letter that 

 the corporation is now free from debt, every creditor having been 

 paid in full, and that both the preferred and common stocks are 

 backed by substantial assets. This fortunate outcome in a finan- 

 cial tangle which for a time threatened disaster is very largely 

 attributable to the forceful and intelligent action of Frederic C. 

 Hood,- who as trustee managed the corporation and held its com- 

 mon stock purchased by Mr. Willett in 1919 until final payment 

 had been made. 



