September 1, 1921 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



923 



Henry C. Wagner, who was in the employ of the Woonsocket 

 Rubber Co., for more than 15 years, has been elected general 

 factory manager and a director of the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe 

 Co., and has assumed his new duties. The Beacon Falls company, 

 operating two plants, one at Beacon Falls, Connecticut, and the 

 other at College Point, Long Island, employs appro.Kitnately 1,600 

 operatives. Recently Mr. Wagner was on the executive staff 

 of the United States Rubber Co., as assistant to Myron H. Clark, 

 general manager of the footwear division. While in the employ 

 of the Woonsocket Rubber Co., he was successively superintend- 

 ent of the Millvillc factory and of the Alice Mill at Woonsocket, 

 and later, general superintendent of both plants. 



According to a recent announcement from the American 

 Wringer plant, Woonsocket, Rudolph Kowaiski has been made 

 plant superintendent, and Charles Yahaux, assistant plant su- 

 perintendent. Mr. Yahaux, who has been with the firm for 

 nearly thirty years, will be in direct charge of the rubber work- 

 ing department. Definite plans as to the reopening of the plant on 

 full time at an early date are now being considered. 



The Apex Tire & Rubber Co. has been granted a charter 

 under the laws of Rhode Island, to manufacture and deal in 

 auto tires, etc., the capital stock being 250 shares of common 

 stock without par value. The stockholders are David W. Smith, 

 John M. Franklin and Charles H. Sprague. 



According to statements filed with the city clerk's office in 

 their respective cities the Newton Tire Shop, 400 Dexter avenue, 

 Central Falls, is owned by John Newton and Herbert A. Newton, 

 and the Lotta Miles Tire Co., 1035 Broad street, Providence, by 

 William E. Angcll. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN MASSACHUSETTS 

 By Our Regular Correspondent 



BUSINESS in the rubber industry of Massachusetts continues 

 unsettled and the future uncertain. Tire demand is holding 

 up very well and most tire plants are operating at or very near 

 capacity, but it is feared that there may be a falling off during 

 the auturr.n months. The large production of rubber heels and 

 soles continues with no indication of abatement. Owing to fine 

 weather it has been a good year for canvas footwear. As usual 

 this branch has been slack since July 1, but the new season 

 ordinarily starts September 1. Rubber footwear production is 

 suffering from the exceptionally open weather last winter. Should 

 the late autumn open with storms indicating an early winter 

 there is likely to be a shortage of rubber footwear. The me- 

 chanical rubber goods situation reflects the stagnation of general 

 business, as does the decreased demand for stationers' sundries. 

 Some improvement in druggists' sundries is anticipated this fall. 

 The proofing branch continues quiet, and reclaimers, though 

 operating at only about 25 per cent capacity, are optimistic re- 

 garding the fall demand for their better grades. 



Inspectors connected with the Massachusetts Department of 

 Public Works are continuing their campaign against overloaded 

 motor trucks which are damaging highways throughout the state. 



Under the law trucks may not carry more than 800 pounds 

 per inch width of their tires, and in no case are they allowed 

 more than a 14-ton load. In ascertaining the weight of a heavily 

 loaded truck inspectors first lay a piece of white paper on the 

 roadway and have the truck driven over it. The imprint of the 

 tire is then measured and the total permissible weight of the 

 truck and freight is calculated in accordance with the regulation 

 cited above. A loadometer is then placed successively under the 

 front and rear wheels of the truck to learn if the weight is 

 within the legal limit. 



INDUSTEIAL ABSENTEEISM 



In a paper recently read before the American Association of 

 Industrial Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Robert S. Quinby, 

 service manager of the Hood Rublier Co., Watertown, has given 



the results of twenty-eight months' study on the subject of in- 

 dustrial absenteeism in the Ilood factory, where the average force 

 of 6,700 persons consisted of 65 per cent males and 35 per cent 

 females, about 50 per cent being of foreign birth. 



The number of days lost per einploye per year and the reason 

 therefor was as follows : sickness, 6.61 ; industrial accident, 0.45 ; 

 non-industrial accident, 0.25 ; personal reasons, 10.95 ; total for 

 all causes, 18.26. On a percentage basis the total average time 

 lost from all causes was Syi per cent, of which 2 per cent was 

 due to sickness, 0.14 per cent to industrial accidents and 0.08 

 per cent to non-industrial accidents. Dr. Quinby feels that only 

 during unusual periods should sickness disability exceed 2 per 

 cent rf the working time, or 6 days per employe based on a 300- 

 day working year. 



It was found that single males lost the least time, married 

 males 2 per cent more, widowed and divorced males 21 per cent 

 more, females 40 per cent mor':, vMowed and divorced females 

 154 per cent more, while married females lost 175 per cent more 

 nme than single males. Male employes averaged a loss of 5 di'ys 

 per year on accoimt of sickness, while females lost 8^ days. 



Above the age of forty, the male disability rate increased 

 rapidly, while in the case of females the increase was apparent 

 above the age of forty. Persons of American birth tended to 

 lose less time on account of sickness and accident than thosj of 

 foreign birth. 



The number of days disability per person lost on accoimt of 

 the more important diseases was as follows: influenza, .718; 

 colds, .53; tonsilitis, .341; bronchitis, .312; tuberculosis, .24; 

 rheuinatism, .235. Combined respiratory diseases caused over 

 35 per cent of the total disability due to sickness and accident 

 in 1920. 



The length of disabilities due to sickness and accident was as 

 follows : less than 1 week, 20 per cent of cases ; less than 2 weeks, 

 27 per cent ; less than 3 weeks, 52 per cent ; less than 4 weeks, 68 

 per cent; less than 7 weeks, 83 per cent; less than 13 weeks, 93 

 per cent ; less than 26 weeks, 98.5 per cent. 



BOSTON NOTES 



Receivers for the O'Bannon Corporation, Boston, have been ap- 

 pointed as follows : Richard LeBaron Bowen, general manager of 

 the O'Bannon Corporation, is receiver of the corporation for the 

 State of Rhode Island, and also, with Ripley L. Dana, receiver for 

 the commonwealth of Massachusetts. All plants of the O'Bannon 

 Corporation are now being operated by the receivers, new orders 

 are being taken, and additional business solicited. William B. 

 Simpson, the former purchasing agent, has severed his connection 

 with the corporation, and raw materials arc being purchased by 

 the receivers. 



MISCELLANEOUS MASSACHUSETTS NOTES 



The Easthampton Rubber Thread Co., Easthampton, Massa- 

 cusetts, reports that, at its recent election, no changes were made 

 in the company's board of directors. Those constituting this board 

 are as follows : William G. Bassctt, president ; L. S. Stowe, treas- 

 urer ; F. W. Pitcher, general manager ; R. L. Williston and W. L. 

 Pitcher. 



The Standard Rubber Cement Co., Canton, Massachusetts, 

 specializes in standardized products for the shoe trade. The 

 principal line of manufacture includes channel, sole and rubber 

 heel cements. The rubber heel cement is said to be a superior 

 product. 



Claiming that the business was being run at a loss, creditors of 

 the British-American Manufacturing Co., Springdale, Connecticut, 

 have voted that the receivers would be justified in applying 

 to the United States District Court for permission to sell the 

 plant and wind up the business. The concern in question, which 

 manufactures rubberized cloth, was organized in 1914, and took 

 over the Interstate Rubber Co.. which manufactured a product 

 similar to its own. The plant of the British-American Co. is said 



