40 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[October 1, 1911 



THE RUBBER TRADE AT AKRON. 



BY A RESIDENT CORRESPONDENT. 



Till'. Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. is rearranging the 

 macliinery in the old and new factories, and completing 

 plans which this company has been working on for the last two 

 years. They are also improving the space between the factory- 

 buililings and the main road, which is practically 600 feet long and 

 300 feet wide, by placing convenient drives, walks and lawns in 

 this space. 



During the first **eek in September, the annual salesmen's 

 conference was held at the factory. The study covered prac- 

 tically a week, the meetings occupying two days. Part of the 

 in'tnictirin wp'; ?iven bv A. T. I.ftrb. an expert in advertising. 



The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. have planned for an 

 extensive rearrangement and extension of their factory. This 

 consists of moving much machinery and tin enlarging of the 

 tire department in every way. Ultimately, it will necessitate the 

 building of new buildings. The present machinery will almost 

 all be rearranged, and will be placed more compactly, conveniently 

 and systematically, and some new machinery will be placed in the 

 factory to eliminate labor. One of the new machines will do 

 the work of several of the old ones. This rearrangement has been 

 in contemplation for some time and the rapid growth of the 

 company's business has necessitated the change between this 

 year's work and next year's work. This change will necessitate 

 the closing of part of the factory for one or two weeks so that 

 the alterations can be made without any hindrance. The com- 

 pany hopes by these changes and additions to be able to niaini- 

 facture in the neighborhood of 3.500 tires per day. 



S.M.ESMEN OF THE FiRESTONE TlRE & RuEBER Co.. .'\kR0N, OhIo, u.\ THE .SxKl 



THK New Firestone Pl.^nt. 



The photograph reproduced above shows a hundred members of 

 the selling force of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and was 

 taken in front of the company's plant in .Akron, which includes 

 an enormous tire building having ten acres of floor space all 

 under one roof. 



The salesmen were shown through the new factory, impressing 

 upon each the care, preparation and painstaking effort and saving 

 that is put forth upon each step of the tires manufactured in 

 order to bring about the best result through system, economy, 

 thoroughness and durability. The work of the year was thor- 

 oughly analyzed and suggestions for the ensuing j'ear's business 

 and plans for bringing these suggestions to fruitage were dwelt 

 upon. The meeting ended with a banquet served by 125 girls of 

 the office force in the new dining room of the factory. The 

 tables were in the form of the capitals "F" and "T." 



The large dam being built by this company had n ^cvl.■re lest 

 during the recent rainfall of four inches in twelve liours. Part 

 of the emliankment was damaged. 



The Swinehart Tire and Rubber Co. is running day and night. 

 The annual meeting of the stockholders of this company was 

 held at the offices of the company, Monday, September 18, at 

 one o'clock. The company's business shows an increase over 

 the previous year of 20 per cent., and the prospects for the com- 

 ing year are very good. 



The following were elected directors for the ensuing year : 

 .'\ugust Blessman, R. A. May, Thomas F. Walsh, Joseph Dangel, 

 E. L. Mather, William McWeldon and W. W. Wuchter. After 

 the stockholders' meeting the board was organized and the fol- 



