174 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1912. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN SAN FRANCISCO. 



{By a Resident Correspondent.) 



THERE is improvement in the business of the average rubber 

 merchant of this city. There is unquestionably a healthier 

 tone to business in all general lines, and even if the sales in any 

 particular line of business are not showing great increase, never- 

 theless that business is feeling the good effects of the universal 

 improvement in trade conditions. The lack of rain has had the 

 effect of holding back business in rubber clothing, boots and 

 shoes. In San Francisco and surburban cities there has been a 

 great increase in the amount of building, railroad construction 

 and general civic improvement, which is a certain indication that 

 the people are getting into a more liberal frame of mind than 

 they have been in for several years, and this certainly proves 



better financial conditions. 



* * * 



William Hechtman, formerly with the Gorham Revere Rubber 

 Company and for a short time with the Gorham Engineering 

 Company, is now connected with the United States Tire Com- 

 pany. He will have his offices in San Francisco, and at the 

 present time is located in the Hughes Building, although as soon 

 as the company's new quarters on Golden Gate avenue are 



completed he will move there. 



* * * 



W. A. Daggett, with the Eureka Fire Hose Manufacturing 

 Company, is now in Los Angeles looking after the interests of 

 his firm in that city regarding the 10,000 feet of fire hose which 

 the city is buying. 



Jas. B. Brady, of the Gorham Revere Rubber Company, reports 

 that business with this firm is highly satisfactory. Taking in 

 the entire coast it is his observation that conditions are a little 

 better in the northwest and in Los Angeles than they are in 

 San Francisco. This city, however, is improving and 1912 will 

 see greater improvement. By 1913 he is satisfied that business 

 virill be booming, in San Francisco in particular and generally all 

 along the coast. This firm is just now beginning to put a new 

 tire on the market adapted specially to the needs of local 

 autoists. It is the Revere tire, which is a great deal heavier than 

 the average tire and of stronger fabric than the general tire on 

 the local market. A great deal of study has been given to condi- 

 tions of California roads, and it is found that they average rather 

 rough and require a strong, rugged tire. 



* * 



On the 27th, 28th and 29th of last month the Gorham Revere 

 Rubber Company held a meeting of its salesmen gathered from 

 Los Angeles and San Francisco. Business meetings were held in 

 the mornings, the men being royally entertained in the afternoons. 

 The purpose of the gathering is to bring the salesmen together 

 for the exchange of ideas and to bring them all in close touch with 

 the company they are working for. A little later on a similar 

 meeting will be held for the salesmen in the northwest at Seattle. 

 Next year, with the experience gained from the two meetings 

 held at this time, one big meeting will be held taking in all of 

 the salesmen connected with all of the branches of this company 

 on the Pacific Coast. 



* * * 



L. D. Torre}', son of L. L. Torrey, who was formerly president 

 of the Pennsylvania Rubber Company of California, is now the 

 manager for the Weinstock Nichols Company, of Los Angeles. 

 Mr. Torrey's offices were formerly in San Francisco. 



* * * 



H. C. Norton, of the American Rubber Manufacturing Com- 

 pany, now makes his headquarters at the company's offices on 

 Beale street, near Market. Construction work is now going on 

 for a new addition to the company's factory at Emeryville, 

 California. 



The Pacific Mill, Mine & Supply Company, both at their San 

 Francisco store, on Mission street, and at the branch in Los 

 Angeles, report an excellent business on rubber belting. 



* * * 



W. F. Bowers, president of the Bowers Rubber Works, is now 

 making a trip through the principal cities of the east. He will 

 return on the first of January. Mr. Tripp, one of the office men 

 with this firm, who was sick with typhoid fever, is now on the 

 road to recovery. He had suffered a relapse after his first con- 

 valesence, which set him back several weeks. 



* * * 



"Up to the present time," said R. H. Pease, head of the Good- 

 year Rubber Company, "we have not had half the amount of rain 

 we had at this time last year, and as last year was a very dry 

 fall it makes slow business in the matter of boots and shoes and 

 clothing. We all hope we may have a good storm to clean up 

 goods and stocks in the country. Our general business, taking 

 everything into consideration, is very fair." 



* * * 



The City of Seattle, Washington, has again called for hose bids. 

 The first time all bids were rejected because the city authorities 

 concluded that the goods they wanted could not be made at the 

 low prices of the lowest bidder. The second time they were rejected 

 because there were only three bidders. Now, on the 2Sth of last 

 month they reopened the specifications. This unsettled condition 

 makes it bad for the bidders, who have to put up a check, which 

 ties up their money for several months, and makes them spend 

 their time, energj' and money three different times instead of one. 



* * * 



Following the visit of A. F. Osterloh, manager of the western 

 sales division of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Assist- 

 ant Sales Manager N. B. Taylor has been placed in charge of the 

 company's branch in San Francisco, succeeding A. C. Leonard, 

 who for over a year has been the western manager. Mr. Taylor 

 will have general supervision of all of the firm's interests in the 

 west, and while Mr. Osterloh was here he accompanied him on 

 a tour of inspection of all the branches. This company is erect- 

 ing a large store on Van Ness avenue. Mr. Leonard has not 

 made any definite announcement, but it is reported that he will 

 secure a tire agency of his own and locate with offices in San 



Francisco. 



* * * 



W. R. Gorham, manager of the Gorham Engineering Works, of 

 Alameda, and son of W. J. Gorham, of the Gorham Revere Rub- 

 ber Company, was married in Los Angeles on December 2d to 

 Miss Hazel Hock of the southern city, a former schoolmate and 

 a former Alameda girl. He left Los Angeles with his bride 

 bound for Columbus, Ohio, via New Orleans. His marriage was 

 a surprise to all of his friends. 



CLEANING AUTOS BY THE VACUUM SYSTEM. 



If the vacuum cleaner is serviceable and efficient in offices and 

 homes, why should it not be made to work on the automobile, 

 which has a great many little corners which it is difficult to 

 sweep out in the ordinary way. As a matter of fact, an auto- 

 mobile vacuum cleaner has appeared, and very probably will 

 soon be in more or less extensive use. It is fitted with rubber 

 hose, of sufficient length to reach any part of the automobile, 

 the appliance being operated by the exhaust gases of the ma- 

 chine. It is particularly useful in cleaning out all the little 

 inaccessible corners of the upholstery, and can, in addition, be 

 used upon the occupants of the car after they have finished a 

 dusty ride. The suggestion might be made that if the Pullman 

 company would add an equipment of this sort to its cars, it 

 would be vastly preferable to the present system, by which the 

 porter takes all the nap off of one's apparel with a whisk broom 

 in one hand, while with the other hand he depletes the traveler's 

 pockets. 



