February 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



229 



the manufacture. The Board finally secured several bids on the 

 much-amended specifications. Even now serious doubts are en- 

 tertained by high-grade manufacturers as to the dependable serv- 

 ice that can be secured from a hose purchased at 66 cents (the 

 price made by the successful bidder) for the size and extent of 

 a fire department like that of the city of Seattle, when such a 

 possible immense risk by fire is taken into consideration. 



* * * 



The Gorham-Revere Rubber Co. gave a very successful, en- 

 joyable and instructive entertainment and banquet last week to 

 its traveling salesmen who cover the California territory. The 

 banquet was held at the Bohemian Club, and each one present 

 vi-as presented with a handsome scarf pin as a memento of the 

 occasion. The speeches made to the salesmen were instructive, 

 and the entire aft'air was so successful that similar meetings 

 will undoubtedly hereafter become annual affairs. Some 28 

 men attended the banquet. 



=^= * * 



J. B. Brady, of the Gorham-Revere Rubber Co., is now in the 

 east on a business trip for the firm. 



The American Rubber Manufacturing Co. is putting the fin- 

 ishing touches on its now factory building at the wirks across 

 the bay at Emeryville. 



Arthur Ralph, who had charge of the branch retail tire store of 

 The B. F. Goodrich Co. on Van Ness avenue, is no longer con- 

 nected with that firm. Mr. Miller, in charge of the mechanical 

 department of the B. F. Goodrich Co., has returned from his 



recent visit to the factory. 



* * * 



The Pacific States Rubber Co. has recently been incorporated 

 with its principal place of business at Portland, Oregon. 



Mr. Louis Thompson, formerly a traveling jewelry salesman, 

 has taken a position as traveling representative for the West- 

 ern Tire Co. 



* * * 



The Pneumatic Clutch Co. of Oakland, California, has in- 

 creased its capital stock to $500,000. 



George E. Starr and H. A. Forbes, for themselves and backed 

 by certain eastern capital, have Rurchased from H. R. Keaton, 

 of this city, his patent non-skid tire. Mr. Starr has left for the 

 east where he will make arrangements with the Swinehart Tire 

 Company for manufacturing tires with this tread. 



LIVERPOOL RUBBER FLUCTUATIONS 1911. 



Vjf/niLE the fluctuations of rubber in the Liverpool market 

 '' during 1911 were less marked than in 1910, they were in 

 the earlier part of the year relatively varied in character. Ac- 

 cording to the annual report of Messrs. William Wright & Co., 

 following a decline, the price of fine Para recovered by the end 

 of January to 5i. 8(/. During February, a further advance took 

 place to 7s. Id. The next ensuing months witnessed in general 

 a fall; prices ranging as follows: March, 7s. to 6s. 3d.; April. 

 6^. 2d. to 4s. 9d.; May 5.?. 4rf. to 3s. \Oy2d. June w^as steady 

 without much change. July ranged from 4.S. Ol/id. to 4s. 9d. ; 

 reaching in August 4s. W/id.; and in September, Ss. In 

 October a reaction took place to 4s. 3d. ; November closed at 

 4^-. 5d. ; and December at 4s. S^/zd. The existence of the specula- 

 tive stock held in Brazil is a factor constantly being taken into 

 consideration in Europe. While some reports indicate a willing- 

 ness on the part of the financial interests affected, to support the 

 market by purchases of new crop rubber, opinions have been 

 expressed that the sooner the stock in question is cleared off the 

 better for both holders and consumers. 



GERMAN RUBBER GOODS INDUSTRY IN 1911. 



'XV/llILE German industries in general enjoyed relative pros- 

 ' • perity, and the requirements in technical and mechanical 

 rubber goods were proportionately extensive, manufacturers of 

 the latter products found prices affected by the existing keen 

 competition for business, which led to orders being considerably 

 split up. The strikes and lock-outs in several important branches 

 served to restrict purchases of rubber goods. 



Some branches of the German rubber goods industry materially 

 profited by the exceptionally high summer temperature, while 

 others suffered from the same cause. Among those benefited 

 were the hose manufacturers, as well as the producers of articles 

 connected with outdoor sports and motoring. Prominent in the 

 latter category was the pneumatic tire industry, which was de- 

 barred from profiting through the favorable weather conditions, 

 by the efforts of foreign manufacturers to obtain at any cost the 

 control of the German tire trade. This situation was all the more 

 difficult for German mamifacturers, in view of their having large 

 stocks on hand of high-priced rubber. 



Rubber clothing was depressed by the weather, while stocks of 

 rubber shoes have in many cases been carried over by dealers. 

 Business in elastic webbing was quiet, which situation reacted 

 upon rubber thread. 



Owing to the unprecedented dryness of the summer, German 

 hose manufacturers had a record year. Customers were clamor- 

 ing for goods. Business continued relatively active to the end of 

 the year, and manufacturers are hoping for good times in 1912. 



Business in articles for aviation was quiet throughout 1911, 

 the numerous accidents having diminished the interest shown by 

 the public. The opinion has been expressed that some time will 

 elapse before aerial traffic will become an accomplished fact. Its 

 immediate future seems to lie chiefly in a military direction. 



AN ENGLISH TIRE VAN. 



We recently illustrated a tire van used by one of the large 

 English companies in a very effective form of advertising. The 

 originators of the tire van are said to be The Palmer Tyre, Lim- 

 ited, of London. This company has had such a van on the streets 



.\ P.-\LMER Tyre, Ltd., V.\n. 



of London for several years, and in addition is using one now in 

 France and one in Italy. The accompanying cut shows its latest 

 vehicle of this sort. It is effective advertising, and just as con- 

 venient for use as any other motor car. 



Send for Index (free) to Mr. Pearson's "Crude Rubber and 

 compounding Ingredients." 



