February 1, 1912. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



235 



The Rubber Industry of Japan. 



{By our Special Correspondent.) 



THE YOKOHAMA Er.ECTRIC WIRE WORKS. 



NOW ranking among the largest of the Japanese insulated 

 wire and cable manufacturing companies, this factorv was 

 established in 1895 with a capital of $25,000 by Messrs. 

 Hiranuma. Watanahe. Wakao, Kimura and Onishi, prominent 



Complete \'iew of Yokoh.\ma Electric Wire Work: 



Yokohama business men. The growth of the plant was in pro- 

 portion to the additions made to its capital, which became succes- 

 sively, $50,000; $100,000; $150,000 and $600,000; these increase; 

 ■extending over a. period of 14 years. 



With the object of studying the manufacture of rubber-cov 

 ■ered insulated, wires. Mr. Y. Hashimoto was sent 

 Xo Europe; i,Mr. M. Wachter, a German expert 

 ■being engaged to improve the operations of manu- 

 facture, and Mr. S. Tanakai, chemist and Bachelor 

 ■of Engineering, becoming chief engineer. The lat- 

 ter, upon leaving the works, was succeeded by Mr. 

 E. Hata, assisted by Mr. M. Yokoyama, likewise a 

 Bachelor of Engineering. Under the expert di- 

 rection of these engineers the works made remark- 

 •able progress, not only in rubber-covered wires but 

 ■also in many other descriptions. 



In connection with a reorganization taking 

 t)lace July. 1908. capital to the extent of $325,000 

 was -invested in the stock of the Yokohama com- 

 pany by the Furukawa Copper Company, from 

 which the first-named concern had long been pur- 

 t:hasing copper wire. The Furukawa Company 

 thereupon gave up the intention of establishing its 

 •own electric wire and cable manufacturing com- 

 pany. 



About a year before this fusion, the Yokohama 

 premises were burnt ; being replaced in August. 

 1908, by a new and extensive plant. In 1910, after 

 the departure of Mr. E. Hata, the post of chief 

 expert was filled by Mr. D. Coyle, who came out 

 from England for that purpose. New machinery and buildings 

 ■are now under construction, for the manufacture of paper-insu- 

 lated cable, which will be completed by April next, and have in- 

 volved the investment of further capital to the extent of S250.000. 



The main works of the company are situated at Ura-Takashi- 

 macho, Yokohama ; the Osaka branch factory being at Kyomachi- 

 tori, Xishiku, Osaka; covering in all five acres, of which the 

 buildings occupy three acres. A separate building will be de- 

 voted to the manufacture of paper cable. The motive power is 

 furnished by three boilers, one engine and one 

 dynamo, while the hands (exclusive of those in 

 the paper cable branch) at present number 850. 



In the electric testing room, there are English 

 liigli insulating and high-pressure testing apparatus 

 lor break-dowm test of 60.000 volts. The machinery 

 for manufacturing lead-covered rubber wires % 

 inch to 4 inches is of German construction. 

 The principal branches of production are : — 



1. Electric insulated wires and cables; cotton- 

 covered weatherproof w^ires ; lead-covered insulated 

 wires ; armored and military service -wires and 

 cal)les ; silk or cotton lamp cords, etc. 



2. Joint boxes, junction boxes, etc. 



3. Lead, gas and water pipes. 

 Among the principal divisions of the works are: 



Stranding shop, rubber shop, rubber drying room, 

 braiding shop, lead covered shop, compounding 

 shop, finishing shop, tinning shop, etc. The an- 

 nexed illustrations show a complete view of the 

 works ; the washing roll, mixing roll and calender 

 room ; and the braiding shop, with large productive 

 capacity. 



AMERICAN TRADE WITH JAP.\X UNDER NEW TARIFF. 



Statistics of American shipments to Japan during August last 

 are of special interest as indicating which articles can stand the 

 duties of the new Japanese tariflf. By tlie report of the Consul 

 for Japan at New York for the month of August, shipments of 



Washing Roll. Mixing Roll and Calender Room. 



rubber boots and shoes, which had been temporarily interrupted 

 (as shown in the India Rubber World, December, 1911, p. 132), 

 had been resumed, though on a smaller scale. The new Japanese 

 tariff went into effect July 17, 1911. The figures show: 



