April 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



349 



merchant. He was educated in tlie public schools, and began his 

 business life as entry clerk for J. H. Lester & Co., shoe auc- 

 tioneers on Pearl street. Colonel Lester was the auctioneer of 

 the concern, which held regular sales once a week. One day 



of that company. Mr. Francis' management of the Hartford 

 company was extremely successful and gave him a considerable 

 reputation as a manufacturer. 



In 1S92 j\lr. Francis sold out Iiis interest in that company, and 



Frederick IT. N.\zro. 



when Lester could not speak aloud, an outside auctioneer was 

 called in. Young Nazro claimed he could do better than the 

 stranger, and Lester allowed him to officiate at one sale. He did 

 so well that the Colonel never again autioneered goods in his own 

 store. The firm became Lester, Johnson & Moody and on the 

 death of Lester in 1875, it was changed to Johnson & Moody, 

 with Mr, Nazro as partner. The specialty of the firm was boots 

 and shoes, and for many years the excess stocks of rubber foot- 

 wear manufacturers were consigned to them, and the annual rub- 

 ber sale was an event in the trade. Mr. Nazro was the auctioneer 

 at all these sales. He had a record of nearly 6,000 sales in three 

 consecutive days, and in one day he made 2,200 sales in eleven 

 hours. He knew personally every wholesale shoe buyer in the 

 country and had an intimate acquaintance with the selling agents 

 of the rubber shoe manufacturers, lie retired from active busi- 

 ness a few years ago. 



Mr. Nazro was at one time president of the Boston Boot and 

 Shoe Club. He was a past president of the Old School-Boys 

 Association of Boston. He was a member of the South Con- 

 gregational Church and a personal friend and co-worker with 

 the late Rev. Edward Everett Hale, in his many philanthropies. 

 He left a widow. 



HENRY HARRIS FRANCIS. 



Henry Harris Francis, formerly president of the Hartford 

 Rubber Works Co., and later president of the Omo Manufactur- 

 ing Co., of Middletown, Connecticut, died at his home in that 

 city on Saturday, March 9, at the age of 64. He had been in 

 poor health for the last four years, during which time he had 

 taken but little part in active work. He was bom in Wethers- 

 field, Connecticut, October 12, 1847, son of Captain John H. Fran- 

 cis and Evelyne Harris Francis. At the age of IS he entered the 

 employ of Ezra Clark & Co., of Hartford, dealers in iron and 

 steel, where he remained fifteen years. He left this firm to be- 

 come secretary of the Union Knife Co., of Naugatuck, in which 

 companjr he had bought an interest. Ten years later, in 1887, 

 after the destruction of the plant of the Union Knife Co. by fire, 

 he entered the employ of the Hartford Rubber Works. Co. There 

 he was quickly advanced to the offices of secretary and general 

 manager, and after the death of John W. Gray, to the presidency 



Hexry II.srris Fr.\ncis. 



in 1893, with others, organized the Middlesex Rubber Works Co. 

 — later re-named the Omo Manufacturing Co.— at Middletown, 

 and was its first president. He disposed of his interest and re- 

 tired from the company in 1896. In 1897 the Omo Manufactur- 

 ing Co. went into the hands of a receiver; but in February, 

 1898, it was reorganized with Mr. Francis as general manager. 

 Later he became secretary and treasurer as well, and in 1901 

 lie was elected president, treasurer and general manager. After 

 Its reorganization the Omo Manufacturing Co. became one of 

 Middletown's most successful industries. 



^Ir. Francis was deeply interested in the welfare of the com- 

 munity in which he lived, and was ready to help in all worthy 

 causes. He was an ardent Republican, a Free Mason and an 

 Odd Fellow in good and regular standing, and was a thoroughly 

 companionalile man. 



ALBERT FISCHER LEFT NEARLY $400,000. 



An inventory of the estate of .Albert Fischer, former presi- 

 dent St. Paul Rubber Co., St. Paul, Minnesota, who died 

 December 12 last, was filed for probate March 1. The estate 

 is valued at $391,108.99. The largest items are $262,553.99 in 

 cash and the Hibernian Hall property, valued at $125,000. 

 The balance of the estate is personal effects. Forrest L. 

 Fischer is administrator and the hfirs are a sister, two nieces 

 and two nephews. 



AS TO THE USE OF CHAINS ON TIKES. 



It is obvious that a chain on the tire may under certain con- 

 ditions be a great help, if not an actual necessity, but it is equally 

 obvious that it is of no benefit to the tire itself under any con- , 

 ditions, and under luany conditions it is a distinct injury, as, 

 for instance, when it is used on paved streets, where the chain, 

 not being able to sink into the pavement, has to sink into the lire. 

 The B. F. Goodrich Co. has issued a special circular on the use 

 of chains, giving illustrations of tires that have been badly 

 abused by this device. Among other salutary pieces of advice, 

 it says that the chain shoidd not be fastened to the spokes, as 

 that brings the wear at regular 'intervals and always on the 

 same spot. Auto owners addicted to the use of the chain, can- 

 probably save themselves some money by perusing this circular. 



