April i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



235 



SOME SUCCESSFUL MEN IN THE INDIA-RUBBER TRADE. 



JAMES BENNETT FORSYTH. 



IF any single rubber (actory should be selected, to illustrate 

 in its history the development of the India-rubber indus- 

 try in the broadest sense, there could scarcely be an ob- 

 jection anywhere to giving the preference to the Boston 

 Belting Co. The seal of that company bears the date 1845, Dut 

 the business dates back, in unbroken succession, to the first 

 important attempts to make rubber goods in this country, and 

 their premises embrace the original building — one which pos- 

 sesses additional historic interest as having been the scene of 

 part of Charles G^odyear's early work. But while entitled to 

 the palm in respect to age, the company has never lost the 

 spirit of progressiveness which started it on a career of success 

 from its first adoption of the process of vulcanization, and in 

 no other rubber factory have a greater number of practical 

 processes and appliances been developed. This sketch, how- 

 ever, is not meant as a history of the 

 company, further than outlining the 

 connection with it of the present gen- 

 eral manager, Mr. James Bennett For- 

 syth, covering a period of foity-one 

 years, by the end of the present month. 

 While the company has become 

 known wherever mechanical rubber 

 goods are used, the active head of the 

 business, jealously devoted to its suc- 

 cess, has not sought public notice in 

 any way. Hence the portrait of Mr. 

 Forsyth, presented on this page, is the 

 first that has ever appeared in any jour- 

 nal, and the present sketch of his career 

 is probably the first that has been seen 

 by the rubber trade. 



Mr. Forsyth was born in Brookline, 

 Massachusetts, February 2, 1850, and 

 six years later his family removed to 

 Roxbury, where his father, William 

 Forsyth, had charge of a department in 

 the Boston Belting Co.'s factory. The 

 son's health at an early age was such as to prevent his regular 

 attendance at school, and the family physician advised that he 

 be put at some light employment as a probable means of im- 

 proving his health. Early in his fifteenth year, therefore, he 

 was placed in the office of Mr. Merrill, clerk of the company at 

 the factory, to assist him generally in the office, and to go to 

 the postoffice and the bank. At that time John G. Tappan 

 was treasurer of the company, and Charles McBurney the man- 

 ufacturing agent, the company's store in Boston being con- 

 ducted under the style of Tappan, McBurney & Co., selling 

 agents. The superintendent was Robert Hale. It was a part 

 of the duties of the young assistant clerk to go frequently 

 through the mill, particularly in regard to goods to be shipped 

 to the store, and after a time he asked permission of the super- 

 intendent to work in the mill when he could be spared from 

 the office. Mr. Hale consented, and he worked for several 

 hours each week, first in one department and then another as 

 he chose, for a year or more. 



On February 1, 1864. Mr. Merrill having been forced by ill- 

 ness to retire, his assistant was promoted to the office of clerk. 

 Fourteen months later, he was made assistant superintendent 



JAMES BENNETT FORSYTH 



under Charles McBurney, who had succeeded Mr. Hale, and on 

 April 1, 1886, Mr. Forsyth became superintendent. Four years 

 later he took the position also of manufacturing agent. These 

 two positions he held until the spring of 1884, when he relin- 

 quished the work of superintendent, and in addition to manu- 

 facturing agent was made general manager of the company, 

 and these two positions he has held until recently. At present, 

 however, he devotes his attention to the duties of general man- 

 ager, with the assistance of his brothers in other positions as 

 mentioned further on. 



Mr. Forsyth has contributed greatly and in very many ways 

 to the success and prosperity of the company, both through 

 his inventions and his administrative ability. His patented in- 

 ventions cover many useful machines employed in the industry, 

 and many important articles of manufacture. Several years 

 ago it was stated that he had taken out 

 more than 50 patents. A complete list 

 of these is not now available, but a ref- 

 erence to the patent office records sub- 

 sequent to the date alluded to shows 

 that additional patents have been 

 granted to him almost every year. They 

 cover machinery for the making of rub- 

 ber hose, for making and stretching 

 rubber lined cotton and linen hose ; 

 rubber covered rollers for use in cotton, 

 woolen, and paper mills, print and dye 

 works, bleacheries, and so on ; together 

 with many others. 



The family of Mr. Forsyth is of 

 French extraction, existing for many 

 generations under the name Forsath 

 or Forsaith, which became Forsyth on 

 the removal of a branch of the family 

 to Scotland. Captain Alexander For- 

 syth, born in Ayrshire in 1689, removed 

 to Boston, where he was married in 

 171 5, and where for many years he was 

 selectman and otherwise a prominent citizen. His son John 

 also rose to many positions of public trust in Boston. Both 

 eventually returned to Scotland, and died there. A son of the 

 latter, born in Scotland, was Captain John Forsyth, of the Brit- 

 ish army, whose son William (born in Ayrshire 1807 — died Bos- 

 ton, 1876) was the father of the subject of this sketch. He mar- 

 ried Jane, daughter of Hamilton Bennett. Esq., of Buxton, 

 England. They are survived by four sons, all connected now 

 with the Boston Belting Co., as follows : James Bennett, gen- 

 eral manager ; John Hamilton, superintendent ; Thomas Alex- 

 ander, manufacturing agent ; George Henry, assistant mnager 

 Mr. Forsyth's determination and patience are remarkable. 

 As an illustration of these excellent traits it is necessary only 

 to cite the historic suits against the city of Boston in defense 

 of his company's water rights in Stony Brook. In spite of 

 every and all of the ingenious devices that the best legal talent 

 could bring forward to delay the issue and tire out the plaintiff, 

 he held grimly on, and after more than a score of years of liti- 

 gation, was triumphant. He is a tireless worker, and has a 

 record of practical experiments in India rubber and Gutta- 

 percha that would fill volumes. He is, however, the keenest 



