August i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



387 



Exhibit of The B. F. Goodrich Co. (Akron Rubber Works) at the St. Louis World's Fair. 



THE exhibit made by The B. F. Goodrich Co., of the Akron 

 Rubber Works, at the World's Fair of 1904, at St. Louis, 

 covering selections from the products of all departments of 

 their extensive factory, is probably the most comprehensive 

 exhibit of rubber goods ever made by any manufacturer. The 

 company have been highly complimented on the exhibit as a 

 whole, which has been spoken of as the most attractive dis- 

 play in the Palace of Manufactures. The setting of the exhibit 

 is attractive, while the specimen products which it embraces 

 are grouped with a pleasing effect of which but small idea can 

 be given in a picture on the small scale made necessary by the 

 restricted size of our pages. The articles shown embrace Me- 

 chanical Rubber Goods, such as hose, belting, packing, mold 

 work, etc.; Tires, for automobiles, carriages, and bicycles; 

 Druggists', Surgeons, and Stationers' sundries; and Haskell 

 golf balls. 



An occasional correspondent of The India Rubber World 

 at St. Louis writes : 



"Alter an inspection of the exhibit of The B. F. Goodrich 

 Co. (Akron, Ohio) in the Manufacturers' building, the visitor 

 is forcibly impressed with the thought that the daily walks of 

 mankind would be changed materially if the supply of rubber 

 were cut off. The variety of goods shown causes him to won- 

 der if there is anything used that the manufacturers cannot 

 make, or help to make, in some form or other, out of this won- 

 derful material. He may start at one part of the display, and 

 have every turn of the average day's doings suggested by some 

 article made of rubber, from the time he arises in the morning 

 until he retires, and this is true if he be a business man, a so- 



ciety devotee, or a sport. The display of the Goodrich com- 

 pany in point of floor space, as well as in the variety of articles 

 shown, is one of the largest at the Exposition, covering an en- 

 tire block in the northern section of the building devoted to 

 manufactures. 



" To the trade it furnishes a triple attraction. First there is 

 Frank R. Tate, who has charge and who can tell you 'what's 

 what ' in the rubber world ' right off the reel ' ; second, the col- 

 ors of the booth have been arranged to blend with the general 

 plan of the architecture, giving the whole a pleasing appear- 

 ance ; and third, there are the Goodrich pictures — ' Katie ' and 

 all the rest of the girls whose faces have become familiar to 

 customers — looking down from the walls of the reception 

 room, to extend their silent welcome. 



" Probably the most attractive single item shown is the rub- 

 ber matting which covers all the floors. It is done in imitation 

 of gray marble tiling, the blocks laid between black strips two 

 inches wide, and the whole skirted with a dark border. The 

 reception room floor is covered with the same material colored 

 green. In the surgical department, an important part of the 

 display, is shown an excellent line of water jackets for use on 

 different joints of the limbs. The goods for the bath and for 

 improvement of the complexion are given considerable space. 

 Prominence is also given to the sporting goods department. 



" The company show a great variety of rubber tires, the larg- 

 est of which is a solid wire tire 36X7 inches. Some of the 

 tires are mounted on wheels exhibited by vehicle manufactur- 

 ers, and others are on silver plated rims belonging to the Good- 

 rich company." 



