12 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[October 1, 1919. 



each other. Other machines set in "gangs,'' inserting at one 

 pressure several eyelets in a row in the lace-stay, and this 

 row iray be either straight, or curved to conform to the shape 

 of the lace-stay. 



One adaptation of the machine is for producing the "blind 

 eyelet" effect which is in vogue in the best grades of leather 



Eyeletting Tennis Shoes. 



footwear. The machine punches the holes through the several 

 thicknesses, but sets the eyelets through all except the outside 

 ply, thus giving strength to withstand the strain, yet showing 

 no eyelet when the boot is laced. 



.Another, and necessarily more complicated machine is used 

 for inserting grominets, or eyelets with washers. For these, 

 two hoppers and their accompanying raceways are required, one 

 for each member of the duplex eyelet, together with mechanism 

 for delivering the opposing members, one above and the other 

 below the fabric or material through which it is to be inserted. 

 EYELETS AND GROMMETS IN RUBBER CLOTHING. 



Rubber clothing manufacturers use many eyelets in garments, 

 these being inserted liberally in spaces under the arms to allow 

 ventilation. For a similar purpose, they are also inserted in 

 hats and caps and especially cape-caps and havelocks. There 

 are eyelets or grommets in ponchos, and millions were used in 

 these during the early years of the great war. There is still 

 a demand for ponchos from the Far West, and for export. Rub- 

 ber blankets are provided with grommets. They are also used 

 in bath curtains. Manufacturers of reducing belts of sheet rub- 

 ber or rubberized fabrics consume thousands of eyelets. House- 

 hold aprons are provided with eyelets, as are also aprons used 

 by workmen and workwomen in certain trades. Fountain 

 syringes and hot water bottles have large grommets in the 

 tabs by which they are suspended. 



GROMMETS IN AUTO TOPS AND CURTAINS. 



Grommets are largely used in automobile tops and curtains. 

 Some of these are specially shaped for the purpose of fitting 

 over button fasteners, either plain or turn-buttons. One 

 adaptation is a patented fastener containing springs which grasp 

 the button firmly, which can be unfastened only by pulling in 

 a certain direction, indicated by a dot on the upper member 

 of the eyelet-like fastener. These fasteners are also coming into 

 use on luggage, cases for sporting goods and musical instru- 

 ments, and other articles of leather and its substitutes. Special 

 tools and machines are made for inserting them. 



These are some of the uses for metallic reinforcements of 

 perforations in rubber and rubberized material manufactures. 



NEW PRICES FOR TENNIS SHOES. 



FOLLOWING THEIR CUSTOM of many years' standing, but from 

 which they departed last year, the various rubber manufac- 

 turers which include tennis shoes in their list of products sent 

 out new and revised price-lists early in September. As in 

 former years, the United States Rubber Co. took the lead, 

 arranging its mail so that its customers in all parts of the 

 country received the new price-lists simultaneously on the first 

 day of the month. Then soon followed those of the Apsey, 

 Beacon Falls, Converse, Hood and other rubber companies. 



As expected, prices for the coming season are higher than 

 those of a year ago, as those were higher than the previous year. 

 Many lines show an advance of 10 per cent, while a goodly 

 nuinber have advanced IS per cent, and a few, a still higher 

 percentage. However, taken all in all, the trade is to be con- 

 gratulated that the advance is so moderate, when it is considered 

 that cotton duck and other textiles cost more than double the 

 prices of a year ago, and labor has very materially increased. 

 One inaterial only has declined, crude rubber, but all com- 

 pounding materials have advanced enough so that it is hardly 

 likely the rubber soles of these shoes can cost any less than a 

 year ago. 



The common every-day "sneaker" probably shows as high a 

 percentage of increase in price as any except some of the finest 

 quality shoes. In the larger sizes these show a uniform advance 

 of IS cents per pair and the smaller 10 cents per pair. Men's 

 Bals which sold in 1917 at 68 cents a pair, net, were marked 

 up to 85 cents in 1918, and are now priced at $1, while the 

 youth's Oxfords, 60 cents in 1917, were 6S cents last year and 

 75 cents in the presen! catalog, while children's Oxfords were 

 respectively 45 cents, 55 cents and 70 cents in the three price- 

 lists. 



In the medium quality goods, such as the "Campfire" line 

 of the United States Rubber Co., the "Nantasket" of the Apsley 

 Rubber Co., the "Yale" of the Converse Rubber Co., and the 

 "Lakeside" of the Hood Rubber Co., the prices have advanced 

 15 or 20 cents; men's Bals from $1.35 to $1.50 and men's Ox- 

 fords from $1.20 to $1.40, while boys' and misses' sizes which 

 were $1.10 are now $1.25 and other sizes proportionately. 



In the high-priced goods, having rubber heels and soles with 

 narrow foxing, prices show a proportionate advance. Men's 

 Bals which were quoted at $2.15 last year are now $2.50, and 

 Oxfords which were $2 are now $2.35. The lines in imitation 

 weit have advanced 35 cents per pair, men's Oxfords from $2.40 

 to $2.75 and wom.en's from $2 to $2.35. 



The companies are vying with each other in producing hand- 

 some lines of welt construction, on lasts closely following those 

 used by the up-to-date manufacturers of leather shoes. Each 

 company has its own way of bottoming these shoes in welt con- 

 struction, lasted by experienced shoemakers, the women's lines 

 with Louis or military heels and the toes following the narrow 

 graceful lines which are now so popular. These boots run as 

 high as $4 a pair, and pumps at $3, while men's Bals of similar 

 make and quality are priced at $3.75 and Oxfords at $3.25. 



Several companies are now producing lines of workingmen's 

 shoes, made to take the place of leather shoes for rough wear. 

 The tremendous advance in the latter favors the exploitation of 

 such footwear, which is made with brown or black duck uppers 

 and rubber or fiber soles. As these cost, net, around $2.25 to 

 $2.75, while leather upper and leather-soled shoes of similar 

 style and wearing quality range from $3.50 to $5 per pair, whole- 

 sale, there is no doubt that the already large demand for these 

 workingmen's shoes, made in rubber shoe factories, will have a 

 heavily increased sale the coming season. 



Copy of Index to "Rubber Machinery" will be sent free upon 

 request. 



