268 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May I, 1908. 



TO HEINRICH TRAUN, GREETING. 



OX Friday, May 8, occurs the seventieth birthday of Dr. 

 Heinrich Traun, of Hamburg, a name distinguished in 

 the annals of the rubber industry, and associated in many ways 

 with the cause of progress in the land of his birth and the 

 benefit of his fellow men. Heinrich Traun, born in Hamburg 

 in 1838, the son of Friedrich Traun, attended the college of 

 Dr. Wichard Lange, after which he was prepared for the uni- 

 versity by private tutors. He studied the physical sciences at 

 Gottingen and was graduated at the age of only 21 as a doctor 

 in philosophy, choosing "Kautschuk" as the subject of his thesis. 

 Going to London, 

 he was a chemist in 

 the royal dock 

 yards, and had an 

 opportunity to come 

 into contact with 

 laboring men at 

 their work. Later 

 he was employed in 

 Paris, after which, 

 in 1863, he became 

 a partner in the 

 Harburger Gummi- 

 Kamm Compagnie, 

 already an impor- 

 tant concern, but 

 destined to be de- 

 veloped greatly un- 

 der his direction. 



There had come 

 to America a son ot 

 Heinrich C. Meyer, 

 the whalebone man- 

 ufacturer of Ham- 

 burg, to establish a branch in New York, in connection with 

 Conrad Poppenhusen. First to recognize the merit of hard rub- 

 ber, as developed under Nelson Goodyear's patent, where these 

 same young men, who some time were associated as Meyer & 

 Poppenhusen. It was the same interest, practically, that in- 

 augurated the hard rubber industry at College Point (New 

 York) and Hamburg. In 1856 the German share in the business 

 was organized into the Harburger Gummi-Kamm Compagnie, 

 with works at Harburg, opposite Hamburg. In 1835 Friedrich 

 Traun. a son in law of the elder Meyer, had been admitted to 

 a partnership in the latter's business, and in time three of his 

 sons was also admitted, including the subject of this sketch. 

 Ultimately the rubber and other manufacturing interests of the 

 Meyer and Traun family were separated. Dr. Heinrich Traun 

 taking the rubber branch, and becoming sole proprietor. 



In August, 1902, Dr. Traun admitted to partnership his two 

 sons, Heinrich Otto Traun and Dr. Friedrich .Adolph Traun, 

 the firm name becoming changed to Dr. Heinrich Traun und 

 Sohne, which style is still retained. In the early part of 1901, 

 he was elected to the position of senator of the free city of 

 Hamburg, the highest and most honorable office in its govern- 

 ment. His election gave great satisfaction to the people, to 

 whose interests he has since devoted his time and talents almost 

 solely until recently, when he retired from office on account of 

 advancing years. Dr. Traun since January I last has ceased 

 to be an active partner in the rubber firm bearing his name, 

 but is still interested as a special partner. 



In no part of his multifarious life work has Dr. Traun been 

 more deeply interested than in the measures for the benefit of 

 the army of employes at his rubber works, in which respect 

 he has not only won the appreciation of those for whose welfare 

 he planned, but has set a model for other establishments which 

 has been widely copied. 



Heinrich Traun, ph. d. 



[In the robes of a senator of the free city 

 of Hamburg.] 



NEW ENGLAND RUBBER CLUB— NINTH ANNUAL. 



■ I "HE yearly election of officers of the New England Rubber 

 ■*■ Club occurred during the month, at a meeting of the mem- 



bers held in response to the following call : 



"An adjourned meeting of the regular annual meeting will be 

 held at the American House, Hanover street, Boston, on Mon- 

 day, April 27, at 7 p. m., for the purpose of hearing the report 

 of the secretary and treasurer, for the election of officers for the 

 ensuing year, and for such other business as may properly 

 come before the meeting. The meeting will be entirely de- 

 voted to business, and there will be no entertainmnt or colla- 

 tion providd. 



"ROBERT L. RICE, Secretary. 



"WALTER M. F.\RWELL, Assistant Secretary." 



The reports of the officers were read and received as follows : 

 The Secretary's Report. 



Another year having passed, the Club finds itself entering on 

 its ninth year in fine shape both as to membership and finances. 

 The membership now numbers 242, there having been 22 new 

 members added during the year. 



The past year the Club has held two entertainments — the 

 summer outing, held at The Country Club, Brookline, July 17, 

 1907, and the annual midwinter dinner, held at the .-Mgonquin 

 Club, Commonwealth avenue, Boston, on March 11, 1908. Both 

 were well attended and, from all appearances, exceptionally well 

 enjoyed. 



Our Club still retains its membership in the Massachusetts 

 State Board of Trade, and Arthur W. Stedman has been again 

 unanimously selected to serve our Club as delegate to this or- 

 ganization for a term of three years. 



Three of our members have passed to the Great Beyond during 

 this year — Edgar S. Hyatt, Horace E. Tyer, and George O. 

 Currier, Jr. Their absence from our meetings will be a great 

 loss and their memories long cherished. 



The outlook for the Club for the coming year seems bright, 

 with an ever increasing membership and a stronger feeling of 

 good fellowship, which cannot help but be a great factor to 

 the whole rubber business, as well as adding very pleasant social 

 memories to all our members. Respectfully submitted, 



ROBERT L. RICE, Secretary. 



Treasurer's Report, 

 receipts. 



Bank balance, April 15, 1907 $828.50 



For initiations $80.00 



Annual dues 1,041.25 



Assessments 989.02 2,110.27 



Total $2,938.77 



DISBURSEMENTS. 



Dinners $1,913.46 



Sundries as per vouchers 150.3- $2,063.78 



Bank balance and cash on hand 874.99 



Total $2,938.77 



FREDERICK H. JONES, Treasurer. 



The official list, with one e.\ception the same as last year, is as 

 follows: Arthur W. Stedman, president; Henry C. Pearson, vice- 

 president; Frederick H. Jones, treasurer; Robert L. Rice, secre- 

 tary; George Mayo, assistant secretary. Mr. Walter M. Farrell, 

 who was assistant secretary last year, declined reelection on the 

 score of the pressure of other business, and is succeeded by Mr. 

 Mayo, of the firm of William F. Mayo & Co. 



The following were elected directors of the Club : Costello C. 

 Converse. Joseph Davol, Elisha S. Williams, Ira F. Burnham, 

 George P. Whitmore, and E. E. Wadbrook. 



The honorary vice presidents of the Club are the Hon. L. D. 

 .\psley, the Hon. A. O. Bourn, Robert D. Evans, James Bennett 

 Forsyth, George H. Hood, Henry C. Morse, John H. Flint, and 

 .Me.xander M. Paul. 



