May 1, 1916.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



409 



RUBBER SOLES AND HEELS IN THE BRITISH 

 SHOE INDUSTRY. 



D liCK.NTLV quite a number of samples of rubber soles, heels, 

 * *■ tips, etc., have been brought before my notice from different 

 manufacturers for inspection. The majority of these rubber soles 

 and heels are of the cheap grades for use in the manufacture of 

 cheap footwear. The majority of heels used in making cheap 

 footwear are of the "cushion type,'' which has a small piece of 

 leather, cut the same shape as the cushion, but smaller, attached 

 inside the rim or edge of the cushion. 



The following data gives some idea of the quality of the 

 heels, soles and studs used in the cheap footwear factories. 



No. 1 is for red seat studs about V2 inch in height by }i inch 

 in diameter. 



Per cent. 



Old door iiuis, pram tNrtv (;as pipe*- 64 



Raw rubber 4 



Codd rings 2 



Sulphur 5 



Preparation 10 



WhitinK 3 



Red substituti. 3 



Red o>ide 5 



Red VulcanwH 4 



No. 2 is that of a grey mi.xing used in heels : 



5 parts preparation. 

 1 part white substitute 

 2^/2 parts whiting. 



No 3 is that of a mixing without any new rubber at all : 



30 parts prams and mats. 



5 parts preparation. 



2J4 parts whiting. 



1 part white substitute. 



No. 4 was also a grey mi.xing used for cushion heels. 



30 parts prams and mats. 



1-2 part raw rubber. 



'A part golf ball shells. 



2!/ parts sulphur. 



5 parts preparation. 



3J^ parts whiting. 



1 part white substitute. 



No. 5 was found to be the best of a series of poor samples 

 of rubber soles, and consisted of a grey mixing as follows ; 



15 parts prams and mats. 



l;/2 parts raw rubber. 



•A part golf ball shells. 



2 parts sulphur. 

 3^i parts preparation. 

 2 parts whiting. 



J4 part white substitute. 



The reader will no doubt have come to the conclusion by the 

 time he has perused these mixings that the shoe trade can be 

 catered for by a low grade of rubber commodities indeed. The 

 mixings were prepared by grinding the old door mats, perambu- 

 lator tires, etc., and passing the resulting mass through a fine 

 riddle, and then mixing with an equal weight of tar. These 

 mixings gave constant trouble when they were applied to the 

 shoe, as they were very crumbly, and when the operator at the 

 stitching machine tried to sew the heel or sole to the boot the 

 groove made by the rubber manufacturer in the mold all broke 

 out when the needle passed through. 



Shoe manufacturers, of course, cannot expect to get superior 

 quality goods at the price they pay. 



[The foregoing contributed to "The India Rubber Journal,'' by 

 Fred Ashworth. a well-known English analyst and consulting 

 chemist, is interesting as throwing a side light on one of the 

 old-time prejudices of rubber manufacturers, in favor of ground 

 vulcanized scrap in the place of reclaimed scrap. It can be used. 

 of course, and if a binder like tar is added, it may be sheeted and 

 molded, but it would be a better product if the old pram tires, 

 codd rings, etc.. were put through an adequate reclaiming proc- 

 ess before use. — Editor.] 



RUBBER TRADE INQUIRIES. 



'J^IIL iiiquiri.-s Ihal follow liax c already been ansn-crcd; nezcr- 

 ■* thcless, they are of interest, not only in showing the needs 

 of the trade, but because of the possibility that additional infor- 

 mation may be furnished by those who read them. The editor 

 is therefore glad to have those interested communicate vrith him. 



1 161.] A correspondent wishes to know where he can pur- 

 chase white castor oil substitute and black Russian substitute. 



[162.] Prices and samples of "Vulcoleine" have been re- 

 quested. 



[163.] Addresses of concerns making apparatus for the con- 

 densation of naphtha vapors are requested. 



[164.] .-Xn export inquiry for 2,200 pounds of cominercial 

 gutta percha tissue, such as used by tailors, has been received. 



[165.] .\h inquiry comes from Holland for machinery for 

 making imitation rubber tiling. 



[166.] A manufacturer wants to know where he can secure 

 rubberized mummy silk. 



[167.] Names of -A.merican manufacturers of gutta percha 

 tissue are desired. 



TRADE OPPOKTTJNITrES FROM CONSULAR REPORTS. 



.\n Mast .\trican firm desires to receive catalogs, price lists 

 and full information from American manufacturers of rubber- 

 tyi'e printing sets. Report No. 20,553. 



Communication with American manufacturers of rubber shoes 

 and arctics is desired by a firm in Norway. Report No. 20,640. 



-An Italian concern would like to be placed in touch with 

 .\merican manufacturers of erasers of all kinds. Report No. 

 20,658. 



An inquirer in Norway desires to be placed in touch with 

 .American manufacturers of brown, blue and black waterproof 

 cloth for raincoats. Report No. 20,728. 



A Swiss firm wishes to communicate with .American manu- 

 facturers of hygienic rubber goods. Report No. 20,730. 



Representation is desired in Central America for .American 

 manufacturers of suspenders, garters, raincoats, rubber over- 

 shoes and other articles. Report No. 20,772. 



-An applicant in Spain wishes to receive catalogs and full in- 

 formation from .AiTierican manufacturers of rubber goods. Re- 

 port No. 20,774. 



.A Norwegian import firm would like to be placed in touch 

 with American manufacturers of rubbers and arctics. This firm 

 is prepared to give an immediate order for from 100,000 to 

 200.000 pairs and desires the agency for the whole of Norway. 

 Report No. 20,831. 



Quotations are desired by a Swiss firm from American manu- 

 facturers of rubber gloves for acid, electrical and medical pur- 

 poses, rubber-lined canvas hose, high-pressure hose for pneumatic 

 tools, vacuum-brake hose, garden and steam hose, gas tubing, 

 beer tubing, rubber mattings, fishing trousers and stockings, 

 galoslu-s and rubber boots. Report No. 20,851. 



"KANTLEEK" SEAMLESS WATER BOTTLE. 



.A hot water bottle is a source of comfort and heal- 

 ing in many human ailments, and a corresponding 

 source of discomfort and distress if it leaks. The 

 cemented seams of the usual type of water bottle are 

 apt in time to open up or split, with a consequent 

 leakage that, however small, renders them unfit for 

 use. 



.As will be seen in the accompanying illustration, 

 the "Kantleek" seamless water bottle is molded in 

 practically one piece of rubber. The rubber is 

 claimed to be of exceptional quality, and the bag is 

 guaranteed for two years. [The Seamless Rubber 

 Co., New Haven, Connecticut.] 



