192 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[J-A 



Alfred Whitehead, secretary of the Whitehead Brothers Rub- 

 ber Co., has taken possession of his new $15,000 home on Perdi- 

 caris avenue in this city. 



C. C. Ferry has been appointed sales miMiager of the Delion 

 Tire & Rubber Co.. and will make his headquarters at the Tren- 

 ton factory. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN AKRON. 



By Our Regular Corrcst'oiidciit. 



THE big Auto and Industrial Show held at the Akron Winter 

 Garden, December 11 to 18, 1915, evidenced in highly at- 

 tractive form the growth and prosperity of this exceedingly live 

 town. This exposition, which was the second annual affair of 

 its kind, outrivaled the one of the year before— a natural sequence 

 to the immense growth, during the intervening period, of the in- 

 dustries represented. The attendance also was doubled, and the 

 scheme of lighting, the decorations, the exhibits and their ar- 

 rangement, all received most favorable comment. 



Akron rubber men concur in the widely prevalent report of 

 an early rise in tire prices. As all the materials have gone up 

 in price, if quality is to be maintained the completed product 

 will naturally share in the upward tendency. 



This picture shows the present plant of the Firestone Tire & 

 Rubber Co., covering 31 acres of floor space. 



The original Firestone factory was built in 1902. The entire 

 office force then consisted of H. S. Firestone and six others. 

 Now, over 700 persons are required to handle the office work of 

 the company, while the total of officers, department heads, branch 

 managers, superintendents and other helpers connected with the 

 organization reaches 6.000. 



In the last four years, since the new factory, consisting mainly 

 of four large wings, was built, the race between production and 

 demand has necessitated constant additions to the plant. Last 

 year alone showed an increase in output of 78 per cent. Among 



On December 16, 1915. in the Court of Common Pleas, 

 Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the Firestone company was granted a 

 lierpetual injunction against a raincoat company using the name 

 "l-'irestone." The raincoat company was operating stores under 

 tlie name "I'irestone Raincoat Co." 



Tlu- .\nuTican Hard Rubber Co. has sold the factory l)uildiiig 

 and site where it has been located for so many years to The B. 

 F. Goodrich Co. This transaction was recently consummated 

 and will necessitate a change in the original plans for the new 

 buildings now being erected at East Akron for the American 

 Hard Rubber Co. Two buildings, 400 x 50 feet, will be built, 

 according to the most approved ideas of modern factory con- 

 struction, and possibly further additions will be niade to ac- 

 commodate the removal of the entire plant from its historic 

 home. 



It is estimated that the business of The B. F. Goodrich Co. has 

 expanded in a remarkable degree — 150 per cent increase since 

 1912. The regular quarterly dividend of 1-34 per cent has been 

 declared, payable January 1 to holders of record December 1, 

 1915. Further action on dividends is anticipated early in the year. 



The Goodrich company had the honor of supplying trucks 

 equipped with Goodrich safety tread tires to convey the famous 

 Liberty Bell to and from the special cars in which it traveled 

 to the San Francisco Exposition and down to the San Diego 

 Exposition. The ancient and honored emblem is now at rest 

 again in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, after a triumphant and 

 much lauded journey. 



The Akron Pigment Co. is making a filler of recognized excel- 

 lence, which is extensively used in rubber mills all over the world. 

 The company has a substantial gray stone plant on Miller avenue. 

 George Probert. general manager, has an extensive acquaintance 

 throughout the trade in the L^nited States and Canada, and e.x- 



T OF F'iRESTONE TlRE & RuBBER Co., COVERING 31 AcRES OF FloOR Sp.ACE. 



the most recent extensions are those on three of the big main 

 wings, and the doubling of a six-story separate factory building. 



The three-story club-house which is being built for employees 

 will contain every modern facility for the comfort and pleasure 

 of its users, including a large swimming pool, bowling alleys, 

 barber shop, shower bath and lockers in the basement, and club 

 rooms and a large auditorium on the top floor, which can be used 

 as a theater, assembly hall, dance pavilion, etc. The two in- 

 termediate floors are equipped as restaurants for the factory and 

 office force. 



The completion of the additions now in progress will allow 

 f"r an increase in tire output from 7,500 to 12,(XX) per day. 



The distinctive trade-mark of the latest Firestone tire is a 

 black tread combined with a red side wall. 



The Lincoln Rubber Co. has purchased the plant and furnish- 

 ings of the Summit Rubber Co. at Barberton. 



The Star Rubber Co. recently obtained a permit to add a 

 $30,000 building to its present plant. This extension means em- 

 ployment for SO more men. 



The Mohawk Rubber Co. celebrated the opening of its new 

 factory building by a Christmas dance, held on the third floor of 

 the factory, December 28, 1915. 



.\t a luncheon given by the Akron Automobile Club at the 

 Hotel Portage, December 14, 1915, attended by many well-known 

 automobile men, C. R. Raymond, of The B. F. Goodrich Co., 

 acted as toastmaster. 



