218 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February 1, 1916. 



with metliods in use some years ago. This incidentally 

 greatly reduced fire hazards. 



Spreader fires, one great danger in the proofing of 

 rubber, apparently occur during periods of low 

 atmospheric humidity, according to the examination 

 made by F. J. Hoxie, a prominent insurance investi- 

 gator, which is printed elsewhere in this issue. From 

 his findings it would appear that there is a reason- 

 able probability that this class of fires may be largely 

 prevented by artificially maintaining sufficient humid- 

 ity. 



These fires occur chiefly during the winter months, 

 the period of dry air, of low relative humidity. Sum- 

 mer, with its moisture-laden atmosphere, with high 

 relative humidity, appears to be practically free. 



It would seem that manufacturers should determine 

 whether Mr. Hoxie's theory is correct. If it is, the 

 number of spreader fires can be materially reduced, 

 perhaps entirely eliminated. Adding moisture to the 

 air in the spreader room, or in any part of the factory 

 where low humidity may increase the fire hazard, is 

 a simple matter. 



A small jet of steam opened in the room when the 

 relative humidity drops below 40 per cent, will ac- 

 complish the purpose, although a moistening device 

 in connection with a blower heating system, if warmth 

 is provided by that approved method, will be found 

 equally efficacious and will transfer the responsibility 

 of humidifying the air from the foreman to the en- 

 gineer. 



The addition of a direct reading hygrometer, an 

 inexpensive instrument showing humidity, will form 

 an acceptable addition to the equipment of the 

 spreader room, or any room in which rubber cement 

 is used. This would enable the foreman to tell at a 

 glance whether more moisture is required in the air, 

 not only with a view of reducing fire risk but also 

 to improve the quality of the product, which is said 

 to be better when made under conditions of the higher 

 humidity. 



Of course, as a rule rubber manufacture is better 

 done in dry than in moist air. Indeed, much time and 

 money are spent in taking all moisture from rubber 

 compounding ingredients and fabrics and the goods 

 are the better for it. It is a question, therefore, if 

 damping the air of even a spreader room will be 

 looked upon with favor. Certainly the suggestion 

 that dry heaters be equipped with sprinklers will not 

 appeal to the manufacturer. 



Since the insurance interests have made material 

 reduction in rates for factories possessing fire protec- 

 tion equipment and have added charges for those 

 offering particular hazard, rubber manufacturers have 

 found it to their advantage to add sprinkler systems, 

 standpipes with hose, extinguishers and numerous 

 pails of sand. They have taken precautions never 

 before practiced, and perhaps previously thought un- 

 necessary. The results have been a saving of money 



in premiums and of that loss attendant to every fire 

 that cannot be covered by insurance — delay, worry, 

 extra work, cancelled orders. 



Manufacturers will find it well worth while to re- 

 duce fire hazards to the minimum, to supply proper 

 fire fighting equipment and, to train men in each 

 department how to act in case of emergency. Con- 

 stant vigilance is the only safeguard. 



THE TRIUMPH OF THE "SCULPTURED" TREAD. 



FOR some years past anti-skid treads, were they 

 "Bailey," "Nobby," "Staggard" or "Squeegee," 

 were things abhorred by the great Michelin company. 

 "Sculptured" treads they called them and most wittily 

 they lampooned them in prose and verse. In serious 

 earnest, also, their experts proved that the "sculptured" 

 tread was not the equal of the smooth tread, and their 

 reasoning seemed sound. In spite of this, however, every 

 tire company kept its special anti-skid, new companies 

 added theirs until it seemed as if all possible designs had 

 been exhausted. Then, and only then, the Michelin com- 

 pany, realizing perhaps what they had known all along, 

 that tire users craved anti-skids, brought out one of their 

 own. It isn't exactly a "sculptured" tread, but it is 

 recessed, and it is an anti-skid. The Michelin company 

 gracefully and effectively bowed to the inevitable. 



WHERE CABLE STRIPPINGS ARE WELCOME. 



OF all types of scrap rubber the condemned rubber- 

 covered cable is the most undesirable. It is utterly, 

 obstinately* intractable. It bulks big and bends with re- 

 luctance. The owner dislikes to feed it to the alligator 

 shears for fear that some half mile of it may pass muster 

 as good enough for an economical borough or bankrupt 

 republic. Among junk men stories are rife of lots 

 gathered in this fair republic, refused by local reclaimers, 

 shipped to England, sent back, ballasted to Venezuela, 

 sequestered for debt, and finally brought back to rest in a 

 Brooklyn junk yard as far from reclaiming as in the be- 

 ginning. 



But with rubber at $12 a pound in Germany it is a safe 

 bet that there, at least, no cable strippings are going beg- 

 ging. Too bad the embargo — but that is a forbidden 

 topic. 



Many wonder just why there should be any 

 hesitation in allowing hospital supplies of rubber to go 

 into Germany for Red Cross use. They do not appre- 

 ciate the fact that for purposes of remanufacture for tires, 

 inner tubes or ground sheets, these goods, either new or 

 scrapped, are equivalent to a certain amount of crude 

 rubber. With raw rubber at its present price in Berlin 

 rubber scrap quotations per pound should be as follows : 

 red scrap, $2; white scrap, $2.20; automobile tires, $1; 

 inner tubes, $5. 



