IJam-arv 1, 1917. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



205 



BRITISH MOTORCYCLE BELTS. 



The North British Clincher 

 Fi.Exis Belt. 



RUBBER V-shaped motorcycle belts, now almost entirely un- 

 known in America, are very popular in Europe, especially 

 in Great Britain, where they are used, almost to the exclusion 

 of all other mediums of power transmission, on two-wheeled 

 motor vehicles. The reason advanced by those conversant with 

 the subject is that American motorcycle manufacturers do not 



appreciate the real ad- 

 \antages of this flexible 

 and efficient drive. 



Early American mo- 

 torcycles were provided 

 with belts of both the fiat 

 and V-shaped types. 

 When flat belts were 

 used, it was almost im- 

 possible, owing to limited 

 space, to lit belts of suf- 

 licient width for trans- 

 mitting the power from 

 the engine to tlie rear 

 wheel without consid- 

 erable slipping, which 

 caused the belt to wear 

 out rapidly. 

 Trapezoidal, or V-shaped belts, were but little more successful 

 because, in all cases, either the driving pulley or the belt used 

 was too small for the horse power to be transmitted. Both flat 

 and V-shaped belts gave way to chain drive before their use 

 was sufficiently well understood to demonstrate their value for 

 motorcycle power transmission, and the feeling is still strong 

 among many American motorcycle men that they are nut prac- 

 tical for our 

 heavy, high-pow- 

 ered machines. 



In Europe, cor- 

 rect design ing 

 has perpetuated 

 ■rubber motor- 

 cycle belts, which 

 are claimed to be 



more flexible, easier on the machine, tires and rider, and just 

 as efficient under usual conditions as chain transmission. 



Here are some well-designed types of belts made in Great 

 Britain of rubber and canvas and embodying important features. 

 In these every factor in running conditions appears to have been 

 studied closely by practical motorcyclists as well as engineers. 

 The grooves absorb the natural displacement of rubber when the 



belt is bent to negotiate the 

 small driving pulley. With- 

 out these grooves the belt, 

 when so bent, would widen 

 at its base so that the top 

 half would be forced away 

 from perfect contact with 

 the pulley. 



The fabric of motorcycle 

 belts must be of the best 

 quality of cotton, proofed 

 with rubber and embedded 

 in a tough and wear-resist- 

 ing rubber compound. Belts 

 must be designed and con- 

 structed to insure a mini- 

 mum of stretch. 

 It is claimed that the belts here shown, when properly ad- 

 justed and proportioned to the power to be transmitted, will 

 keep their adjustment, will not slip in wet weather and will give 



The Wooii-MiLXE Belt. 



The Avon W.^TERSHED Belt. 



efficient service for more than 10,000 miles on rough roads. 

 High-power motorcycles are still much in favor here in Amer- 

 ica, but, thanks to improvements in clutches and gear-sets, eco- 

 nomical, light, low-power machines are rapidly being appreci- 

 ated. Hence more study and investigation should be given to 

 the qualities of rubber transmission belts for the latter type of 

 motorcycles. 



CL03ET-SEAT BUMPERS. 



Rulilier bumpers to be fastened to the under surface of water- 

 closet seats have been used in various forms and designs for 

 many ye;irs. The style shown here is one of several patterns 

 made with nickeled escutcheon plates. In 1908 The Elastic Tip 

 Co., Boston, Massachusetts, prepared molds to make a tip sim- 

 ilar to this in style, but to be held in place by two screws, at the 

 extreme ends, put through countersunk holes in the rubber. In 

 May, 1909, Charles Pfau, of Cincinnati, Ohio, applied for a pat- 

 ent for a bumper substantially like this. The application was 

 rejected «everal times, but one with some modifications was al- 



lowed in February, 1915. .As The Elastic Tip Co.'s molds were 

 made the same month as the original application, namely. May, 

 1909, they could not antedate that application sufficiently to in- 

 validate the patent. 



Immediately upon the issuing of the patent Mr. Pfau organized 

 the Long Seat Bumper Co., a holding company, which made ar- 

 rangements with the Mechanical Rubber Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, 

 to manufacture these bumpers and place them on the market. 

 Notices were sent to the trade announcing the patent, together 

 with warnings that suits would be brought if rubber manufac- 

 turers continued to make and sell such bumpers. It is said that 

 in one or two instances suit has been invited. 



Because there appeared to be only a comparatively small sale 

 for such a buinper as that patented by Mr. Pfau, The Elastic 

 Tip Co. decided to put out a line of various shapes, with metal 

 escutcheons, this method of fastening differing from that em- 

 ployed in the Pfau patent. These are made with various lengths 

 of bumpers, some having flat faces, like the one illustrated, while 

 others have convex or semi-cylindrical faces, and on these there 

 is a moderate, steady demand from hardware and plumhers' 

 supply dealers. 



GEO. S. COLTON ELASTIC WEB CO. 



The Geo. S. Colton Elastic Web Co., Easthampton, Massachu- 

 setts, has increased its capital stock from $250,000 to $350,000 by 

 the addition of $100,000 preferred stock, $50,000 of which has 

 been sold to increase the working capital, the balance to be held 

 for sale as the business may require. 



George S. Colton is no longer connected with the company, 

 his entire stock holdings having been purchased by C. A. Rich- 

 mond, who has resigned as treasurer of tin- Glendale Elastic 

 Fabrics Co. to assume active management of the Colton com- 

 pany. In order to correct current rumors, it is announced that 

 neither this company nor Mr. Richmond has any connection with 

 any other company in a similar line. 



RUBBER MAN INSURED FOR $1,800,000. 



Harry Thatcher Dunn, Toledo, Ohio, president of The Fisk 

 Rubber Co., and vice-president of the Willys-Overland Co., is 

 now counted among the largest life insurance policy holders, his 

 total of $1.SOO.OOO being exceeded by only three or four other 

 .American business men. To take up this amount, several insur- 



