222 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1917. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN AKRON. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 



THE concentration of the American rubber industry in .\kron 

 has made possible a much larger growth than if it were 

 scattered over a larger territory. For example, the extended 

 research work carried on by the large and wealthy companies here 

 has advanced the industry with phenomenal rapiditj-, affording 

 as it does, ever new uses for rubber. 



In 1910 the population numbered only 69,000, as compared with 

 the 51,150 people now employed here in rubber manufacture. 

 Although every variety of rubber goods is extensively produced, 

 the tire industry is the main element. It is claimed that Akron 

 manufactures over 70 per cent of all the automobile tires used in 

 the world. The past year's production of tires totals over 

 11,522,650. Every factory is operating to full capacity and con- 

 stant additions are being made to floor space and equipment, to 

 meet the ever increasing demand. Taking these facts into con- 

 sideration, over 20,000,000 tires is considered a safe prediction 

 for 1917. 



The taxable value of the great plant of The B. F. Goodrich 

 Co. amounts to almost half of the total of $43,896,440 placed upon 

 the 168 industries located in Akron and Summit County. Just 

 how the rubber manufacturing business dominates in Akron, and 

 the immensity of it, is shown by the following valuations for the 

 different companies;' 



The B. F. Goodrich Co $20,392,830 



Goodvear Tire & Rubber Co 7.631,780 



Firestone Tire & Rubber Co 4.964,980 



Kelly-Springfield Tire Co 1,371,930 



Miller Rubber Co 1,121,910 



Portage Rubber Co 331,880 



Swinehart Rubber Co 459,270 



A total of $36,220,580 is credited to the rubber manufacturing 

 industry, more than four-fifths of the entire manufacturing activi- 

 ties of Akron and its suburbs. 



Side by side with economic prosperity, social welfare for the 

 benefit of the workers has flourished. The B. F. Goodrich Co. 

 maintains a department of industrial relations, with divisions of 

 labor, health and safety, including provision for illness, life in- 

 surance, recreation, etc. The splendidly equipped Firestone club- 

 house has been previously described in these columns. The 

 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. makes a specialty of athletics and 

 also maintains a factory school. The Miller Rubber Co. has 

 inaugurated an adjustment board among the employes of the 

 employment department, allowing them to make minor adjust- 

 merits of difficulties arising among workers. A well-equipped 

 hospital has also been recently installed by the Miller company; 

 an athletic field has been provided, all essential equipment for 

 various sports being purchased by the company ; and study clubs 

 on practical business questions are being organized, with even- 

 ing classes, including supper served by the labor department at 



actual cost. 



* * * 



For some time the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. has been 

 planning to enter the rubber footwear field, and a new depart- 

 ment specially adapted to this line of manufacture is now in full 

 swing. Extensive research undertaken by the company for a 

 good substitute for leather soles— so prohibitive in cost at present 

 —has resulted in the production of an entirely new line of fiber 

 rubber soles and heels of sturdy quality which are now being 

 offered to the shoe manufacturing trade. S. S. Patrick, formerly 

 with the Beacon Falls Shoe Co., Beacon Falls, Connecticut, has 

 been named as manager of footwear sales, and Harry D. 

 Hamilton, formerly of the John H. Parker Co., Maiden, 

 Massachusetts, will act as footwear sales representative. P. D. 

 Hammond is superintendent of the footwear factory. During the 

 month of January, the complete line of footwear will be on dis- 

 play in Boston, Massachusetts, for the benefit of visiting buyers. 



The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. is now aiming to produce 



20,000 tires a day, and the accompanying illustration shows one 

 of the new buildings in its process of expansion, designed to 

 house all repair and mechanical departments. It is built of re- 

 inforced concrete and brick, with large steel-sash windows, and 



Addition to Firestone Plant. 



contains approximately 86,000 square feet of floor space. Another 

 separate building is also being erected and another story is being 

 added to the main factory buildings. 



The convention of branch managers of the Firestone company 

 on December 12 to 14 was the first of its kind ever held. Office 

 managers from 46 branches, traveling auditors and officials at 

 the home office were all in attendance. The business sessions 

 were held in the new clubhouse and there was much interesting 

 discussion of business methods and 'conditions and a general ex- 

 change of ideas, which form so valuable a part of these get- 

 together meetings. 



President H. S. Firestone welcomed the visitors to the Akron 

 office and delivered a short address. Other officers of the com- 

 pany who spoke during the convention were R. J. Firestone, vice- 

 president; J. G. Robertson, treasurer; S. G. Carkhuff, secretary, 

 and A. G. Partridge, general sales manager. 



Arrangements were in charge of F. B. Dodge, branch organiza- 

 tion manager, and the well-planned social program included a 

 dinner in honor of the visitors at the Portage Country Club, 

 banquets and theater parties ; also a minstrel show, staged espe- 

 cially for the convention, and presented by the home office force. 



President Firestone has been chosen as chairman of the Akron 

 committee for the Rubber Club banquet to be held in New York 

 City on January 8. 



The Firestone Advertising Club has been formed by members 

 of the advertising department and plans have been formulated 

 for bringing to Akron prominent advertising men who will ad- 

 dress the members on subjects of particular interest to the adver- 

 tising fraternity. There are over 30 men in the Firestone adver- 

 tising department, which numbers over a hundred people in all. 

 Officers of the new club were elected as follows : F. K. Star- 

 bird, president ; Don Bregenzer, vice-president ; H. B. Garske, 

 treasurer, and R. V. Cline, secretary. 



* * * 



The capital stock of the Punctureless Auto Tire Co., manu- 

 facturer of the King Tubeless tire, has been increased from 

 $100,000 to $1,000,000. The company's plant is situated on 20 

 acres of land between Kenmore and Barberton. The main build- 

 ing is 60 by 300 feet and the power plant 36 by 100, two stories 

 high. In the early spring two reinforced concrete and brick 

 buildings 80 by 400 feet, four stories high, will be erected, orders 

 for machinery for these large buildings having already been 

 placed. Edward Hackathorn is president of the company. 



* * * 



The books of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. show a re- 

 markable record for the past year. Gross business jumped from 



