4iS0 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May 1, 1917. 



INFANTS' NIPPLES IN FBANCE. 



The French law of April 6, 1910, prohibiting the sale and im- 

 portation into France of certain tube feeding bottles has been 

 extended so that it now also covers infants' "comforters" and 

 nipples made of materials other than pure rubber, vulcanized 

 by a process other than hot vulcanization, and not bearing, be- 

 sides the manufacturers' or traders' mark, the special indication 

 "caoutdiouc pur." 



RUBBER TRADE IN HANKOW, CHINA. 



AN EXCHANGE TO FBOUOTE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN TRADE. 



Tlic newly established Russo-American Merchants and Manu- 

 facturers E.xchange, Inc., with headquarters at 120 Broadway, 

 New York City, aims to bring American producers and Russian 

 consumers together, to familiarize each with the business methods 

 of the other, and to establish a common ground for trade ex- 

 changes. The campaign among Russian consumers will take the 

 form of a comprehensive directory of American industries in the 

 Russian language, and which will be distributed throughout 

 Russia to the number of 40,000 copies 



DENMARK PROHIBITS AUTOMOBILING. 



The effect of tlie strict British censorship on all shipments of 

 cars, gasoline and tires is being keenly felt in Denmark. Prices 

 for gasoline are four to six times as high as in the United States, 

 while few tires reach there. Under these circumstances, the 

 Danish Government has thought it advisable to prohibit tem- 

 porarily the use of passenger cars on the streets. 



GERMANY WANTS BRAZILIAN RUBBER. 



It would appear that Germany's difficulties in obtaining rubber 

 will not be greatly diminished after the war. True, she intends 

 to establish a rubber market for Central Europe at Hamburg 

 when peace is restored. But, for a time, at least, she will hardly 

 be able to import rubber from the British colonies, and Brazilian 

 exporters are of opinion that a rubber market must be created 

 in France. They think it absolutely necessary to establish in 

 France a free port and a banking organization capable of freeing 

 the Brazilian exporter and the French consumer from the 

 monopoly exercised by the port of Hamburg until 1914. 



CORKS FOR BICYCLE TIRES IN GERMANY. 



Meanwhile, German ingenuity is being taxed to the utmost to 

 find means by which the deficiency in rubber articles can be 

 supplied, and experiments are being made with all kinds of sub- 

 stitutes. 



According to the German paper, bicycles have become almost 

 extinct in Germany since the seizure of rubber tires. Corks 

 from wine bottles provide a substitute, however, about 100 being 

 needed for both wheels at a cost of 2 to 3 marks. The corks 

 should be of equal breadth, not tapering sharply, four to five 

 centimeters long and about 23 thick. They are pressed tightly 

 together and cemented to the rims of the wheels. Cork is very 

 elastic, and although it has not the resilience of rubber, especi- 

 ally on rough pavements, when traveling on good roads it is quite 

 satisfactorv. 



RUBBER MACHINERY DUTY FREE IN CEYLON. 



A recent change in the tariff laws of Ceylon exempts froTi 

 duty machinery intended for use in the manufacture of articles 

 from crude rubber. 



BRITISH INDIA. 



The new tariff ("No. 121) on rubber tires for motors and mo- 

 torcycles, and rubber tubes for tires and other manufactures of 

 rubber, not otherwise specified, is now 7J,4 per cent ad valorem. 



Welfare work is on the increase in the Far East. The Bandar 

 Rubber Co., of Sumatra, has appropriated a goodly sum for a 

 vacation beach resort on Toba Lake for the benefit of its em- 

 ployes. 



IIANKOW is an important city in nortlieast China, from which 

 are exported hides, skins, silk, tea, cotton, nuts and other 

 products of the soil. There are about 70 firms which do an ex- 

 port and import business. The following information, of interest 

 to rubber manufacturers, is furnished The India Rubber World 

 by Edwin S. Cunningham, Consul General, at that city: 



At the present time rubber belting in 1 inch to 6 inch widths, 

 rubber hose in 1 inch to 2V2 inches diameters for steam and 

 water fittings, and rubber packing in sheet form are the chief 

 rubber articles imported into this district. The various jinrikisha 

 firms also handle rubber tires, and some small amounts of rub- 

 ber goods are carried in stock by the local motor car and acces- 

 sory dealers and by the drug and druggists' supply houses. 



According to statistics issued by tlie Chinese Maritime Cus- 

 toms, rubber and rubber goods were imported into Hankow to 

 the value of $7,918 (gold) during 1914; $19,263 during 1915, 

 and $11,276 during 1916. Japan furnishes the bulk of these goods, 

 with Russia second. Great Britain third, France fourth, Hong- 

 kong fifth, and the United States sixth. Tientsin acts as the 

 chief market in China for rubber goods, with Manchouli second, 

 Slianghai third, Dairen fourth, and Hankow fifth. 



Rubber belting is not included in the above figures, as it is 

 classed with the other varieties of belting. According to the 

 Custom House statistics there was 93,460 taels [$77,412 U. S. 

 currency] worth of machine belting imported into Hankow dur- 

 ing 1916, of which, according to the commissioner, 80 per cent 

 is of leather. The bulk of the remaining 20 per cent is made up 

 of rubber and vvoven belting, but in what proportions I am un- 

 able to say. 



Local dealers report that due to the climate of Hankow, which 

 has a very deleterious effect on rubber articles, they prefer to 

 buy their goods from Shanghai distributers and thus avoid the 

 risk of keeping large stocks on hand which might be spoiled by 

 the weather. 



In consequence it would appear that the greatest opportunity 

 for supplying the rubber market of this district lies in forming 

 connections with some of the large importing houses of Shanghai, 

 as that port acts as the chief distributing point for practically 

 all of central China. 



It might be advantageous for manufacturers of rubber goods 

 desirous of entering this market to coiumunicate directly with 

 the various Hankow firms handling rubber goods, in which case 

 the following list of local dealers will be found valuable for 

 reference. To avoid repetition, American addresses are given 

 in the numbered footnotes below; 



llELTiNG. Anderson, Meyer &• Co., Limited^: Burlenshaw & Co.; A. 

 Brandt & Co.; Carlowitz & Co.^; H. Deiderichsen & Co.^; Robert 

 Dollar Co.*; Lothar, Marcks & Bush*: New Engine & Iron Works; 

 F. Schwartzkopf & Co.; Westphal, King & Ramsay, Limited^; Chi- 

 nese .American Co.": Neilsen & Winter China Engineering Co. 



TIosE AND Fittings. .Anderson. Mever & Co., Limited^; Burtenshaw & Co.: 

 A. Brandt. & Co.; Carlowitz & Co.=; H. Deiderichsen & Co.»: F. 

 Schwarzkopf & Co.; Telge & Schroeter"; Neilsen & Winter China 

 Engineering Co. 



Tires and Accessories. (See also Jinrikislms, below). Arnhold, Karberg 

 & Co.^; A. Brandt & Co.; H. Deiderichsen & Co. 3; New Engine & Iron 

 Works; F. Schwartzkopf J; Co.; Weeks S: Co.»; L. S. Wureh & Co.; 

 Central Garage Co., Limited. 



Jinrikisha De/*t.ers. Star Rickshaw Co.; F. Ramello: Hankow Rickshaw 

 Syndicate; Fook Kee & Co.; Tong Chong Bicycle Co. 



General Rubper Goods and Sundries. Arnhold, Karberg & Co.^; Hankow 

 Dispensary, Limited"; New Engine & Iron Works; Pharmacie Centrale; 

 F. Schwarzkopf & Co.; L. S. Wureh & Co.; Chinese American Co.'. 

 .-\merican representatives or agents of these firms are: 



1 — Pacific Commercial Co., .^0 Broad street. New York City. 



2 — Carlowitz S: Co.. ?2 Beaver street. New York City. 



3 — Grossman &• Sielcke, 90 Wall street. New York Gity. 



4 — Robert Dollar Co., 230 California street, San Francisco. California. 



5 — Irwin, Harrison S: Crossfield, 90 Wall street, and G. Amsinck & Co., 



Hanover street. New York City. 

 6 — Chinese American Co., 200 Devonshire street, Boston. Massachusetts. 

 7 — H. Marquardt & Co.. 35 South William street. New York City. 

 S — F.. H. Erlin^er, 60 Wall street. New York City. 

 9 — Muller, McLean & Co., 11 Broadw.av, New York City. 



* Tlii= firm im|iorts only for its own needs in the sawmill business. 



While these firms are all of good repute, the writer can accept 

 no responsibility for them in any way. They can, do doubt, fur- 

 nish references, and information as to their credit standinc can 

 be obtained froin the local banks upon application by vour bank- 

 ers. Corresnondence with then; may be in Englisli irrespective 

 of their nationality 



