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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, 1917. 



Among tire manufacturers the opinion is that something could 

 be done, although this lield for the practice of economy in styles, 

 sizes, etc., is not so rich in opportunity as many others. The 

 expensive equipment of cores, molds and macliinery for tire 

 inakintr represents an outlay that could not be charged off in part 

 withiiut serious effect on the balance sheet. The tread types 

 appear to be jealouslj- guarded as part of the selhng assets and 

 the result of advertising expense that could hardly be dispensed 

 witli and meet competition. The tires are really known by their 

 treads. 



r.OVKR.VMEXT USE OF LE.\THER SUBSTITUTES. 



When a peaceful nation like the United States goes to war the 

 drain upon leather stocks is tremendous. For instance, in July 

 the Quartermaster-General's Department awarded contracts for 

 2,175,000 pairs of marching and field shoes. Large quantities of 

 saddles, harnesses, puttees and other articles, in whose manu- 

 facture leather is absolutely indispensable, are also being pur- 

 chased. This sudden demand, in addition to the normal needs 

 of the country, makes it necessary to conserve leather by em- 

 ploying other materials wherever possible. For several years 

 .\mcrican manufacturers have been turning out leather substi- 

 tutes of the celluloid type, that have proved highly satisfactory 

 for upholstery purposes, seat cushions, book binding and the like. 



After exhaustive tests government officials have adopted cer- 

 tain grades for different purposes. The most important im- 

 mediate use will be in <hi;i upholstery, for wliich purpose its 

 waterproof quality, freedom from mildew and mold are par- 

 ticularly important. It is uniform in thickness, strength and 

 quality. It also saves the waste usually lost in cutting out im- 

 perfections and irregular edges of leather, as well as the expert 

 labor necessary to do such cutting. Du Pont Fabrikoid is being 

 manufactured in large quantities for the purpose. 



MEDICAL RCBnER GOOD? MANUF.ACTURERS. 



The government will require enormous amounts of surgical 

 rubber goods, and to facilitate the placing and filling of orders 

 the Medical Rubber Manufacturers' War Emergency Associa- 

 tion has been formed. A. W. Warren, of the Hodgman Rubber 

 Co.. Tuckahoe. New York, is president: W. S. Davison, of The 

 Miller Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, is vice-president, and J. Russell 

 Parker, of Parker-Stearns & Co., Brooklyn. New York, is secre- 

 tary and treasurer. These gentlemen form the committee hav- 

 ing for its object the purpose of mobilizing the manufactures of 

 any or all lines of surgical rubber goods with the idea of taking 

 care of the requirements of the Army, Navy, Red Cross, and 

 possibly the Allies, during the continuance of the war. This 

 committee is to obtain from each manufacturer data as to his 

 capacity for producing any of the lines of merchandise required, 

 samples of the merchandise itself, and the price at which they 

 are prepared to supply it. .Ml prices are presumed to be based 

 on costs plus 10 per cent. This committee is acting as a sub- 

 committee of the Committee of National Defense, and is sup- 

 posed to transmit to headquarters its recommendations as to the 

 quantity of goods to be allotted to each manufacturer and the 

 price. 



There are three sub-committees working in connection with 

 this executive committee : one of which, with \V. S. Davison as 

 chairman, has charge of the orders of surgeons' gloves, catlieters, 

 colon and rectal tubes; the second, under chairmanship of A. W. 

 Warren, will handle the requirements for rubber sheeting and 

 rubber coated goods of all kinds ; the third, under the chair- 

 manship of J. Russell Parker, is devoted to hot water bottles, 

 fountain syringes and goods of that character. 



It is estimated that the manufacturers of these various lines 

 who will cooperate in this movement have a combined capital 

 of over $100,000,000 and facilities for turning out these classes 

 of goods in any desired quantity in a minimum time after receiv- 

 ing orders. Druggist's sundries of .•\merican manufacture have 

 already established a reputation for reliability in Europe. 



EMB.ARGO LIST EXTENDED. 



Supplementing the embargo proclamation of July 15, an 

 account of which was published in the Indi.x Rubber World, 

 .\ugust 1, 1917, President Wilson has announced two lists of 

 commodities which cannot be exported, except under special 

 license, after .August 30. One list prohibits practically every 

 article of commerce being shipped from this country to 

 enemy nations or to neutral countries of Europe. The sec- 

 ond list, for which license is required for shipment to the 

 Allies, their dependencies and the neutral countries of both 

 continents, includes several additional chemicals, ingredients 

 and materials not mentioned in the previous proclamation. 

 .As forecast in our previous account, cotton and cotton linters 

 are now on the prohibitive list. Other commodities more or 

 less important in the rubber industry are benzol and its de- 

 rivatives, benzine, gasoline, ether, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, 

 rapeseed oil, corn oil, glycerin, toluol, resin, turpentine, 

 sulphur, acetone, ammonia and ainmonia salts, sulphuric acid, 

 nitric acid, white lead, lead, zinc, copper, plumbago. Copper 

 wire and electrical equiptnent, electrical motor accessories, 

 aeronautical machine parts and accessories are also included 

 in this second prescribed list. 



The regulations, orders, limitations and exceptions pre- 

 scribed will be administered by and under the authority of 

 the Exports Administrative Board from whom licenses in 

 conformity with said regulations, orders, limitations and ex- 

 ceptions will issue. 



CAPTAIN BUCKLETON AIDS RED CROSS. 

 Captain Ernest E. Buckleton, whose services as a soldier and 

 as one of the first who hastened to the help of the suffering 

 Belgians are well known, although unable to continue in active 

 service at the front because of injuries sustained at the battle of 

 Loos, is still at work for the Allies. In gaining money for the 

 Red Cross and in talks to recruits at various American camps, 

 he has done much. As we go to press word comes that, during 

 a week-end at Orleans, Massachusetts, he reviewed and addressed 

 the newly formed Home Guard. He also spoke for the Red 

 Cross in the local theater, on Trench Warfare and the historic 

 retreat from Mons to the Marne. Not only was the building 

 filled, but hundreds were turned away. The collection for the 

 Red Cross taken at that time amounted to $125. 



SERVICE PERSONALS. 



Francis E. Drake, general European agent of the United States 

 Rubber Co., has resigned that position to serve on the staff of 

 General Pershing at the front in France. 



Thomas F. O'Neil, advertising manager of the General Tire 

 & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, has enlisted in the naval militia 

 and is in training at Tarrytown. New York. 



Frank R. Bacon, president of the Cutler-Hammer Manufac- 

 turing Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been called into service 

 as a captain in the Federal commissary department. 



C. V. McMillan, manager of the Wichita, Kansas, branch of 

 The B. F. Goodrich Co., Akron, Ohio, has enlisted in the Kansas 

 Field Artillery. N. A. Nelson succeeds him as local manager. 



Sergeant P. F. Talley, a veteran of the Philippine and Boxer 

 campaigns, has succeeded Lieutenant Walker in charge of the 

 drill classes of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., .Akron. Ohio, 

 Lieutenant Walker having been called to active service with the 

 Ohio National Guard. 



Frank Waldo, of the firm of E. M. & F. Waldo. II Broadway, 

 New York city, has been selected as a candidate for appointment 

 as an officer in the United States .Army and has been directed 

 to report at Plattsburg, New York, on August 25, where he will 

 enlist for a period of three months for training purposes. 



Second Lieutenant M. DeMott Letherman. of the United 

 Slates Rubber Co., New York office, has sailed for France, with 

 a party of .American officers, to observe French trerch tactics. 



