December 1, 1918; 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



155 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN AKRON. 



By a Sl'ccial Correspondent. 



IN Novem-ber, The B. F. Goodrich Co., Akron, Ohio, made the 

 ''• following announcement : 



During the past year the many unusual demands, due largely 

 to war conditions, including the patriotic subscriptions to Liberty 

 Loans and War Savings Stamps and the generous contributions 

 to the various war activity funds, have created a situation which 

 this company has already recognized in its payment of wages to 

 its employes on the factory payroll and which it feels equally 

 bound to recognize in its payment for services to salaried em- 

 ployes. 



Each salaried employe will, therefore, receive on December 

 1, 1918, additional compensation for services rendered and to be 

 rendered, equal to 25 per cent of the total salary paid to each 

 such employe during the year 1918. 



Since the beginning of the war, Goodrich employes have 

 "stuck on the job" as well as contributed 3,800 men to the 

 colors. The action of the company in voluntarily giving the 

 bonus announced means the distribution of at least $2,000,000, 

 and it applies not only to salaried employes in the Akron fac- 

 tory, but also to those in the field force. 



Many employes are planning to use the bonus to pay up the 

 balance due on their Liberty Bonds, some are going to put it in 

 the bank, some are going to purchase Goodrich stock ; but all 

 are going to do something worth while with it, without question. 



The B. F. Goodrich Co., Akron, has made the following ap- 

 pointments: C. H. Wheeler, formerly chief supervisor of pro- 

 duction, in charge of all pneumatic tire production ; I. R. Ren- 

 ner, formerly chief supervisor of construction, in charge of 

 pneumatic tire construction and quality; J. T. Johnson, Jr., 

 manager of experimental lire department. 



Misses Ruth and Mary Sterley, two of the Goodrich nurses 

 whose pictures appeared in The India Rubber World Novem- 

 ber 1, 1918, are now in France. 



Miss Mary Stevenson, another Goodrich nurse, is planning 

 to enter Red Cross service. 



New training quarters for athletes of The B. F. Goodrich Co., 

 Akron, were opened late in October, adjoining the rooms occu- 

 pied by the Goodrich fire department. Athletic equipment of 

 all kinds has been installed. The rooms are open to all Good- 

 rich men who secure a permit from Director Connelly for the 

 use of them. 



The Mason Tire & Rubber Co., Kent, has been making large 

 shipments of rubberized raincoats to the Government on con- 

 tracts placed about two months ago. Five weeks after the con- 

 tract was signed, the company had taken over a large unused 

 plant, equipped it completely, and commenced deliveries at the 

 rate of 2,000 coats per week. This number has since been in- 

 creased. The raincoat plant will be maintained regardless of 

 war work. 



The Swinehart Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, is adding to its 

 plant a two-story, reinforced-concrete brick-front building, SO 

 by 167 feet, to be used for vulcanizing and storage purposes. 



The Electric Rubber Reclaiming Co., Barberton, is now man- 

 ufacturing rubber heels and fiber soles, rubber stair-treads, door 

 mats and matting, and sheet packing, besides its regular line of 

 products. 



The Columbiana Tire & Rubber Co., Columbiana, has in- 

 creased its capitalization from J300.nnO to $,SOO,000 comprising 

 $500,000 common stock and $300,000 preferred. 



The Williams Foundry & Machine Co., Akron, manufacturer 

 of tire-building and repair equipment, including all kinds of the 

 necessary tools, presses, and vulcanizers, has just completed its 

 new office building, besides other recent additions to its plant. 



M.ACHINE Co. 



The company was reorganized a year ago and since that time 

 has greatly increased its manufacturing space, facilities, and 

 volume of business. It completely equips tire-building fac- 

 tories as well as making the requisite tools and machinery. 



John C. Reich has been appointed to fill the position formerly 

 occupied by Robert E. Lee, now in government service, as 

 superintendent of labor for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 

 Firestone Park, Akron. Mr. Reich comes from the Western 

 Electric Co., Chicago, Illinois, where he gave considerable study 

 to industrial development, health insurance, labor conditions, 

 and kindred subjects. His training has particularly fitted him 

 for his present position. 



Miss Laura Sweeney, of the factory hospital of The Goodyear 

 Tire & Rubber Co., is the first Goodyear nurse to be assigned 

 to an overseas unit of the United States Army Medical Corps. 

 She recently left Akron for New York City, to prepare for her 

 trip to the war zone. 



Miss Gladys Halford, another Goodyear nurse, recently left 

 for California, there to await the sailing of the Red Cross vessel 

 on which she e.xpects to go to Siberia. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN BOSTON. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 'T~'HE abrupt cessation of hostilities abroad and the probable 

 ■'■ ending of the war have brought about some marked changes 

 in rubber manufacturing establishments where war materials 

 were being made. As a rule the Government has shown a dis- 

 position to be quite fair in regard to contracts, and while ex- 

 pressing a desire that the manufacturers should accept cancella- 

 tions, is endeavoring to have them do so without detriment to 

 the industries, or any loss on material in process of manufacture. 

 The production of such articles as gas-masks, however, the 

 need of which, it is hoped, will nevermore be realized, has 

 been abruptly stopped, and in them rubber tubing and elastic 

 web were used, so the cancellation aflfects factories making 

 those parts. The clothing makers are curtailing production, 

 and possibly have ceased cutting new fabrics, though finishing 

 all garments which were in progress. The tire manufacturers 

 are allowed an increased production for civilian use. The foot- 

 wear manufacturers are enabled to furnish boots for their 

 regular trade, an accomplishment not possible while the Govern- 

 ment demanded their full boot output for the soldiers. 



When A. M. Paul purchased the business of the Davidson 

 Rubber Co. several years ago, the catalog of its products made 

 a goodly volume, so great was the nuinber and variety of the 

 goods manufactured. To-day a little 24-page pamphlet, small 

 enough to go in an ordinary-size letter envelope, is sufficient to 

 picture, describe and price the lines of goods now produced. 

 Concentration and specialization take the place of unlimited 



