2LA 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February 1. 1919. 



Condesite or Preniierite, the laiter beiiiK one of ils own 

 specialties. 



The K & W Rnbber Co., Ashland, has removed its factory 

 and general office to Delaware. A new factory building of mod- 

 ern brick construction has been erected, covering 30,000 square 

 feet. The site covers about 13 acres of ground. In addition to 

 "Maxotires," the company will manufacture other rubber goods, 

 for which purpose suitable machinery and equipment is to be 

 installed. 



The Cincinnati Automotive Trade's Association, 654 Main 

 street, Cincinnati, has elected the following officers : A. C. Mun- 

 dew, president, Glouster Supply Co. ; E. N. Stern, vice-president, 

 C. & D. Auto Supply Co. ; R. R. Woolley, treasurer. Buckeye Tire 

 Repair Co. ; Ralph R. Curl, secretary, H. W. Johns-Manville Co. ; 

 finance committee — J. W. Brumbaugh, I. J. Cooper Rubber Co. ; 

 W. W. Robertson, Miami Vulcanizing & Rubber Co. ; G. A. 

 Jackson, Dixie Vulcanizing Co. In addition to the officers the 

 board of directors includes R, Herold, Herold Motor Car Co. ; 

 Paul Schneider, Auto Tire & Repair Co., and E. J. Leesnian, 

 Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. 



The McGraw Tire & Rubber Co., East Palestine, has just 

 'completed plans for insuring its employes to the amount of 

 more than $1,000,000. The premuiums will be paid by the com- 

 pany. Special features include automatic increase of the amount 

 of each policy as the employe's time of service increases; a 

 special disability clause whereby in case of permanent disability 

 the amount of the policy will be paid in monthly instalments ; 

 the payment of the face value of the policy to the beneficiary at 

 the death of the employe ; and a conversion clause which enables 

 the holder of the policy to continue the insurance after leaving 

 the company's employ. The life insurance plan is augmented 

 by a benefit association carried on by employes, insuring financial 

 protection against unemployment, illness, or accident. Mem- 

 bership in this association also includes recreation privileges in 

 the McGraw Club. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



By Our Regular Corrcsi'ondent. 



BUSI'NESS seems on the way to recovery from the slump 

 which followed the signing of the armistice, and the pros- 

 pects are for an early approach to normal. Tire manufacturers, 

 who have been restricted to a percentage output, have increased 

 their production. Boot and shoe manuf.^clurers, most of whom 

 are behind in deliveries, are pushing ttieir mills to full tickets, 

 while orders are being booked for next summer and fall deliv- 

 ery. Clothing men are perhaps less active than are manufactur- 

 ers in some other lines. The makers of mechanicals report a 

 fair trade with expectations of increase as the year progresses. 



As a rule, the ruliber goods luanufacturers in this section 

 are not only willing but anxious to return to their original 

 positions the employes who enlisted, and who are now return- 

 ing from the battle area. In many cases the manufacturers are 

 really anxious to secure the services of these competent workers, 

 for few, if any, of the rubber factories are oversupplied with 

 experienced workmen. 



An event of the month has been the \'fctory Shoe Style Show 

 at Symphony Hall. This was a most pronounced success. It 

 was tiiTied to be held when the shoe buyers came to the Boston 

 market, and a round-up of the leading hotels furnished a list 

 of between ISO and 20O buyers, nearly every state in the Union 

 being represented, as well as Canada and England. The show 

 followed in general program the one held at the Copley Plaza 

 Hotel last July, being under the same directorship, Robert T. 



Walsh being manager. The floor of Symphony Hall was laid 

 out so that exhibitors had spaces around the sides. On the 

 stage was a beautiful floral arrangement, termed "The Garden 

 of Styles," and from this was a flower-decorated runway on 

 which the thirty or more chic and handsome models paraded, 

 clad in becoming costumes of the coming spring and fall. Al- 

 though these were simply accessory to the appropriate footwear 

 worn, they enhanced greatly the attractiveness of the exhibits. 

 At the back of the stage was a silvered screen on which was 

 projected the name of the manufacturer whose shoes were being 

 exhibited by the "model" at the moment. Band and orchestral 

 music was furnished, and the capabilities of the great symphony 

 organ were brought out by eminent organists. This was espe- 

 cially true during the afternoons, when, besides the organ re- 

 citals, moving pictures were projected on the screen, depicting 

 the various processes of shoemaking, and views of the factories, 

 where the exhibited samples of footwear were made. Naturally, 

 most of the e.xhibits were those of shoes and leather, but 

 there were a few representatives of the rubber trade. 



The United States Rubber Co., New York City, exhibited 

 its varied line of "Keds," a specially attractive kind of rubber- 

 soled, cloth-upper shoes, in both high and low styles, and in 

 white and a variety of colors. The booth was in charge of J. T. 

 Cooper, of the Boston branch of the company. 



The Hood Rubber Co., Watertown, showed its "Leisure" foot- 

 wear, a high-class line of Oxfords and boots of fabric with 

 rubber soles. 



The Batterman Rubber Co., Framingham, exhibited its spe- 

 cialty "Toesans," footholds which are the exclusive production of 

 of this house. The Avon Sole Co., Avon, manufacturer of 

 "Du-FIex" soles and heels, showed a fine variety of shoes 

 equipped with these specialties. 



The Foster Rubber Co. made a comprehensive exhibit of its 

 great variety of "Catspaw" rubber heels. 



So successful was this exhibition that the managers announce 

 a repetition at Symphony Hall early next July during the usual 

 summer influx of visiting buyers. 



In 1916 tlie Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., Cambridge, 

 inaugurated a plan to present to its older employes gold coins 

 at New Year's. At that date 105 persons who had been in 

 continuous service more than 10 years, were thus remembered. 

 This year the number had increased to 190, who shared in the 

 distribution at a meeting held at the plant on December 31. 

 On account of the war savings campaign, the last two dis- 

 tributions have been in war savings stamps, the presentation 

 being made by Mr. Fellows, factory manager. Addresses were 

 made by George E. Hall, president and general manager, and 

 by Henry B. Sprague, vice-president and treasurer. The latter 

 claimed he was entitled to be called a veteran employe, having 

 completed more than twenty years in the service of the com- 

 pany. At the meeting it was stated that eight employes had 

 been with the company over thirty years, and four others 

 twenty-five years. 



A benefit plan has been put into effect by the Hood Rubber 

 Co. at its factory in Watertown, by which employes, in case 

 of sickness, will receive an allowance of from eight to twelve 

 dollars a week, and in case of death, from $200 to $1,000. Any 

 one who has been in the employ of the company for three 

 months is eligible to the benefits, the lov.xst amounts being paid 

 to those with such a term of service, while the highest go to 

 those workers who have been employed five years or more. 

 There is no cost to the employe. A curious fact is that an hour 

 and a half after the plan went into effect a $1,000 death benefit 

 was paid. The plan affects about 7.500 employes, of whom 

 approximately one-third are women. 



