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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[Ai'RiL 1. 1919. 



The Rubber Reclaimers' Division of The Rubber Association. 



THE Rubber Reclaimers' Division of The Rubber Associa- 

 tion of America is one of the most active divisions of 

 that association, having an excellent record of accom- 

 plished results that are of benefit to the reclaiming industry. 

 Therefore, some facts regarding the organization and its pre- 

 decessor club may be of interest at this time. 



Like many other trade associations, the Rubber Reclaimers' 

 Club was the result of a get-together sentiment of the members 

 of the trade to bring about better business relations among 

 competitors, to solve business problems, and to eliminate trade 

 abuses. A preliminary meeting was held in New York City on 

 October 19. 1906, at which there 

 were representatives f 

 twelve leading reclaiming con- 

 cerns. At this meeting, of 

 which F. H. Appleton was chair- 

 man, and W. C. Coleman secre- 

 tary, a committee was ap- 

 pointed to formulate a plan for 

 forming an association. This 

 committee consisted of F. H. 

 Appleton, R. Loewenthal, A. W. 

 Clapp, W. T. Rodenbach, and 

 F. Schwab. The committee re- 

 ported at a meeting at Hotel 

 Belmont, New York City, on 

 October 30, 1906, when the 

 Rubber Reclaimers' Club was 

 formed "to promote social in- 

 tercourse and further the busi- 

 ness interests of its members." 

 The charter membership in- 



succeeded, in 1910, by Joseph F. McLean, of the Pequanoc Rub- 

 ber Co., who had previously held the office of secretary. In 

 1911 F. H. Appleton, who had held the office of treasurer since 

 the organization of the club, was elected president, and served 

 in that capacity until the dissolution of the club in 1917. 



At first the meetings were held monthly, but later, quarterly; 

 meanwhile frequent committee meetings were held when neces- 

 sary. At these quarterly meetings many important business 

 questions were discussed, trade disputes considered, discussed 

 and adjusted, and the whole trade brought into closer acquaint- 

 ance. At each meeting the order of exercises was divided be- 

 tween "New Business" and 

 "Experience Meeting," and dur- 

 ing the latter many trade sub- 

 jects were discussed to the ben- 

 efit of the trade generally. 



The most important measure 

 in the history of the club, and 

 the one which, aside from all 

 others, would well justify its 

 creation, was the establishment 

 trade circular standardiz- 

 ing the sorting, packing and 

 handling of rubber scrap. The 

 first circular was issued in Feb- 

 ruary, 1907, and others have 

 been sent out annually each 

 July since that date. This cir- 

 cular gives minute details which 

 must be observed by the waste 

 rubber dealers selling to the re- 

 claimers and today the rules laid 



J. S. LOWMAN. 



R. A. Loi 



J. S. Clapp. E. A. A 



J. F. McLe/^ 



eluded F. H. Appleton & Son, Bloomingdale Soft Rubber 

 Works, E. H. Clapp Rubber Co., Canadian Consolidated Rubber 

 Co., W. C. Coleman Co., Derby Rubber Co., Eureka Rubber 

 Manufacturing Co., Hood Rubber Co., Loando Hard Rubber 

 Co., Mechanical Rubber Co., New Jersey Rubber Co., Pequanoc 

 Rubber Co., Philadelphia Rubber Works, Rickaby Rubber Co., 

 Stockton Rubber Co., Joseph Stokes Rubber Co., United States 

 Rubber Co., United States Rubber Reclaiming Works, and 

 Westmoreland Rubber Co. At the meeting of November 8, 

 1906, the following were chosen as officers: A. W. Clapp, presi- 

 dent; R. W. Seabury, secretary, and F. H. Appleton, treasurer. 

 On the death of President Clapp in 1907, W. T. Rodenbach, 

 of the United States Rubber Reclaiming Co., was elected presi- 

 dent, and on his resignation in November. 1908, J. A. Lambert, 

 of the Empire Rubber Co., was chosen to that office. He was 



down in the current circular form the basis for all such sales. 



The circular gives rules for separating waste rubber into 31 

 grades, and has registered a telegraphic code for these grades 

 which is much used in the business. It gives rules for methods of 

 packing, circumstances under which consignments may be re- 

 jected, procedure for arbitration of disputes and similar rules 

 which govern the methods of the business of buying and selling 

 scrap rubber. 



In 1917 it was decided that the activities of the club could be 

 facilitated and advantage redound to the members if the club, 

 as such, were dissolved and the members form a division of 

 The Rubber Association of America. Accordingly, action to 

 that effect was taken on February 8 of that year, and The Re- 

 claimers' Division was instituted. The present officers are: 

 Francis H. Appleton, chairman, F. H. Appleton & Sons, Inc, 



