556 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 1, 1919. 



A Venesta Case. 



WOODEN PACKING CASES AGAIN FOR CRUDE 

 RUBBER. 



DURING THE WAR the baling of plantation rubber for ship- 

 ment from the Far East became a patriotic and necessary 

 expcdienl to conserve ship tonnage. The plan was effective 

 in that it resulted in a 

 saving of 25 per cent in 

 cargo space and about 20 

 per cent in weight, and 

 was carried out with a 

 measure of success, yet 

 it was by no means pop- 

 ular witli American rub- 

 ber manufacturers. While 

 it was found that in most 

 instances baling afforded 

 adequate protection, it 

 seemed to have a dete- 

 riorating effect on the 

 rubber, and in most cases 

 it greatly increased the 

 tendency of the sheets 

 to stick together, 

 causing considerable 

 difficulty in separating 

 them. 

 It is not surprising, therefore, that planters are again employing 

 wooden packing cases at the solicitation of their patrons. The 

 standard size measures 19 by 19 by 24 inches, which is equivalent 

 to 5 cubic feet. Each case is securely nailed and banded with 

 iron to withstand the long journey and severe handling. The 

 average net weight of a case of first latex crepe is ISO pounds, and 

 that of smoked sheet 20O pounds, the tare in both cases averaging 

 20 pounds. A ship ton is equivalent to SO cubic feet, and as a 

 case of rubber measures S cubic feet there are usually 10 cases 

 of rubber to the ship ton. 



E.xperience has shown that cases almost cubical in shape 

 and of the size adopted withstand many hardships better than 

 oblong or larger cases. When filled they are relatively light, 

 very strong and well adapted to Eastern methods of transport. 

 Moreover, the weight of rubber per case is not sufficient to 

 cause much sticking together. 



The three-ply wooden cases with the grain crossing at right 

 angles, such as the well-known Venesta, are probably the most 

 suitable. They are shipped flat, put together on the estate, and 

 held together by metal straps bent around all edges and riveted. 

 Interior battens at top and bottom give them great strength and 

 rigidity with extreme lightness. They can be opened at either 

 end, and on taking off the lid the battens are also removed 

 so that nothing remains to obstruct turning out the rubber. 

 Such cases of the same internal capacity as sawed wood cases 

 weigh from 40 to 60 per cent less and save from 10 to IS per 

 cent of the rail and ocean freight on the packed cases. They 

 are smooth inside, practically dust-proof and air-tight, insuring 

 minimum oxidation of the rubber and the best obtainable price 

 for it. If desired they can be perforated with holes for venti- 

 lation without any loss of strength. 



Well-seasoned Japanese Momi cases are satisfactor>- if fully 

 5'^-inch thick and before shipment they should be fastened se- 

 curely around both end-edges and also around the middle, both 

 endwise and crosswise, with hoop iron, care being taken that 

 the nails used do not damage the rubber. Now that there ap- 

 pears to be no prospect of cases being permanently discarded 

 for bales, the numerous suggestions that cases be devised hav- 

 ing some practical method of opening the lid for inspection at 

 various ports and permitting reshipment without the removal 



of binding iron and nails or damage to the case will probably 

 receive more attention. 



Most estate managers now realize how important it is that 

 all wood chips, saw-dust and splinters, which might become 

 imbedded in the rubber, be removed from the packing cases 

 before filling, also all dirt, leaves and twigs from the rubber 

 itself. They are also aware that unless the rubber is thor- 

 oughly dry before packing, decomposition may ruin the entire 

 easeful during transit and the shrinkage may exceed the 2 per 

 cent allowed by sellers. This shrinkage, together with rough 

 handling, causes the rubber to shake down until there is a 

 certain amount of play inside the case. If the case is not of 

 smooth planed wood, splinters will become imbedded in the 

 rubber, and this play has even been known to knock out the 

 sides of a case in rough handling. It has often been suggested 

 that case be lined with various materials such as paper, muslin, 

 cheesecloth, jackinette or straw matting, but experience has 

 condemned them all. Of the various packing materials to 

 avoid splinters and exclude extraneous dirt, probably the best 

 is heavy waxed paper. It is preferable, however, to omit it, 

 and if the cases are well-constructed of planed lumber and the 

 rubber is thoroughly dry, none will be needed. 



On well-supervised estates the packing is very carefully done, 

 the sheets being laid flat and not folded. They are spread quite 

 close to the sides of the case and as many put in as can be 

 packed without undue pressure, talc or soapstone being used 

 freely between the sheets of rubber to avoid moisture from 

 sweating. 



Well-cured, thoroughly dried and carefully packed rubber 

 will reach its destination in ordinary unventilated cases, but if 

 any tendency toward tackiness exists at the time of packing, 

 transit in such cases may cause the whole consignment to ar- 



Plan'tation Rubber in Cases. 



rive in a moldy condition. Air-tight cases are therefore dan- 

 gerous and a moderate amount of ventilation appears to be 

 desirable. 



CONSOLIDATION IN THE LITHOPONE BUSINESS. 



A new organization capitalized at 10,000 shares of no par 

 value and an authorized bond issue of $S0O,000, has been formed 

 in St. Louis, Missouri, by the consolidation of the Collinsville 

 Zinc Co., the Potter-Barrell Process Syndicate, and various 

 mining interests whose names are at present unannounced. The 

 incorporators and officers of the new company, known as the 

 Collinsville Zinc Corp., are as follows : Otto M. Meister. presi- 

 dent ; Robert W. Barrell, treasurer; R. W. Wild, secretary; 

 directors, Henry W. Schultz and Joseph Carr. The concern 

 will manufacture lithopone, barium, lead, zinc and arsenic salts, 

 pigments, and insecticides. 



