iST 1, 1919.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 



THE Boston Shoe Style Show, held in this city four days in 

 the middle of July, was in every way superior to its pred- 

 ecessors. It occurred in Symphony Hall, which was ar- 

 ranged for the occasion by the erection of booths for the various 

 exhibits, a silver screen for motion pictures, and a runway 

 down the middle of the hall, along which promenaded the thirty 

 or more young ladies of more than ordinary pulchritude, who 

 wore stunning, up-to-date costumes, with appropriate foot- 

 wear. At the end of the runway was a revolving pedestal, 

 on which each model, in graceful pose, was exhibited, thus 

 giving ample opportunity for observation of the costumes and 

 footwear. 



The only rubber exhibits were those of the Foster Rubber 

 Co., Boston, maker of the Cat's Paw rubber heels and soles, and 

 the Cambridge Rubber Co., which has recently added to its 

 products a line of rubber-soled footwear. 



Orchestral music and organ recitals were given, and motion 

 pictures showed the progress of shoe manufacture from the 

 primitive sandal down to the latest product of the twentieth- 

 century shoe factory. A number of ladies competed for a prize 

 for the most nearly perfect foot, based on the measurements 

 of the foot of the Venus of Milo. 



The show was well attended, and at each of its evening ses- 

 sions some prominent speaker made a short address. Each day 

 it was in charge of a different organization, namely, manufac- 

 turers, travelers, merchants and tanners. Shoe buyers were 

 present from every part of the United States. 



* * * 



Mention was made last month of the acquisition of a new 

 general manager and a new secretary by the Mayflower Rubber 

 Works Co., South Braintree, Massachusetts. George E. Jean- 

 dheur, the general manager, was for 21 years with the New 

 Jersey Car Spring & Rubber Co., Jersey City, New Jersey, 

 where, under the leadership of John J. Fields, the president, he 

 acquired a knowledge and experience of the mechanical rubber 

 business which aptly fits him for his new position. He retired 

 from the secretaryship of the New Jersey company soon after 

 Mr. Fields relinquished his interest in that organization, and 

 now has accepted the above-mentioned position with the May- 

 flower company. With him he brought Richard K. Fields, son 

 of the former president, who becomes secretary of the May- 

 flower organization. 



Another change is the recent appointment of A. D. Lament 

 as factory superintendent. He comes from the Davol Rubber 

 Co., where for a number of years he was superintendent. 



It is reported that the Mayflower company is planning to 

 enter a new field of manufacturing within a short time, but 

 it not yet ready to announce its plans in this connection. 



* * * 



Walter M. Farwc!!, who has been located on Devonshire 

 street for over 25 years as agent for mechanical rubber goods 

 manufacturers, terminated his connection with the Acme Rubber 

 Manufacturing Co., Trenton, New Jersey, and is now New 

 England agent for the HamiUon Rubber Manufacturing Co., 

 of Trenton, carrying its line of mechanical goods and automobile 

 tubes. 



Mr. Farwell's experience in the rubber business is interest- 

 ing. He started as a boy with the late C. S. Knowles, who 

 represented the Star Rubber Co. Twenty-five years ago Mr. 

 Farwell became agent for the Empire Rubber Manufacturing 

 Co., the successor to the Star Rubber Co. George R. Cook was 

 in control of the Empire company, and nine years later, when 

 Mr. Cook was president of the Acme Rubber Manufacturing 

 Co., Mr. Farwell transferred his fealty to the latter company, 

 which he has represented for 16 years. Mr. Cook is now 



president of the Hamilton Rubber Manufacturing Co., of Tren- 

 ton, New Jersey, and Mr. Farwell now becomes the New Eng- 

 land agent for that concern, which manufactures a line of 

 mechanicals suitable to the trade which Mr. Farwell covers. 



A two-team baseball league, composed of the women workers 

 of The Fisk Rubber Co., Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, has been 

 organized. Nine games are to be played, the first being played 

 on July 1. One team is recruited from the office force, the 

 other from the factory. Individual cups will be awarded to all 

 girls who play in at least five games. 



Lockers for the girls, where they may keep their uniforms 

 and other equipment, a shower bath and everything to help 

 the girls make their league a really big success have been 

 planned by the Fisk Social and Athletic Association, which is 

 doing so much lo promote the welfare of the workers. This 

 association held an industrial track and field meet July 4. 



The Needham Tire Co., Charles River, Massachusetts, is 

 building an extensive addition to its plant at Needham, which 

 is expected to be completed and in active operation in a month 

 or six weeks. This enlargement will increase the capacity nearly 

 or quite 300 per cent. The company owns 16 acres of land 

 and water power rights at Charles River Station and manu- 

 factures a line of tires which stands high in the market. It 

 also produces a line of fiber soles and rubber heels, which 

 branch of the business is increasing. 



Hill Bros. Co., Hudson, Massachusetts, recently incorporated 

 to make men's welt shoes and deal in leather, rubber, etc., expects 

 to install machinery early in August and shortly afterward 

 begin operations in its new 340-foot one-story factory. Lawson 

 T. Hill, the president, was formerly with Lewis A. Crossett, Inc., 

 and Thos. H. Logan Co. The vice-president, George A. Hill, 

 has been with the W. H. McElwain Co. for the last seven years, 

 three in the factories and four as Pacific Coast representative. 

 Clark B. Hill is secretary. 



The Owen Tire Co., 177 Portland street, Boston, which was 

 incorporated at $40,000 in 1917, has recently increased its capital 

 to $250,000. The company operates the Tire Construction Co. 

 and fifteen other retail stores in the New England States, four 

 of them under the name of G. H. McNamara Tire Co., a New 

 Hampshire corporation, and four ur der the name of Bell Auto 

 Supply Co., a Massachusetts corporation. The officers of the 

 Owen Tire Co. are W. R. D. Owen, president ; A. Palder, treas- 

 urer, and John E. Crowley, clerk. 



The Worcester Tire & Rubber Co., Inc., 14 Harding street, 

 Worcester, Massachusetts, has opened a second store at 681 

 Main street. Both have the exclusive agency for Worcester 

 County for Keystone, National Speedway and Batavia lires. L. 

 M. Cahn is president of the company. 



Miss K. Brown, shoe manufacturer's agent, London, England, 

 who has been in this country for two or three months, mak- 

 ing her headquarters in Boston, sailed for England late last 

 month, after securing the agency for several lines of footwear 

 made in the United States. She will be European agent for 

 the introduction of the footholds manufactured for the Batter- 

 man Rubber Co., Boston. She says there is no great demand 

 for rubbers (galoshes) for women in British cities, though 

 the light-weight, foldable footholds are in large demand,' and 

 she expects lo secure a large trade for these goods, which will 

 come into direct competition with other makes of -American-made 

 rubber footwear already introduced. 



