THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, 1919. 



"As a parting word, we would say ihat the untrained 

 investor should not depend on any list of pirates of 

 promotion or on any law to protect him. His best pro- 

 tection is to know the methods of the pirates, and in 

 actual investing- to deal with houses of only the highest 

 reputation. An ounce of investigation may save a ton 

 of loss and worry. And the new investor should always- 

 remember that the only one w-ho stands a chance of 

 getting rich quick in the promotion game is the pirate 

 of promotion." 



STANDARD CATALOG SIZES. 



OF INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE to tile rubber manufac- 

 turing trade is the movement that has been started 

 by the National Association of Purchasing Agents look- 

 ing toward the establishment of a standard size of trade 

 catalogs and invoice forms. Attention was called to the 

 fact that after a careful investigation it was ascertained 

 that catalogs in various lines of industries are made in 

 147 different sizes, running from 3 by 5 to 9^4 by \3l4 

 inches. It was urged that a standardization of these 

 publications was emphatically necessary as to size, com- 

 pilation and mechanical production. The purchasing 

 agents formally adopted the size 7j/^ by lOj-^ inches 

 for the trimmed page as the national standard of half 

 sizes saddle-stitched so that they will open flat for filing. 

 From the standpoint of the printer and publisher it is 

 pointed out that the standard size would give 

 artistic proportions, prevent waste of paper by cutting 

 the pages from the standard stock sheet, save presswork 

 by permitting the printing of 16 and 32-page forms, 

 economize space in the storage' of type in galley racks, 

 and render it much easier for filing and indexing. 



All these are important matters and worthy of consid- 

 eration. But the standpoint of the rubber manufacturer 

 should not be overlooked. Thousands of dollars are 

 spent annually by the big firms in producing catalogs of 

 their various lines of goods which are an artistic treat 

 and a delight to the eye. The displays of rubber articles 

 are arranged in the most attractive form that highly paid 

 staffs of advertising experts can devise. That these 

 catalogs pay for themselves over and over is apparent, 

 or rubber manufacturers would have found it to their 

 interest to discontinue them. In footwear, for example, 

 the United States Rubber Co. has for years used a stand- 

 ard size of its own, 4^4 by 8j4 inches, in its announce- 

 ments of rubber boots and shoes. The Apsley Rubber 

 Co. announces its outing line of footwear in a neat book- 

 let Syi by 3J4 inches. The Hood Rubber Co. finds its 

 goods are well displayed in catalogs 6 by 3>4 inches. 

 Catalogs of druggists' rubber goods, specialties, and fine 

 clothing generally run to larger sizes, sometimes ap- 

 proaching the proportions of a magazine. 



Would such a revolution in the printing of rubber 

 trade catalogs be worth the expense involved and would 

 it not be a step toward the dead level of standardization 

 of all advertising which would make the publications of 



rubber manufacturers resemble the catalog of a mail- 

 order house? And would it not be a step toward the 

 destruction of individuality in salesmanship if pushed to 

 its logical conclusion? 



Special price lists for purchasing agents, of a type 

 that is most convenient, will probably be supplied, but 

 it is to be hoped that they will not supersede the more 

 interesting and artistic trade catalogs. Standardization 

 and uniformity have their merits, but can easily be car- 

 ried too far. Standardization of purchasing agents in 

 appearance, accessibility, ofifice equipment and uniform 

 would be a godsend to rubber goods salesmen, yet, we 

 doubt its adoption. 



The movement recently instituted by this association to 

 adopt standard forms for invoices, purchase orders, 

 acknowledgments, and notices of shipments, has much to 

 commend it and seems likely to meet with the approval 

 of most progressive firms. 



MAKING OVER DISABLED WORKMEN. 



AMOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION is that of The B. F. 

 Goodrich Rubber Co., which long ago established 

 a department for the rehabilitation of disabled workmen. 

 The company has already succeeded in rendering most 

 efficient aid to men injured in their own factories, by 

 which they are assured of a good future by being taught 

 to overcome their physical handicaps. Several men who 

 have lost fingers, a hand or other members, which in the 

 past would have absolutely incapacitated them for lucra- 

 tive work, have been enabled to secure an education in 

 other lines so that they are not only self-supporting, but 

 in some instances are earning more money than they did 

 before. The example of the Goodrich company is com- 

 mended to other firms to follow, indeed is being followed 

 by others, and with the return of the numerous soldiers 

 injured in the war, the field of the rehabilitation depart- 

 ment will be considerably broadened. In connection with 

 the efforts the Government is making to assist its 

 maimed soldiers, it can be made of the greatest benefit 

 to the nation. 



WOMEN WORKERS IN RUBBER. 



How HAS THE RETURN of thousands of men from war 

 service affected the thousands of women rubber 

 w^orkers who were employed primarily to meet war 

 workers who were employed primarily to meet war 

 emergency ? 



Some readjustments w^ere inevitable, but indications 

 point to the conclusion that wOmen workers will be 

 affected less seriously than casual thought might seem 

 to indicate. Many women were employed who never 

 worked before, and returned to the role of home-makers 

 when their husbands, fathers and brothers returned from 

 overseas. Many more, engaged in heavy work which 

 thev would not wish to follow through life, abandon it 

 for' lighter tasks yielding good compensation. Women 

 are, however, employed more extensively in rubber mills 

 than hitherto, and in more varied capacities, but on work 

 requiring nimble fingers rather than strength. 



