M uti ii 1. 1915.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



349 



THE GERMAN RUBBER SITUATION AS GERMANS 

 SEE IT. 



[77/, ving paragraphs are taken from a reviev o\ rubber 



conditions in Germany during the yeai 1914, which appeared in 

 a recent issue of the "Gummi-Zeitung" :] 



"T ' III-; \ear 1914 opened unfavorably for the German rubber in- 

 dustry, which, like- other industries in Germany, was still 

 suffering from the after-effects "t the recent Balkan disturbances. 

 But tin- German ruhber industry was gradually righting itself, 

 and adapting itself to the new conditions, and the outlook was 

 much brighter when, suddenly, in great war broke nut, paralyzing 

 all industries, including the rubber trade. 



I'he extraordinary decrease in prices nf raw rubber, due to thi 

 Hooding of the European market by unsold plantation rubber, 

 had enabled German manufacturers to unit the general depres- 

 sion and even increase their output. The decrease in the value 

 of manufactured goods produced bj German} was due to the 



decreased cost of raw materials. Business in Surgical rubber 

 articles was saved from a deplorable situation by the outbreak 

 (i war. which put it mi its feet again. Tile unhealthy condition 

 of i his branch of the rubber industry was chiefly due to the laws 

 prohibiting the sale of certain articles, and especially to the harsh 

 interpretation of these laws by various courts, which included 

 under the prohibition many articles having no connection with 

 those aimed at by the laws. The surgical rubber business was 

 also menaced by the tendency among consumers to trade direct 

 with the manufacturers, and even to manufacture, themselves, 

 foi their own individual purposes. Then, doctors often purchased 

 direct from the producers. To protect their interests, manufac- 

 turers and dealers in surgical ruhher goods attempted to form 

 a syndicate, hut so far it has not been effective. 



The electric cable industry, so closely allied to rubber, although 

 it had made serious efforts to put its production on a profitable 

 basis, was still suffering cruelly from English competition, and 

 even being assailed from the ranks of the domestic ruhber in- 

 dustry. 



Another tendency the rubber industry had to contend with was 

 the growing policy among consumers of purchasing for their 

 immediate needs only. Orders were especially small from the 

 building and furniture manufacturing lines. Even the electrical 

 branch, which is usually prosperous, felt the general de- 

 pression severely. The slight rainfall affected the business of 

 rubber clothing and rubber shoe manufacturers. The German 

 tire industry, which has suffered severely by the practice of al- 

 lowing too generous guarantees, as well as fr.cn French and 

 British competition, showed no tendency toward improvement. 

 Then at the verj commencement of the year labor organizations 

 and socialists started a movement (which was partially success- 

 ful) in favor of increased wages. On top of all this, extra bur- 

 dens were placed on the shoulders of the German ruhber indus- 

 try b) the "Clerks' Insurance Law." 



The German ruhber industry took an active part in four inter- 

 national expositions, and thus did its share in maintaining the 

 reputation of German industry on foreign markets. Generally 

 speaking the situation of the German rubber industry, though not 

 bright, was improving and its members could look to the future 

 with confidence, when the terrible war broke out, affecting all in- 

 dustry, including rubber. The general effect of the war was, 

 naturally, to make conditions even worse than they were before. 

 Those firms having government contracts to fill had all the work 

 they could do, but this is not sufficient compensation for what 

 they are losing through the war. The shutting off of nearly all 

 means of communication, the closing of sea traffic, held hack 

 enormous quantities of goods ready for shipment, and caused 

 great quantities of merchandise en route to be seized and con- 

 fiscated. The exigencies of war created a shortage in skilled 



labor, which further curtailed production when it did not paralyze 

 it altogether 



Largi i nis had a considerable supply of raw rubber on 

 hand and, th. inks to tin embargo on rubber exports, an immediate 

 ruhher famine was not to he feared, but benzine, benzol and 



other solvents were not to be had in sufficient quantities. Manu- 

 facturers and dealers in toys and sporting goods, manufacturers 

 devoting their efforts exclusive!) to foreign markets, were ai 

 those mi i erel : ted bj tl e war. Export tradi was (lead. 



The ruhher g Is trade has been in a very bad condition since 



the wai broki out. Most dealers had quantitii ol met tandise 

 in stuck which, undei present conditions, are no longer in de- 

 mand, lew. if any, had any stock ol articles which were in 

 real demand. Many dealers were willing to pay increased 

 to gel deli nd satisfy then- customers, but quick deliveries 



were impossible The outbreak of war was so sudden that no 



one 1'nes, iw it and no one had on band the proper g Is to 



mi el the new demands. ( If late matters have returned to a -■ 



whal normal state. The government has recognized il 



in taking too many hands away from industry. 



\s long as the war lasts it will he quite impo make 



any predictions, bul it is already clear that the great, si loss to 

 the German ruhher industry is directly due to its total dependency 

 upon foreign countries for its supplies in raw materials 



RUBBER FAMINE IN GERMANY. 



The following statistics of ruhher imports into Germany from 

 England during the months between August and December, 1913, 

 are of interest in forming an opinion of the rubber famine which 

 is now affecting Germany. These months correspond, in 1913, 

 with the first four months of the war. 



GERMAN i RUDE RUBBEE IMPORTS FROM ENGLAND IN 1913. 



August loin 714 



Sej i' mbei 628 



I Mi ber 



vember 575 



December 771 



Total 3,411 



German exports of rubbei go< ds 'inn e the first seven months 

 of 1914 ihel'ore the war began i wen considerably larger than 

 ii >r same pi 1 1' d in 1913. 



RUBBER SUBSTITUTED IN GERMANY. 



\ German dealer in ruhher g Is writes to tl,' "Gum- 

 mi-Zeitung" concerning the development of the manufacture 

 of articles from rubber substitutes, rendered neci at i war 

 conditions in Germany. In his opinion the German nation, as well 

 as German rubber manufacturers, should he most thankful to the 

 inventors of rubber substitutes and to those who have been 

 willing to devote their intelligence, energy and capital to the 

 development of this new held. 



It is owing solely to rubber substitutes, he states, that certain 

 branches of the German ruhher industry are able to satisfy their 

 customers. Many technical articles, which formerly were only 

 made of real rubber, are now manufactured from rubber sub- 

 stitutes (June a number of articles which, for one reason or 

 another, cannot be made of rubber substitutes, are no longer to 

 he obtained on the German market, there being no raw rubber 

 available for their manufacture. This dealer advises customers 

 not to be too particular about the appearance of substitute 

 articles, which often do not look so well as real ruhher. Manu- 

 facturers are doing their best. They will no doubt be abl< to 

 improve upon their substitute articles, but they must he given 

 time as this line is absolutely new for many of them. The great 

 point to keep in mind is that men have been able to create 

 practical substitutes and use them in manufacturing necessities. 



He believes that rubber substitutes have come to stay, that 

 thev will continue to be sold after the war is over, and that 



