98 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1924 



the close of the year, while as many more were in process of prepara- 

 tion to complete the exhibit, as planned. The specimens are arranged 

 in the following 18 groups: 



1. Natural history of rubber production : Botany, cultivation, tapping, 



curing. 



2. Commercial raw rubber: Types, grades, packing, statistics. 



3. Rubber manufacture (general operations) : Washing, drying, mix- 



ing, compounding. 



4. Aid of rubber in the communication of ideas: Telephone, telegraph, 



radio, typewriter, pens, stamps, erasers. 



5. Rubber as an aid to transportation : Automobile and bicycle tires. 



6. Rubber in control and transmission of power and light: Covered 



wires, cables, storage batteries. 



7. Mechanical rubber goods: Belting, packing, valves, hose. 

 S. Fighting fire with rubber : Fire hose. 



9. Waterproof footwear and clothing : Boots, shoes, heels, raincoats, etc. 



10. Rubber in the service of health : Hospital equipment, dental rubber. 



11. Rubber in the home: Combs, bath and plumbing fixtures, mats, tile, 



jar rings, wringers. 



12. Rubber for toys and sports: Toys, tennis, golf, baseball, billiards. 



13. Rubber in warfare : Gas masks, balloons. 



14. Reclamation of rubber : From shoes, tires, etc. 



15. Rubber substitutes and related materials: Balata, gutta, chicle, 



guayule, etc. 



16. History of rubber manufacture. 



The American Brush Manufacturers' Association appointed a 

 committee to collect for the Museum from various manufacturers a 

 representative series of animal fibers and specimens of all types of 

 brushes made therefrom. This collection of 278 specimens was 

 shown at the annual convention of the association at Atlantic City, 

 N. J., last March, and then presented to the National Museum. 



Another example of the- cooperation of trade associations is repre- 

 sented in the presentation to the Museum by the National Boot & 

 Shoe Manufacturers' Association of the United States (Inc.), with 

 the assistance of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, of Bos- 

 ton, Mass., of 119 specimens and cut-out figures illustrating steps in 

 the manufacture of a woman's shoe. 



Through the courtesy of the Associated Fur Manufacturers 

 (Inc.), of New York City, the Museum was invited to send a repre- 

 sentative to the convention and fur trade exposition in New York, 

 and was assisted in obtaining three valuable fur exhibits. The 

 Fouke Fur Co., of St. Louis, Mo., through the Biological Survey, 

 Department of Agriculture, presented the Museum with three spec- 

 imens of Alaska seal, showing steps in the plucking, dyeing, and 

 finishing of skins of the Bering Sea fur seal. A. Hollander & Son 

 (Inc.) , of Newark, N. J., contributed, through the Biological Survey, 

 28 muskrat skins showing the 14 principal steps in the production 



