61 



From the West Indies — principally Trinidad — various 

 rubbers were exhibited but small samples only, these in- 

 cluded Sapium Jenmani, Ficiis elastica, F. Vogelii, Cas- 

 tillo a, Gear a, and Hevea. In these Islands much interest 

 and enterprise in rubber cultivation is now taking place. 



The Gold Coast, Uganda, British East Africa, Congo, 

 and Mozambique gave a moderate representation of Afri- 

 can rubbers. Funtumia and Lqndolphias were on view in 

 the form of "lump" "niggers" "sausage" "ball" "tail" 

 etc., but such preparation will scarcely find a market when 

 plantation rubber is more abundant. From Uganda and 

 the Gold Coast an effort had been made in better samples 

 and both countries were represented with tastefully arrang- 

 ed sections. 



Reclaimed rubber found a place in the exhibition and 

 its use enters very largely into the trade of manufactured 

 goods. 



Manufactured Rubber. 



This part of the exhibition was only moderately rep- 

 resented, manufacturers apparently fearing the possibil- 

 ity of losing or imparting trade secrets, and consequently 

 the extent to which rubber is applied in the arts and manu- 

 factures became a matter of conjecture. From the Silver- 

 town Rubber Works — the largest in Great Britain — a 

 varied and interesting series of articles were on view, in- 

 cluding the history of the tyre trade ; cycles, carriages, and 

 motor tyres; from the first solid tyre to the latest type of 

 the present day. The floor of this section was paved with 

 India Rubber tiling of Mosaic design; other exhibits were 

 samples of rubber mats and sheets 50-60 years old; ebonite; 

 atheltic goods ; and gutta percha cables. 



In other sections Balata belting; Rubber hose; rubber 

 toys; surgical goods; electrical and engineering goods; 

 were moderately exhibited. Only one exhibit was noticed 

 in the direction of a new use for rubber — as a substitute for 

 tanning — a hide is treated with rubber solution which seals 

 the interstices and renders the hide waterproof and more 

 elastic. It is claimed that all hides so treated are improved 

 in toughness and wear, and rubber tanned leather would 

 appear to have a future. 



Machinery. 



This section was representative of all rubber curing 

 or preparing machines, including washing machines, block- 



