BANQUET ADDRESSES T
HE history of the rubber industry may be divided into four periods: The first began centuries ago when the great, unknown, and perhaps nameless, inventor in South America discovered t h a t shoes could be made by pouring latex on his feet. The second period began with the discovery of vulcanization by Goodyear i n 1839, and ended with the advent of organic accelerators; the third or scientific period was the thirty years immediately following; the fourth began recently with the appearance of the first important substitutes for rubber. Today we celebrate the beginning of the second period; the one hundredth anniversary of Goodyear’s epoch-making discovery. During this period nearly all the rubber products of today were developed and put to practical application, although their quality was poor as judged by present standards. The leaders were two men of great renown, Goodyear and Hancock. Charles Goodyear of New England-inventor, dreamer, idealist, a man unselfish in his purpose, a financial failure. Thomas Hancock of old England-the alert and practical manufacturer. Both had a vision of the possibilities of vulcanized rubber. Goodyear conceived an idea; Hancock developed it and made it a success. I n the n&t interval from 1906 almost to the present time more improvements were made than in the preceding centuries. Organic accelerators, plantation rubber, carbon black, dispersing agents, antioxidants, a revival of the use of latex-all became important factors in a n industry which now produces goods indispensable to civilized man. During this practical expansion, the rubber industry appropriated Goodyear’s distinguishing traits, good and bad. It improved its products and sold them for less money; it dealt fairly and justly with its employees and customers; it was and is a financial failure. Like Goodyear, the rubber industry would have been greatly aided by sound financial management. The first period continued for centuries, yet produced only one great inventor. The second period lasted for seventy years, w-ith but two eminent men. The third period lasted only thirty years, yet brought forth scores of men of distinction. The intervals have decreased in length; the number of eminent men has greatly increased. The cycles are shorter but more intense. The industry is now in its fourth period, and I venture the opinion t h a t there will be far greater progress within the next thirty years than there was during the last thirty, chiefly i n the development of materials superior to rubber for specific purposes. Rubber has remarkable properties, but it also has serious shortcomings. Does it not seem strange t h a t this one material is used for such unrelated products as inner tubes, tire treads, refrigerant hose, steam hose, nursing nipples, insulated wire, surgeon’s gloves, automobile cushions, golf balls, adhesive tape, rubber bands, and telephone receivers? Chemists, physicists, and engineers have developed rubber products t h a t have played a vital part i n many industries. Directly and indirectly they have furnished a livelihood for millions. These men have been indispensable to the development of modern civilization. They realize and appreciate the new problem, and have climbed high enough to see lands fa]*greater and richer than those already explored. JOHN M. BIERER, Toastmaster
RUBqBER’S POSITION IN MODERN w. CIVILIZATION P.
LITCHFIELD,
0 MEASURE the importance of Goodyear’s discovery or discuss rubber’s position in modern civilization, it is necessary to dwell for a moment on the outstanding characteristics of this modern civilization. I shall not at-
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tempt to discuss them in the order of their importance because they cannot be treated in that manner; there is too much interdependence. Fast transportation of masses of people and materials, for instance, characterizes the modern age. Across many hundred thousand paved highways and streets speed millipns of passenger cars, busses, and trucks. On every hand are supplies of fuel and the necessary service facilities to maintain this system of transportation which actually did not exist until after the World War. Air lines reach out t o ever-greater distances as the speed and safety of flight increase. Great ocean liners have crowded the sailing vessels of yester-year from the seas. It is characteristic and important that we are no longer limited by the speed of the horse or the velocity of the wind as we move from one point to another.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio
It is likewise characteristic that the materials used in the manufacture of these units of transportation are available in mass quantities, and that we fully employ and enjoy the boons of the Bessemer and parallel processes. I n this connection we cannot overlook our systems of communication. These implements of modern civilization grew out of the genius of Bell, Marconi, and kindred intellects. They serve us in a million ways and closely knit together geographically scattered units of modern civilization. Let me pass on to another phase of modern living which combines the elements of prophylaxy, hygiene, and sanitation. Behind a protecting shield conceived by Pasteur, Lister, and many others, the span of modern life has been extended; we live in greater safety and we live in better health. These characteristics-transportation, mass production, communication, and mass hygiene-were not created by rubber. But in each instance rubber is the fluxing material 1209
