Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-05
COLOR HAS NO PART
IN WORTH OF TIRES
Goodyear Official Explains Why
Automobile Tires Are Red, Black,
White and Gray.
PURE RUBBER ITSELF IS GRAY

p. w. Litchfield, factory manager OF
TIE Goodyear Tire and Rubber company.
In statement just issued throws some
light from the inside on a subject gen.
rally discussed by laymen and the trade
at this time Mr.. Litchfield's statement
is educational and is along lines recently
adopted by the company, which, recog-
MIXING that the public generally knows
ut little of the rubber business, has been
making plain through window displays
and in other ways some phases OF rubber
manufacture hitherto little known and re-
garded as mysteries by people gen.
orally.
For many years there has been dis
cussion as to the relative merits OF diff
ferent oolofs in rubber goods" says Mr.
Litchfield. Some people wonder whether
a gray rubber. a black rubber. a white
rubber or a red rubber is best.
Pure rubber, as It is tapped from the
tree. Is a creamy white liquid. 1t is some
times coagulated to retain this creamy
white color, but more often 1t is smoked.
which gives II transparent brownish
color
IAN rubber, when used commercially,
has 70 be vulcanized with sulphur. II the
rubber is pure and contains nothing but
sulphur. it will be gray color after it is
vulcanized, but when stretched out into
thin sheets and held up to the light it
will be almost transparent and of a pale
brown or creamy color Any other color
than this Is given to rubber by the addi-
ton of various chemical substances for
impsrtins to Il special properties, usually
TO tougher 1t and to give 1t additional
wearing qualities. or chemical adulterants
may be used which have no virtue what
Eoever, but are used solely to cheaper It.
pure white color is usually produced
by the addition of oxide OF zinc, which
has long been known as one of the best
tougheners of rubber, and has been ex-
tensively used in the manufacture of au-
tomobile tire treads. Black is usually
produced by the addition of lampblack
os some organic chemicals Reds are
produced by the addition of anthony or
oxides of iron.
Some time ago most tires were gray.
usually on account of the combination of
rlead and zinc oxide. The discovery of
rev materials to replace lead made posi-
BILE the production of tougher white
stocks The present war has had the eff
feet Of decreasing the supply and in
creasinR the price of one of these ma
terials, namely. oxide of zinc. The i'm
ported oxide has increased in cost over
100 pere cent, and there is practically mona
obtainable even at it's present high cost.
The American-made oxides which have
also increased somewhat in price. are not
Huificient to take care of the requirements
Of the trade. necessarily limiting the sup
ply Of white rubber considerably.
Color Indicates Nothing.
The mere color OF rubber, however.
indicates absolutely nothing as to its
quality: both tough stocks and poor
wearing stocks can be made in any color
! white, black. red or gray, 5Tt G
"A tire is an article of utility which
should be. compounded witA the idea OF
service and mileage. and not color. II
you'd be hopelessly impossible to deter.
mine the quality of rubber by its color.
end should people insist on particular
colors or combinations of colors in tires.
they would ultimately have to pay a
pretty high tire mileage bill for this
small satisfaction. The only wise plan
Ia to leave questions of color to the rub
Der manufacturers, allowing them free
hand to make the most useful and durable
rubber goods possible. regardless of
color"