South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-25
ODELL TIRE PLANT
RANKS WITH BEST
IN THIS COUNTRY
Expert Workmen and Best
Material Bring South Bend
Firm to Front.

Few south Bend people Tealize
that in addition to having the larg-
est factory in the world producing
six-cylinder automobiles. this city
has one of the most complete tire
factories in the country in the plant
of the Odell Rubber Co, at Ewing
av. and the Pennsylvania tracks.
Starting in the fall of 1915 as the
International India Rubber Co. the
company has grown until it now oc-
cupies more than double the amount
OF floor space and its capacity is
considerably increased. The name
OF the company was changed some
time ago 10 the name of its founder
and president and general manager,
George Odell.
Capacity 100 Tires a Day
About a year ago. additions in
both space and in equipment were
made which doubled the output or
the factory. At the present time the
company IS turning out about three
hundred South Bend Fabric and
Odeu cord tires and 250 tubes a
day BY working both day and night
the capacity of the factory would be
about 700 tires a day.
The entire operation OF building
tires is carried on at the local plant.
Pure crude rubber is received in diff
ferent forms from the Dutch East
Indias South America and Ceylon
ard stored i'm the receiving room at
the factory. This crude rubber. to-
gether with chemicals that enter
into the manufacture OF tires is
squeezed and kneaded between the
smooth surfaces of massive mixing
mills. Without tearing or crushing
the material. it is worked until il
is thoroughly blended.
In the giant colender the rubber IS
squeezed into the fabric and into
stock sheets of accurate. uniform
suage Every part of the tire, with
the exception Of the beads. passes
through this massive machine. In
the bead building room, stands upon
stands OF strongest piano teel wire
is used in making straight side
beads Each ply of wire IL carefully
insulated with ruberized thread fab
rio. All clincher beads are OF strong
elastic rubber wrapped in fabric.
Experienced i'm Making
Experienced cutters take the treat
cd materials and after cutting and
shaping them, place them within
easy reach of the tire builders
Both the South Bend fabric and
the Odell cords are built up slowly
and carefully by hand by the high
est type of skilled rubber workers.
Many Of the men who build these
tires have been with the company
since il first started operating.
From the building room, the tires
20 20 the vulcanizing and curing
room. Here they are placed in
moulds Of correct size and design,
and given a thorough slow cure.
When the tires have been cured al
rough edges and overflow are trim
NED and sunoothcd. They are then
wrapped and labeld ready for ship
ment.
Makes Inner Tubes
The manufacture of inner tubes
: very interesting Layers OF rub
Der Of the correct size are wrapped
around specially constructed steel
poles. These are placed in large
.uring ovens and by special pneu-
matte process. the tubes are blown
from the poles and the ends vul-
canized together.
George Odeu. the founder OF the
company. Is actively in charge OF
the affairs OF his company. Mr
Odell has had extensive and prac-
teal training In the rubber manu-
featuring business. in salesmanship
and finance starting as a boy he
acquired kro 4 1ge OF rubber manu-
aCtur.nC az d bench and has sue
essfuuy filled positions in practical
every department OF the in
lustry.
one OF the largest orders ever re-
ceived by the factory was filled las;
week when the first OF a part OF
5000 ttres was shipped 20 a western
dealer.