, 1935-08-21
PROGRESS OF
FIRESTONE HAS
STEADY
Akron Tire Genius Is
Given c dit For
Many Major Gains
In Industry

IN 1886, seeing great possibilities
In what was then an innovation =
the rubber tire for carriage = Har-
vey S. Firestone purchased for 81, 500
a small shop In Chicago, for the
manufacture OF this product. The
little company started with a capt.
tai OF but 5000. In 1897. Mr.. Fire
stone and his partners bought out q
competitor. The Imperial Rubber
Tire Company. Two years later, In
1899. the Firestone Rubber Tire cona-
pany merged with the Consolidated
Rubber company and Mr.. Flrestone
sold his interest, giving him a net
capital OF $3.50 in cash.
After looking over the rubber tire
field, In 1900, Mr.. Firestone organic
ed In Akron, the Firestone Tire a.
Rubber company, and by 1902. he
was ready 20 assume the task Of
making his own product. The orig
inal staff Of only ~ men turned out
a maximum of 40 tires a day.
Records Fast Progress
But In less than q year. the COM
pany had developed equipment and
patented methods. including a new
way TO hold the solid tire to the
base, that brought improvement In
carriage tires. and furnished the
basis for the leadership the company
took In the manufacture Of solid
truck tires. AS the 'hOTseless car-
riage" developed into an industry,
LArnufnHn hnmaFn - hrNtlG nwnewwnaNtm
tires then made with square-wov-
en- cotton fabric.
In 1907. Mr.. FireStone and his or
ganization, realizing the need for
better traction and grip ON the
road. introduced the first non-Skid
tread - Don universally adopted by
the industry. The cord tire began
TO replace those with square-woven
fabric and the company took a lead
ing part in this development. Out
d Binding in its engineering progress
Yves the FireSt0ne patented Gum
Dipping process, which prevents
damaging friction and heat within
the tire. and has been the basis for
Frestone's advantages in product
performance.
Introduces Balloon Tire
Then, in 1923, Firestone made the
greatest contribution to transport
tation the first balloon tire. 1t
was quickly adopted by the entire
industry and marked q new epoch
IN tire safety, long service. and cush-
toning, for automobile and truck.
II made possible the swifter, more
flexible a Of today.
From its humbleb eginning, this
one small Firestone factory has
branched out with such amazinF
rapidity that there are now FirestoiC
tire factories in Akron, Los Angeles,
Canada. England. Spain, and the Ar
gentine; battery factories in Akron
and Los Angeles; rim and wheelfac-
tory, spark plug, brake lining. Access
sorry and mechanical rubber goods
factories In Akron: cotton fabric
factories and a rubber and canvas
footwear factory In New England,
rubber preparation mills in Singa-
pore, and the vast plantations de-
velopment in Liberia. Africa, which
Is looked upon as a great factor IN
making America independent Of
foreign rubber m~onopolies.
In this remarkable growth, the
guiding hand OF the founder, Harvey
s. Firestone. Is always discernible.
Naturally, such a leader would sur
round himself with able. efficient
men, and from among these, Mr..
Firestone during many years of ser
vice, has come John w. Thomas,
who helped Mr., Firestone organize
the first laboratory. and who Is now
president Of the company. Mr.. Fire
stone continuing active as Chairman
Of the Board.