3:2) 
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vt. 
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of 
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18. 
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AY 
90. The sharp drop in the production of motor vehicles at the 
end of 1927 was reflected in reduced tyre-production during the 
last four months of the year. Consignments of outer covers to car 
manufacturers, described as original equipment sales, have been 
as follows :— 
Percentage of total con- 
signments described as 
original equipment sales. 
Per cent. 
Year. 
1922 
1923 
1924 
1925 
1926 
1927 
27.0 
87.0 
28.0 
30.6 
30.8 
23.6 
Tyre manufacturers’ stocks were smaller by 112,000 outer covers, 
1,868,000 inner tubes,.and 7,000 solid tyres at the end of 1927 than 
at the beginning of the year. 
91.The fabric tyre is now obsolete in the United States, and the 
present trend indicates increasing concentration on the balloon 
type. Tyre manufacturers favour standardisation of tyre sizes in 
order to reduce the heavy moulding equipment required for differ- 
ing sizes and types. Changes have occurred during the last seven 
years from fabric to cord tyres, from clincher to straight-side tyres, 
and from high-pressure to balloon tyres. These changes have re- 
sulted in greater durability of tyres and greater comfort to 
motorists, but have kept the tyre manuacturers constantly in the 
market for expensive moulding equipment. As old cars are super- 
seded by new models the necessity for the continued production 
of obsolete tyre sizes will gradually disappear. 
92. Absorption of crude rubber by manufacturers of belting, hose 
and packing amounted to 15,614 tons in 1927, which was 3 per 
sent. more than in 1926, but 17 per cent. less than the peak 
absorption of 1925. The figures indicate that an increasing amount 
of reclaimed rubber has been used in the manufacture of mechanical 
rubber goods. 
The total value of rubber boots and shoes produced in 1927 was 
£21,375,000, which was smaller than in any recent year except 
1922 and 1925. The total value of heels and soles produced 
amounted to £4,040,000 in 1927, compared with £3,780,000 in 
1926; and the absorption of rubber in heels and soles declined 
irom 4.276 tons in 1926 to 3.895 tons in 1927. 
Although absorption of crude rubber for insulated wire and in- 
sulating compounds increased from 3,047 tons in 1926 to 3,481 
tons in 1927, the total value of the products declined from 
£7.800,000 to £7,020.,000. ’ 
['ypes of 
’yres pro- 
luced. 
Dutput of 
‘ubber 
products 
sther than 
tyres. 
‘a) Mechan- 
ical rubber 
yoods, 
(b) Boots 
and shoes. 
¢) Insulated 
wire and 
insulating 
compounds.