PROSPERITY FOR TIRE MEN SEEN Publication: Automotive Daily News Dateline: Akron, Ohio Date: 27 August 1925 Subject: Tires

Akron, Aug. 26.—If the experience of the first six months can be accepted as an index, the rubber industry will have enjoyed at the end of 1925 a prosperity equaled by few of the country's major industries. Never in the history of the business has there been such a prosperous half year. The tire output for the six months ended June 30 exceeded 30,000,000, against less than 24,000,000 in the first half of 1924.

Though American manufacturers will pay more than $300,000,000 for crude rubber this year, compared with $174,361,427 in 1924, four increases in the prices of tires and tubes have helped to counteract the cost of raw materials. The output of tires in Akron factories now approximates 135,000 a day, against an average in 1924 of between 95,000 and 100,000. The almost unprecedented demand for tires, especially balloon casings and in the heavy duty bus and truck field, has taxed to capacity the leading manufacturers.

Indications are that the third quarter's operations will almost equal, if not surpass in some instances, the prosperous second quarter. Manufacturers will receive the full benefit of the four price increases, approximating 40 per cent. on tires and 60 per cent. on inner tubes. The last advance of 10 to 15 per cent. went into effect July 18.

The larger companies are operating with three shifts on a 24-hour basis. Vacations were curtailed this summer. Tire production tickets in effect at the Akron plants call for a greater daily production than in the post-war boom period six years ago.