LEATHER-RUBBER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 561, 16 July 1909, Page 8

LEATHER-RUBBER.

'.•■■'.^■.•.■■■• : ;-A,.NEW INDUSTRY. '-. V -.Every year- 500\tons of. leather are estimated to go to waste :■ in factories, saddlers' . shops, bootmakers' shops, and other places in' New Zealand. Of;'every bullock's blue and sheep's skin, 17 per,, cent.. is said to go. to waste, in corner scraps and -pieces. A company is now being floated locally to utilise this, waste product by. combining it with rubber in a new .material v called leather-rubber, for which a great variety of uses is claimed... The rubber and leather are combined in various- proportions for different manufactures by: a patent process recently invented in Australia.' The raw material in a very soft state is passed between -great cylinders revoking at 'different rates of speed, and becomes thoroughly mixed, being turned constantly as it emerges '■ from the pressure. From the waste products are produced a sheet of matorial that is durable, > elastic, and uniform. This is vulcanised, and is then ready for use forvboot-soleing, belting, linoleum, furniture' covering, tiles and mate, carriage, motor-car, and bioyclo tyres, and a dozen other purposes to which it is adapted by various.modifications of tho process. It is' 'claimed, that tho resulting product -is more durable than tho ordinary loather or rubber goods, and can-be produced and sold-at a considerable reduction of- price. An Australian company is already at work,'and it-is expected' •that the New Zealand company will bo manufacturing leather-rubber within, six months.■■"