REFERENCE
Rubber
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WAR PRODUCTION BOARD
Rubber Bureau
WASHINGTON, D. C.
» «
1944
YEAR END REPORT
» «
February 1, 1945
For Sale by Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C., Price 5 Cents
45
HD
ا حمااام
• U SL
1945
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
VII. COMPONENT MATERIALS Continued.
Page
1. SUMMARY
2
Carbon Black….
6
Beadwire..-
6
II. GENERAL
3
Miscellaneous….
6
III. TRUCK TIRE AND TUBE PRODUCTION_
3
VIII. MANPOWER
6
History
3
IX. MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT………
6
Current Situation___
3
Truck Tire Production Schedule.--
Review
IV. PASSENGER CAR TIRES_
V. CRUDE RUBBER AND CONVERSION TO SYN-
THETIC RUBBERS……-
VI. SYNTHETIC RUBBERS….
VII. COMPONENT MATERIALS..
Rayon and Cotton Tire Cord..
Cotton Tire Cord...
3
4
4
сл
5
5
6
XI. ORGANIZATION
6
XII. CONCLUSION….
5
X. MISCELLANEOUS RUBBER PRODUCTS..
Bogie Rollers and Tank Treads_
Mechanical Goods..
Footwear, Soles and Heels___
Drug Sundries and Specialties.
Coated and Proofed Materials.
Camelback and Repair Materials_
Scrap and Reclaim Rubber_.
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
I. SUMMARY
1. Increased production of tires and tubes represents the
number one war production problem. To meet this problem
two specific actions have been taken. First, a concentrated
drive to man fully the industry and second, expansion pro-
grams which will increase the potential capacity of the In-
dustry from approximately 4,000,000 truck tires per quarter
to approximately 7,000,000 truck tires per quarter.
2. The translation of the increased tire and tube program
into crude and synthetic rubbers has again made crude rub-
ber the most critical of all strategic materials.
3. The greatly increased synthetic rubber requirements for
the tire and tube program can be met by comparatively small
additions to the synthetic rubber plants plus the necessary in-
creased amounts of feed stocks and chemicals, with sufficient
manpower to operate the plants at the increased production
rate.
4. The impact of a greatly increased tire and tube produc-
tion schedule has created shortages in certain important com-
ponents, namely, rayon and cotton tire cord, carbon black and
beadwire. The production of each of these components must
be increased, if the production goals for tires and tubes are
to be realized.
5. The machinery and equipment required for the tire and
tube expansion program must be given the highest priority,
must be expedited to every extent possible and the pool and
other orders covering same liquidated with the equipment
and machinery delivered on or before June 30, 1945.
6. Production of other short supply rubber goods must be
expedited by supplying manpower where manpower is needed,
or textiles where textiles are needed, and through the expedit-
ing of such expansion programs as may pertain to the indi-
vidual item. Amongst these other rubber products are in-
cluded hose, belting, footwear, soles and heels, etc.
7. The manpower drive must be continued with all impetus,
a thorough follow-up continued on Army and Navy personnel
furloughed to the program and the problems of draft defer-
ment geared to the over-all problem.
8. There must be a continuation and an extension of the
conservation policies designed to obtain the last mile from
every existing tire. This obviously includes a coordinated
policy of factual information release and an avoidance of mis-
leading statements as to the availability of tires to the public.
9. The tire program for 1945 calls for tremendous effort
on the part of the industry, labor and many Government
agencies. Close cooperation and a mutual understanding of
the tasks ahead are essential, if production is to meet or exceed
schedules.
GPO-War Board 14588-p. 2
II. GENERAL
On September 1, 1944, a Rubber Bu-
reau was established in the War Pro-
duction Board to assume the majority of
the functions of the Office of Rubber Di-
rector. By Executive Order, the respon-
sibility for the production of synthetic
rubbers and the research and develop-
ment pertinent to same was transferred
to Rubber Reserve Company.
The Rubber Survey Committee Re-
port, better known as the "Baruch Re-
port" had been the textbook for the Of-
fice of Rubber Director. The change of
one word in each of the following two
sentences from the Baruch Report gives
a poignant definition to the rubber prob-
lem of today:
"But if we fail to secure
quickly a new [rubber] tire sup-
ply our war effort and our
domestic economy both will
collapse. Thus the [rubber]
tire situation gives rise to our
most critical problem."
In November 1944 the military sub-
mitted requirements for the first quarter
of 1945 far in excess of previous esti-
mates for that period. It was recognized
that these new requirements were in ex-
cess of the maximum capacity of the in-
dustry. The Rubber Bureau has devel-
oped new schedules which will produce
the required number of truck and bus
tires in the minimum time. When these
expansion projects are in full capacity
over 28,500,000 truck and bus tires per
year can be produced. This figure is
believed adequate to cover the essential
requirements of all claimant agencies.
III. TRUCK TIRE AND TUBE
PRODUCTION
History: During 1943 an expansion
program for the tire and tube industry
was initiated by the Office of Rubber Di-
rector which was designed to offset such
production losses as experience at that
time indicated would result from the use
of synthetic rubber. The extent of this
program gave full consideration to the
tire and tube requirements then en-
visioned. Approximately $100,000,000
was involved in this expansion. With
minor exceptions it was financed by the
industry with tax amortization certifi-
cates.
In the Spring of 1944 the requirements
of the military for large tires made nec-
essary a further expansion known as the
high flotation program. The need for
these extremely large tires was dictated
by the changing methods of conducting
the war. The requirements were ex-
pressed in quantities far beyond the abil-
ity of the industry to produce. It was
believed that the completion of these
WAR PRODUCTION BOARD
Rubber Bureau
1944
Year-end Report
two programs would provide the facili-
ties necessary to produce by size and type
all truck tires required for either mili-
tary or essential civilian purposes.
The first expansion program was
largely completed during the closing
months of 1944 and the high flotation
program will be completed prior to the
conclusion of the first quarter of 1945.
Current Situation: Military require-
ments for the fourth quarter of 1944 sub-
stantially exceeded the estimate proj-
ected for the period. The Ruber Bureau
recognized that these totals could not be
met in the fourth quarter but felt certain
that upon completion of the scheduled
programs, minor additions and full man-
power would provide the production nec-
essary to meet the levels required should
demand continue in the first quarter of
1945 at fourth quarter levels. In No-
vember of 1944 new requirement figures
for the first quarter of 1945 were filed
with the Rubber Bureau. These require-
ments represented totals that bore little
relationship to prior estimates. It was
obvious that drastic action would have
to be taken to provide the United Na-
tions with tire and tube facilities which
the war experience had dictated as ab-
solutely essential.
Production estimates were obtained
from the tire and tube industry to reflect
their maximum production by size and
type from installed facilities, including
additional equipment then on order due
to be delivered in the near future. The
estimates assumed that manpower would
be made available to operate production
equipment at full capacity. They also
assumed that new equipment would be
delivered as scheduled and that there
would be no shortages in the component
materials required for production lines.
An analysis of these figures indicated
that the facilities of the industry were
inadequate to meet the latest stated
needs of war. Industry meetings were
held and a new tire expansion program
was developed. This program falls into
two specific parts:
1. Expansion within-existing-walls or
with minor additions to floor space.
2. New plants.
The expansion within-existing-walls or
with minor additions to floor space bal-
anced the facilities of the industry to
produce tires and tubes. It represented
an actual maximum production which
could only be exceeded by the addition
of entirely new plants to the industry
with due allowance for the present effi-
ciency of production from existing equip-
ment. The completion of the first phase
of the program would give an industry
potential of approximately 5,600,000
truck tires per quarter. As this amount
was inadequate to meet requirements, it
was determined to obtain at the earliest
possible date 1,500,000 additional truck
tires per quarter through the building of
such new plants as might be required to
bring industry capacity to a total of
7,100,000 truck tires and tubes per
quarter.
The new program included a reason-
able insurance factor beyond the number
of tires and tubes actually stated as re-
quired during the first quarter to do the
essential military and civilian job of con-
ducting an all-out war. Requirements
for the second quarter have now been
presented. They are considerably high-
er than had been anticipated. If the
expansion program needed further justi-
fication, the new statements of require-
ments prove the necessity for the pro-
gram. Whereas the meeting of require-
ments for tires and tubes is the major
objective, the expansion program has an
important corollary, namely, to liquidate
the accumulated deficits resulting from
failure currently to meet requirements.
The military have cooperated towards
the most efficient use of the tires and
tubes allocated to them. Their alloca-
tions are, however, below requirements
and, if not corrected promptly, may
prejudice the conduct of the war. The
civilian economy has been held to a mini-
mum of tires and tubes. Failure to pro-
vide promptly a greatly increased flow of
tires and tubes to civilian activity will
curtail or stop many auxiliary functions
essential to the production lines of this
country.
The entire program was approved in
late December by the War Production
Board and received the concurrence of
the Production Executive Committee of
the War Production Board.
was
Each company currently producing
truck tires and tubes was asked to par-
ticipate in the expansion. The program
oversubscribed by the industry.
After due consideration of all factors, in-
dividual allocations were made and con-
firmation received from the companies.
The projects in large measure have been
filed and work on many of them is al-
ready under way.
Truck Tire Production Schedule: The
Rubber Bureau has scheduled a mini-
mum quarterly production goal for tires
and tubes which covers both 1945 and
1946. The following tabulation outlines
this schedule by tire groups for 1945.
Inasmuch as detailed requirements will
doubtless be changed during the year,
no group tabulation is given for 1946.
However, when all projects in these ex-
pansions are completed, it is anticipated
that maximum production will be in ex-
cess of 28,500,000 truck and bus tires
per year.
GPO-War Board 14588 p. 8
Tire
TRUCK TIRE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE-1945
First
[U. S. A. manufacture]
Third Fourth
Second
group | quarter | quarter | quarter | quarter
A-1..
31, 175
28,975
26, 475
A-2...
13.005
15,005
A-3-8.
A-3-b.
A-4.
104, 167
183,672
15, 605
205, 028
24, 875
15, 605
212, 028
Year
111,500
59.220
704.895
4,690, 326
914, 492|1, 101, 518|1, 234, 658|1,439, 658
734, 294 947, 455|1, 152, 407|1, 457, 407 4, 291, 563
A-5...1, 923, 556|2, 180, 996/2, 512, 361 2, 516, 861| 9, 133, 774
A-6.. 1, 155, 262|1, 269, 050|1, 305, 8241, 305, 824 5,035, 960
Total 4,875, 951 5, 726, 671 6, 452, 358 6, 972, 258 24, 027, 238
Due to the urgency of the situation
every possible effort is being made to ex-
ceed first quarter goals by the greatest
possible margin.
Review:
To appreciate the problem which has
been placed upon the tire and tube in-
dustry, it is necessary to review what
the industry has done in the past and
compare it with what it is being called
upon to do in the future. Exhibit “A”
shows the total production of tires from
truck building facilities from 1936
through 1944 with the levels projected
for 1945 and 1946. The average pre-war
year saw approximately 8,000,000 tires
produced on these facilities. The year
1944 saw 16,000,000 tires produced.
These totals include large airplane and
rear tractor-implement tires as well as
the truck and bus tire groups given in
the preceding table for 1945 scheduled
production.
The comparison is even more striking
when it is realized that the average truck
tire of today is substantially greater in
EXHIBIT "A"
·
size and weight than the average truck
tire of a pre-war year. Exhibit "B"
shows this latter point in its portrayal
of milled stock used in the production of
these particular tires. With an average
milled stock of slightly over 200,000 long
tons in pre-war years, 1944 showed
slightly over 600,000 long tons consumed
in the production of these particular
tires. These increases in 1944 take on
even greater importance when it is real-
ized that in 1944, eighty-five per cent of
the raw material consumed was syn-
thetic rubber. In other words, the in-
dustry has taken a new series of raw
materials and despite the almost in-
superable problems involved, has nearly
trebled the quantity of milled stock used
in the production of truck and bus, large
airplane and rear tractor-implement
tires.
IV. PASSENGER CAR TIRES
Due to shortage of cotton cord, carbon
black and beadwire, it has been necessary
to curtail the scheduled production of
passenger car tires. Increased demands
for truck tires have had their reflection
in the increasingly tight position of the
components required in tire production.
Passenger car tire production has there-
fore been tied to the availability of cotton
tire cord and each producing company
has been given a quota of cotton tire
cord as the limiting factor in its passen-
ger car tire production. Slightly less
than 5,000,000 passenger car tires will
be produced during the first quarter of
1945. Production schedules for subse-
quent quarters probably will remain the
same but will be determined by the avail-
TOTAL · PRODUCTION · FROM · TRUCK · TIRE
BUILDING · FACILITIES BY YEARS · 1936-1946
(INCLUDING TRUCK AND BUS, LARGE AIRPLANE AND REAR TRACTOR-IMPLEMENT TIRES)
35
MILLION · TIRES
•
ability of facilities, manpower and com-
ponents, which in turn are directly in-
fluenced by truck tire requirements and
the ability of the industry to meet the
latter. To reflect the lowered produc-
tion of passenger car tires, the January
quota given the Office of Price Admin-
istration was cut to 1,800,000 and the
February quota has been established at
1,600,000 tires.
Whereas it is believed that the pro-
duction of passenger car tires at current
levels will be adequate to meet the most
essential demands from B and C card
holders, it is realized that a serious
shortage impends unless all conceivable
conservation measures are practiced by
the individual motorist. The attached
Exhibit "C" shows passenger car tire pro-
duction from 1936 to date. In 1944, 18,-
864,000 passenger car tires were pro-
duced. Inasmuch as only a relatively
small number were required by the mili-
tary, it was possible to release 17,475,000
passenger car tires to the Office of Price
Administration for rationing to essen-
tial civilian use during the year. As a
result of motorist cooperation to obtain
the last mile of travel from existing tires
and the careful job of screening applica-
tions by the tire inspection stations and
the local rationing boards, there was no
accumulation of applications for passen-
ger car tires from B and C card holders
awaiting release of more tires on De-
cember 31, 1944.
Whereas 1945 and 1946 show increasing
production levels over those achieved in
1944, it is improbable that they will be
realized unless the factors heretofore
listed as determining passenger car tire
EXHIBIT "B"
FINISHED · MILLED · STOCK · REQUIRED · FOR · TIRES · BUILT
ON TRUCK · TIRE · FACILITIES · BY YEARS · 1936-1946
(INCLUDING TRUCK AND BUS, LARGE AIRPLANE AND REAR TRACTOR-IMPLEMENT TIRES)
35
1,400
SCHEDULED
PRODUCTION
•
THOUSAND LONG TONS
•


1,400
ра
SCHEDULED
PRODUCTION
30
25
30
1,200
25
1,000
1,200
1,000
20
20
800
800
15
15
600
GOO
10
5
1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
10
400
5
200
1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
400
200
RUBBER · BUREAU WAR - PRODUCTION BOARD 15 JANUARY 1945
•
RUBBER BUREAU WAR PRODUCTION BOARD
·
15 JANUARY 1945
GPO-War Board 14588—p. 4
production show radical change. The
valley of supply between 1941 and 1946
represents an accumulating deficit to be
made up to achieve normalcy in the sup-
ply-demand position for passenger car
tires.
V. CRUDE RUBBER AND CONVERSION
TO SYNTHETIC RUBBERS
During the Summer of 1944 new sup-
ply and consumption of crude rubber
were approximately in balance. Rela-
tively small net withdrawals were made
on the stockpile during 1944. Last year
the production schedules for 1945 con-
templated only minor drains upon the
stockpile and it was believed that the sup-
ply would be adequate. Present produc-
tion schedules have changed this pic-
ture and crude rubber once again be-
comes the most critical of all strategic
materials.
The conversion program from crude to
synthetic rubbers has progressed to a
point where further conversions are rel-
atively minor, both in number and in the
quantities of crude rubber involved.
They are, however, being followed dili-
gently and will be made effective imme-
diately the technological problems are
solved.
Present production schedules in 1945
will consume approximately 144,000 tons
of crude rubber resulting in a net stock-
pile loss for the current year of approxi-
mately 35,000 tons. Inasmuch as the
United States stockpile position as of
January 1, 1945, was approximately
96,000 tons, it will decline to approxi-
·
EXHIBIT "C"
•
mately 61,000 tons as of January 1, 1946.
The crude rubber situation becomes even
more critical in 1946.
VI. SYNTHETIC RUBBERS
Statements of requirements for all
types of synthetic rubber have been filed
with Rubber Reserve Company. These
requirements have been broken down by
types of synthetic rubber and by quar-
ters during 1945 and 1946.
There is insufficient GR-I (Butyl) to
meet over-all tube requirements. The
deficit will be made up by substitution of
GR-S. Production estimates indicate,
however, that there will be an adequate
supply of Butyl to meet airplane and
truck tube requirements for military and
essential civilian needs. The Rubber
Bureau does not feel justified in request-
ing new Butyl plants to meet the require-
ments for tractor and implement, indus-
trial, passenger and bicycle tubes, but has
asked that all within-plant expansions
be made to achieve maximum production.
We are advised by Rubber Reserve
Company that the required quantities of
GR-M (Neoprene) and GR-S can be pro-
duced provided the plants are supplied
with adequate feed stocks and additional
manpower for the much larger tonnage
to be turned out in 1945 and 1946. Pro-
duction in 1944 and the requirements for
1945 and 1946 are shown below:
1946 re-
quirements quirements
1944 pro-
duction
1945 re-
GR-S..
608, 834
881,000 1,054, 000
TOTAL PRODUCTION OF · PASSENGER · CAR
AND MOTORCYCLE TIRES BY YEARS ·1936-1946
•
•
The increased GR-S requirements in
the last half of 1945 and 1946 are sub-
stantially beyond the present capacities
of the copolymer and raw material
plants, and additions to the plants will be
necessary amounting in cost to about 3%
(about $22,000,000) of the presently esti-
mated investment in the Government-
owned synthetic rubber plants of $725,-
000,000. The rated capacity of the Gov-
ernment GR-S plants is 705,000 long tons
per year, and the plants have demon-
strated actual capacity of 860,000 long
tons per year. The requirement for 1946
of 1,054,000 long tons is 22.5% over the
present demonstrated capacity and
49.5% over the rated capacity of the
plants.
It is indeed fortunate that the syn-
thetic rubber plants have demonstrated
a flexibility in production and an ability
to produce substantially over their rated
capacity, so that with comparatively
small additions an output up to nearly
50% over their rated capacity can be
counted on for 1946 if needed. If
these production factors were not pres-
ent, it would have been futile to pro-
gram the tire and tube expansion. Ex-
hibit "G" shows the supply and require-
ments for crude and synthetic rubbers
in 1943 and 1944, together with esti-
mates for 1945. Exhibit "D" shows the
projected consumption of crude and syn-
thetic rubbers in the 1945 production
plan.
VII. COMPONENT MATERIALS
The most serious problems which the
Industry will face in its efforts to achieve
1945 and 1946 production goals are in the
fields of manpower and component ma-
EXHIBIT "D"

•
1945 · PRODUCTION · PLAN · SHOWING · PROJECTED
CONSUMPTION OF CRUDE · AND · SYNTHETIC RUBBER
UNITED STATES and canADA
BY QUARTERS
•
GO
50
40
30
20
10
MILLION · TIRES
SCHEDULED
PRODUCTION
60
350
300
50
250
40
30
THOUSAND · LONG · TONS


CANADA
& EXPORT
200 FATSENGER
CIVILIAN&
150 HNDIRECT
20
100
MILITARY
10
WAR ORDERS
50
CRUDE
SYNTHETICS
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
AUBBER BUREAU · · WAR · PRODUCTION · BOARD 15 JANUARY 1945
1ST QUARTER
* OTHER THAN
SA TIRES
2ND QUARTER
3RD QUARTER 4™ QUARTER
1945
RUBBER · BUREAU · WAR PRODUCTION · BOARD 15 JANUARY · 1948
· · · ·
GPO-War Board 14588—p. 5
terials required for the production of
rubber products.
Rayon and Cotton Tire Cord: It is
obvious that the high-tenacity rayon tire
cord programs previously authorized did
not contemplate production schedules
such as those now projected for 1945 and
1946. The potential of rayon tire cord
for 1945 is presently estimated at ap-
proximately 245,000,000 pounds, and for
1946 at approximately 296,000,000 pounds.
To increase these totals would involve
the construction of entirely new plants
which present estimates indicate would
require a minimum of twelve months
and a maximum of eighteen months.
The requirements of the Rubber Bureau
for high tenacity rayon tire cord are es-
timated at approximately 292,000,000
pounds for 1945 and 368,000,000 pounds
for 1946. The Rubber Bureau has, how-
ever, tempered its true requirements by
filing with the Textile Bureau minimum
requirements. The difference between
true and minimum requirements repre-
sents the substitution of cotton for rayon
tire cord with the expenditure of approx-
imately 500 tons of crude rubber per
month and some sacrifice in the quality
of the tires produced. A rule of thumb
measure indicates that approximately
one pound of crude rubber is required
to offset a pound of rayon tire cord short-
age. Exhibit “E”" shows in graph form
the requirements and supply of high-
tenacity rayon tire cord.
Cotton Tire Cord: There is a close re-
lationship between the availability of
rayon tire cord and the requirements for
cotton tire cord. Exhibit "E" also shows
EXHIBIT 'E'
WAYON · AND · COTTON · TIRE · COMD
QUIREMENTS · AND · SUPPLY · 1945-1946
180
NTGO
QUARTERS
MILLION · POUNDS
KEY
REQUIREMENTS · SUPPLY
COTTON
BAYON
1946
BUREAU WAN PRODUCTION BOARD 13 JANUARY
requirements and supply of cotton tire
cord. The anticipated shortage of rayon
tire cord is translated into pounds of
cotton tire cord in the approximate
ratio of 1 to 1.3.
Carbon Black: Future requirements
for carbon black are greatly in excess of
anything envisioned heretofore due, first,
to the use of synthetic versus crude rub-
ber, and second, to the greatly expanded
size of the tire industry. Carbon blacks
are divided into two general types-
channel and furnace—and whereas they
can be used somewhat interchangeably,
present technological knowledge shows a
depreciation in quality in some specific
applications, if blacks of the furnace
type have to be used to substitute for
those of channel type.
Exhibit "F" shows channel and furnace
carbon black requirements and supply.
Requirements do not include rebuilding
of producers' and consumers' inventories
for which provisions must be made.
The Chemicals Bureau of the War Pro-
duction Board is fully cognizant of this
problem and we are assured that all
steps are being taken to provide the
rubber industry with an adequate sup-
ply of carbon black and, to the degree
possible, the particular types which the
industry needs to produce the quantity
and quality of products required.
Beadwire: This important component
is in short supply. Requirements have
been filled with the Steel Division of the
War Production Board. It is believed
that with minor expansions in the in-
dustry and a careful scheduling of pro-
duction that shortages which would
EXHIBIT 'F'
CHANNEL · AND · FURNACE · CARBON BLACK
REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPLY · 1945-1946
4
•
ESTIMATED BY QUARTERS
1200
400
KEY
150
300
1100
200
50
100
MILLION POUNDS
REQUIREMENTS · SUPPLY
FURNACE
CHANNEL
20
3
1945
30
1946
CONTUMLAR'
NIGHAZNENTE DE SEST INCLUDE RESHILDING OF PRODUCEAS'
RUBBER BURGAU WAR, PRODUCTION BOARD
•
400
300
200
100
15 JANUARY 1945
handicap or curtail production can be
averted.
Miscellaneous: There are many other
component materials required for the
rubber industry. The Rubber Bureau has
compiled requirements for approxi-
mately 2,000 miscellaneous chemicals and
textiles. Each one of these plays an im-
portant part in the program. With the
exception of two or three chemicals and
certain types of textiles no real problems
are anticipated. Requirements for tex-
tiles essential to the production of foot-
wear, conveyor belt and various types of
hose do, however, present problems which
can only be resolved by a determination
of relative essentiality in the overall de-
mand for textile products.
VIII. MANPOWER
During the first three quarters of 1944
manpower represented a serious, if not a
most serious, problem in attaining full
production from rubber industry facili-
ties. In August, 1944 manpower require-
ments for heavy duty tire production
were placed on the National Urgency List,
second only to certain secret projects.
The Army and Navy worked in close co-
operation with the Rubber Bureau and
furloughed many men for assignment to
produce these heavy duty tires.
Army Team was formed to assist produc-
tion. As a result of the cumulative ef-
forts of the War Manpower Commission
and other Government agencies involved,
a large percentage of the men required
for heavy duty tire production were
placed in the industry.
An
During November of 1944 the drive to
man fully the tire industry received new
impetus. Heavy duty tires became only
part of the problem and all truck tires
were placed on the National Urgency
List. As a result of a resurvey of the in-
dustry, it was ascertained that on the
new basis approximately 7,000 additional
employees were required to achieve a
fully manned condition. Succeeding
weeks have shown increasing success in
the joint efforts to supply additional
workers to the industry. A substantial
part of that work has already been ac-
complished and approximately 4,000 ad-
ditional employees have been added to
the industry after giving full considera-
tion to separations. There still remains
a need for an additional 3,000 employees.
The Army has furloughed approximately
1,500 men, most of whom have already
started work. These men are included
in the net gain as shown above. Should
any of the furloughed soldiers be recalled
to active duty, it is obvious that new men
would have to be found to take their
place.
Meetings have been held with both
labor and management to stress the
urgency of the situation. All members of
the tire industry have signed a pledge
which amongst other things, assures con-
tinuous seven-day operations and a co-
operative settlement through collective
bargaining of such differences as would
have a deleterious effect on production.
IX. MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
The new expansion programs obviously
entail the production and distribution of
many banburys, mills, calenders and
GPO-War Board 14588-p. 6


other machinery and equipment re-
quired to produce the tires called for
under current production schedules.
Pool orders for certain parts of this
equipment have been placed and subcon-
tracting will be used extensively in order
that the objective of delivery for all parts
of the program before July 1, 1945 may
be realized. Whereas the program has
been accorded an AA-1 rating, it will also
receive such directives as future produc-
tion difficulties indicate are necessary.
Both the construction of new buildings
and the production of this new equip-
ment will be expedited in every way.
X. MISCELLANEOUS RUBBER
PRODUCTS
Many thousands of individual items
are included under this general heading.
Some of them are in as short supply as
tires and tubes. They do not, however,
make the headlines despite the essential
character of their contribution to war
production.
Bogie Rollers and Tank Treads: There
is an acute shortage of bogie rollers and
tank treads at the present time. Pro-
vision has been made for expansion of
facilities which will not only serve to
meet requirements but also pick up and
eliminate accumulated deficits. The im-
portance of these products cannot be
overestimated. The demand is obvi-
ously an integral part of the tank pro-
gram. Requirements of replacement
bogies and treads have shown a large
increase as a result of the increased scale
of operations in the various theatres of
war.
Mechanical Goods: With but few ex-
ceptions, 35,000 and more items falling
under the heading of mechanical goods
are in reasonable supply, although in
many instances the margin is very slight.
Certain items, notably various types of
hose, conveyor belt, etc., are in such short
supply that special measures have been
adopted to insure minimum require-
ments for military purposes. Various
types of hose, for instance, are sched-
uled by the Mechanical Goods Branch.
The difference between adequate and in-
adequate supply is in most cases a man-
power problem. The number of men re-
quired, however, is of such minor conse-
quence in the Nation's overall manpower
shortage that these products have not
been placed on the National Urgency List
but rather have been handled in the in-
dividual local areas. Shortages of tex-
tiles are particularly apparent in the pro-
duction of conveyor belt and will become
more so as manpower is acquired and
production reaches the levels necessary
to satisfy the minimum requirements of
our domestic economy and the export
needs of our Allies.
Footwear, Soles and Heels: These
essential products have been in short
supply for upwards of a year. Their
production has been increased but is still
inadequate to meet basic demand. It
has only been through the elimination
of all style items and miscellaneous types
that the footwear requirements of the
military and the rationing program have
been met. Close cooperation has been
maintained with the industry and Gov-
ernment agencies to achieve this balance.
The shortage of leather has had its
repercussions in the demand for com-
position soles and heels to such an ex-
tent that an expansion program for the
industry was sponsored in 1944 which,
when completed, will involve the ex-
penditure of approximately $10,000,000.
Drug Sundries and Specialties: With
but few exceptions, the thousands of rub-
ber items included under this heading
are in reasonable supply. Those ex-
ceptions are, however, of great impor-
tance to the health and welfare of the
military as well as the civilian popula-
tion. Various expansions have been
made in this field which with adequate
manpower will help answer the immedi-
ate problem.
Coated and Proofed Materials: The
problems in this field were substantially
answered during 1944. They were of a
dual nature-production on the one
hand, and conversion from crude to syn-
thetic rubbers on the other. Amongst
the many products covered by this head-
ing are flotation equipment, life saving
jackets, balloons, waterproofed materials,
etc.
Camelback and Repair Materials: Dur-
ing 1944 the shortage of camelback for
retreading of passenger and truck tirės
was eliminated. There are now ade-
quate supplies to meet the conservation
program and to insure each truck and
automobile operator of a satisfactory
material to obtain the last mile from his
present tires. With the exception of ex-
tremely difficult problems in scheduling
and supplying airbags for the military,
requirements for the repair materials
necessary both domestic use and export
have been covered.
Scrap and Reclaim Rubber: Supplies
of crude rubber scrap are steadily dimin-
ishing. The extensive scrapyards of
Rubber Reserve Company will shortly
have completed their distribution of the
more desirable types of scrap rubber.
There is, however, a substantial inven-
tory position in the hands of the reclaim-
ing industry which should insure full-
scale operation for at least another year.
Supplementing supplies on hand will be
the crude rubber carcasses which will
be turned into the scrap market as new
tires become available and old ones pass
from the picture. The reclaiming indus-
try has made substantial forward strides
in the reclaiming of synthetic rubber
scrap and this will undoubtedly prove
the insurance policy for continued re-
claim operations.
The demand for reclaim rubber has in-
creased substantially as a result of the
shortage of carbon blacks. Whereas ap-
proximately 16,000 tons per month have
been adequate to meet recent demand,
the industry must now increase its pro-
duction to approximately 25,000 tons per
month or only 1,000 tons less than the
maximum ever attained by the reclaim-
ing industry. To achieve these produc-
tion goals additional manpower must be
made available. The War Manpower
Commission has designated the reclaim-
ing industry as a critical activity which
will prove of material assistance in ob-
(Exhibit G on reverse)
taining the additional employees neces-
sary for the new production schedules.
XI. ORGANIZATION
The Rubber Bureau was established on
September 1 as the successor to the Office
of Rubber Director. It assumed the
duties of the Office of Rubber Director
with the exception of responsibility for
the operation and maintenance of the
synthetic rubber plants and the research
and development for the synthetic rub-
ber program.
During 1944 the number of employees
showed a steady decrease. In Decem-
ber there was a total of 146 employees of
whom twenty were dollar-a-year men.
This compares with a total of 505 em-
ployees at the peak of the Office of Rub-
ber Director operations and 237 on Sep-
tember 1, 1944.
The expansion and related programs
have created a vastly increased volume
of work. It has therefore been neces-
sary during the past month to add to
various understaffed parts of the organi-
zation and probably further additions
will have to be made in order that the
work may be expeditiously and efficiently
accomplished. Some of the additional
personnel have been drawn from other
parts of the War Production Board and
some have been drawn from industry.
To achieve our objectives, there has been
a complete reorganization of the func-
tions and responsibilities within the Bu-
reau. This reorganization should prove
of material assistance to the Rubber Bu-
reau in achieving a relatively small but
compact and hard-hitting organization.
The Rubber Bureau has followed the
precepts of the Office of Rubber Director
in simplifying procedures to the greatest
extent possible with minimum strain
upon the industry and others concerned.
When materials have come into reason-
able supply, they have been taken from
allocation leaving their use subject only
to the regulatory provisions of the Rub-
ber Order. As a result of this policy,
Neoprene and Buna-N have recently
been taken from allocation. GR-S,, of
course, was taken off allocation many
months ago. It is improbable that Butyl
can be taken from allocation for some
time and it is obvious that the alloca-
tion of crude rubber will continue until
after the war with restrictions being con-
tinuously increased to keep pace with
technological progress in the field of po-
tential further conversions.
XII. CONCLUSION
The problems of 1944 were many in
number and varied in character. The
splendid cooperation between Industry,
Labor and Government has provided the
means to overcome most obstacles and
to obtain satisfactory solutions for many
difficult problems. It is with confidence
that the Rubber Bureau faces the tasks
scheduled for 1945. To Industry, to
other Government agencies and to our
associates in the War Production Board,
the Rubber Bureau extends its apprecia-
tion. The objectives have been defined.
They must be met and without delay.
J. F. CLARK,
Director, Rubber Bureau.
FEBRUARY 1, 1945.
GPO-War Board 14588—p. 7
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
EXHIBIT "G"
SUPPLY OF RUBBER · VS · REQUIREMENTS
UNITED STATES AND CANADA 1943-1945
BY QUARTERS *
400
THOUSAND LONG · TONS
REQUIREMENTS
400

3 9015 03810 9065
vs. NEW SUPPLY
300
200
100
300
200
100
KEY
I**Q. 2ª°Q. 3ª°Q. 4™Q. ISQ. 2ª°Q. 3ª°Q. 4™"Q. ISTQ. 2NDQ. 3ª°Q. 4™Q.
1943
1944
1945
O
YEAR
TOTALS
'43 44 45

REQTS-TOTAL||||||19|138 174 197 212 211 234 240 282 294 317 542 854 1,133
SYNTHETICS 8 19 56 112 147 170 178 202|204 244 254 | 274 | 195|697 976
CRUDE 103 100 82 62 50 42 33 32 36 38 40 43 347 157 157

SUPPLY-TOTAL 30 43 80 137 186 238 228 255 268 283 289 303 290 9071,143
SYNTHETICS 10 29 71 124 167 209 200 222 232 254 264 270 234 798 1,020
CRUDE 20 14 9 13 19 29 28 33 36 29 25 33
56109 123

•
STOCKS TOTAL 362 286 228 191 180 206 223 244 272 273 268 254
*ALL DATA
SYNTHETICS 7 17 32 44 64 103 125 145 173 183 193 189 AS OF END
CRUDE 355 269 196 147 116 103 98 99 99 90 75 65 OF QUARTERS
Actual
400
300
RESULTANT STOCKS
400
·
•
•
AT END OF EACH QUARTER
300
200
100
200
100
ISTQ. 2NDQ 3RDQ 4TH Q. ISTQ. 2NDQ. 3ROQ. 4TH Q. ISTQ. 2NDQ 3RDQ 4TH Q.
1943
1944
1945
•
•
RUBBER BUREAU · · WAR · PRODUCTION BOARD ·· 15 · JANUARY 1945
·
GPO-War Board 14588-p. 8