South Bend News-Times, Volume 35, Number 77, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 18 March 1918 — Page 7

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THE SOUTH BEND NEWS-TIMES

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M ain building 383 feet long, has 29,504 square feet of floor space. Capacity 500 Tires and Tubes daily.

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MR. GIIORGl: W. ODHLL, ScVretarv and (jciieral Mvrr.

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:vp(rt mdc by su;h concerns as the kelly-Sprini;-vc 's : inipany, Uie 1'. S. Rubber Company, and others. i".-mer ln'T ik't earnings of over -tof on the common tier deducting war taxes of s4:,57t) from the net total , : s ! m ;;üvs ejuai to 2.77' on the s5, 000,000 common :e reported by the Tnited .States Rubber Company, as v; with for the previous year ending Decem- ";.. The company's total sales for I()17 were S!7o,.1 -ain over t'Mo of more than S 10,000,000. ( V dear Tire Rubber Company report for 1 c 1 7 ;;et earnings of si ,0( o.ia io, and states that its business three nn'-nths of the new liscal yar is 10 percent

i.m in the same period last ear.

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nnual statement of other tire manufacturing concerns .v.rne storv of remarkable pro. its and increased demand iter production. : the call from the warring allies for hundreds of thou- ! more tires for army motor trucks aud'airplanes. there tened this ear a shorta-e of manuiacturinir facilities to the demand, l:ery tire that the International India Cotivratioii can produce will tin J a ready sale.

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the executie a'riiity uf the men who have

iu into existence this splendid enterprise has led many to

to whom the credit really belongs. The question was Mr. Peter 1:. Studebaker. President of the Corporation,

and a son of Henry Studebaker, who in 1852 Started the Studebaker vehicle business in this citv. "All credit for the original idea and for the success of the company's plans and preparations should go to Mr. George V. Odell, our Secretary and General Manager," he answered. "Mr. Odell, who was raised in South Bend, had had years of practical experience in the rubber industry, as well as in the selling game, before he conceived his plan-for a great tire factory for his home town. "In fact," Mr. Studebaker continued, "before he outlined his plan to me, 1 had paid little attention to the tire business and I was even a little slow in grasping the opportunities it offered. A careful investigation which I made, soon convinced me, however, that no branch of the automobile industry presented greater chances for investment or greater rewards for personal effort. So far as I know,no organization ever has engaged in the manufacture of tires under Ihe experienced direction that we command and. failed to prosper, while the earnings, year after year, of the other rubber companies have astonished everybody. "The facts were indeed so -plain that we had little difficulty in interesting not merely dozens but thousands of investors in Mr. Odell's plan, and the first issue of stock was quickly subscribed by our friends and the public. In the early work of organizing, we were fortunate in enlisting the assistance and counsel of Mr. Thomas XV. Slick of Slick & Slick, Attorneys, and the rapidity with which we were able to develop our plans was largely due to the time and energy he devoted to them." And when the interviewer sought out Mr. Odell, that gentleman promptly disclaimed the foremost credit for the company's noteworthy accomplishment, and said: "When, within the next few months, we are making and selling SOUTH BEND Tires to the limit of the factory's capacity, there will, I believe, be glory enough for all in the company's success. "The recent advances in the market prices of cotton fabric, and other materials and equipment, were anticipated months ago by our directors, who authorized the purchase of large stocks now on hand in our storeroom. By these advance purchases we have saved and so already have earned for our shareholders a profit of several thousand dollars. In fact, we have on hand sufficient supplies of raw materials (all paid for, as is every tool and machine in the plant and every brick in the buildings) to keep us running for nearly four months, if that should be necessarv, without goinc: into the market for additional supplies. "It is due in no small measure to not only the loyal devotion but the enthusiastic interest of our office force, that innumerable delays were avoided in getting the plant ready for operat

ing. And no higher compliment has been paid to our officers than the confidence expressed by three young women employes who asked permission to invest a part of their salary in the business, after they had had every opportunity to inform themselves concerning our business methods and the company's prospects. "I have been asked by several persons how many new workers the International India Rubber Corporation expects to bring to South Bend, and I wish to explain that our factory will give first preference to South Bend workmen in manning its plant. "Mr. Herman Besaw, than whom we believe no man in the country possesses more complete knowledge of tire building and tire construction, has been appointed factory superintendent. Mr. Besaw has been in the rubber business for twenty years and was formerly superintendent for one of the large tire companies. He will have as assistants several highly skilled experts as foremen of our different departments. '"It is our belief that, in the matter of intelligence and skill, no workmen in the country excel those of South Bend, and to everv ambitious man desirous of learning the tire building trade, an opportunity will be offered. We expect to train our own men, and invite applications from men whose references will stand investigation. We will need two hundred men within a very short time, and opportunities for advancement will be all that any man could ask. "The same policy that prompts us to look lirst at home for the workmen we will need, leads us to recognize South Bend's prior claim on our output of SOUTH BEND Tires, guaranteed for 4,000 miles. We will not, for the present, open a downtown salesroom, but all car owners will be promptly and cheerfully served at the factory, where any necessary adjustments will be made upon demand. "It is not necessary to explain to the experienced car owner the advantage of getting a tire that is absolutely fresh. It is our intention to carry in stock only enough tires to supply our trade from week to week, and every customer will be assured of a tire that has just been made and so certain to give perfect satisfaction and an extra bonus of mileage." "As loyal sons of South Bend," said Mr. Studebaker, "we are proud to name our tires in her honor, and before many months they will be advertising our ci(y in every part of the world where automobiles are used." Through The News-Times the officers of this new million dollar enterprise extend to the public a cordial invitation to visit the new factory and to judge for themselves how much it is destined to contribute to the further upbuilding of this community.

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SOUTH BEND RIBBED TREAD TIRE Manufactured bv INTERNATIONAL INDIA RUBBER CORPORATION South Bend, Ind.

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