CONTINENTAL CAOUTCHOUC AND GUTTA PERCHA COMPANY. This rubber company was founded in Hanover, with a capital of 900,00o marks, in Oct. 1871. Owing to difficulties in construction, etc., the actual work of the com pany was not begun until Sept. 1873. The first full year was 1874, when a loss of 26,587 marks was sustained. In the course of time, new uses were being found for rubber and the gradual growth of the concern may be judged from the increase in the number of employees: (187') 2 16 ; 450 ; 500, and during the years of the World War, 8,000 in Hanover and, including all others elsewhere in the pay of the company, 13,000. In the three years 1910-13 the capital of the Continental rose 9,000,00o to 15,000,00o marks.
The activities of the company fall into several well-defined classes. The surgical productions comprise hot-water bags, ice bags, bathing caps, air cushions, syringes, sponges, surgical gloves, bath shoes, bath mats, shaving brushes and so forth ; the industrial products include motor car accessories of all kinds, from tyres, mats, treads, insulating pads, grips, rings, tubes, etc. ; there are also specialized technical products connected with electrical under takings, typewriters (platens, etc.), and even furnishings, covers for upholstery, etc.
The company has several times extended its premises in the course of its development, has large works and a spacious resi dential club-house for employees. The workers publish a monthly called Echo Continental, with a circulation of 90,000. (W. HR.)