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Giant tire manufacturing. Construction of modern airports and other military facilities which requires moving large quantities of earth necessitates equipment identified as earth movers. Earth movers use huge rubber tires like these, some of which cost as much as $2,500 each. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Giant tire manufacturing. Construction of modern airports and other mi...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Replenishing gum rubber for tire cords. A new supply of gum for the fabric is being carried to the calendaring machine by this worker. After having been milled originally by processes previously described, the moment of impregnation by auxiliary mills alongside the calendaring machine. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Replenishing gum rubber for tire cords. A new supply of gum for the fa...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Battery of curing molds. While the curing, or cooking, operation is going on for the tire we have followed through the plant, it is also going on simultaneously for hundreds of other tires in production. This view shows one corridor in the curing room where fifty tires are being cured at once. Additional molds flank this group on both sides of long corridor such as this one. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Battery of curing molds. While the curing, or cooking, operation is go...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Covering the beads. Beads are covered with sturdy fabric which builds back down into the sidewall of the finished tire for added strength. Passenger tires are normally supplied with only one wire bead, but truck tires usually have two or more, depending upon the size, weight and number of plies. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Covering the beads. Beads are covered with sturdy fabric which builds ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Adding tread rubber stock. When the fabric carcass has been built to the proper number of layers and cushion rubber has been added under the tread, the thick, extra tough tread rubber is added, having been molded to the proper shape by extrusion in a previous operation. Mechanical guides help this builder to put the tread on absolutely straight, so the tire will be in perfect balance. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Adding tread rubber stock. When the fabric carcass has been built to t...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for military aircraft is illustrated by this photograph. Tire at bottom is of type used on average medium bomber while small tires at top are for tail wheels of various types. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for milit...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for military aircraft is illustrated by this photograph. Tire at bottom is of type used on average medium bomber while small tires at top are for tail wheels of various types. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for milit...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Wrapped, sealed, labeled. Ready for delivery, this finished tire carries the description and size of the tire on an outside label. May be kept for a long period when wrapped in this protective covering, but during the war emergency, most tires are sent out unwrapped because it thus saves paper, they are usually put into immediate use and require no storage protective, and there is less need for attention to appearance. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Wrapped, sealed, labeled. Ready for delivery, this finished tire carri...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Every airplane tire for military aircraft is carefully balanced on a special machine to guarantee flawless performance in service. Inspector is making final check on airplane tires destined for military service. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Every airplane tire for military aircraft i...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Drying at top speed. Reeled away from the calendaring machine, the fresh stock rolls over towering drying racks shown here. Weighted tension bars keep the festooned sheet of new fabric taut and straight as it cools and dries. From the drying racks, the fabric travels quickly onto rolls of cloth where it is rolled onto reels small enough to handle. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Drying at top speed. Reeled away from the calendaring machine, the fre...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Off to the calendaring machine. The finished batch is taken by other tire workers to the next step in the milling process. In this instance, the batch goes from the mill room to the calendaring machine, where it will become a part of the cord fabric. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Off to the calendaring machine. The finished batch is taken by other t...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Tubes are extruded. Much as meat is forced through a grinder, tube rubber is forced through this machine and out the opening at the end, which allows an even flow of rubber to make a seamless rubber tube. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Tubes are extruded. Much as meat is forced through a grinder, tube rub...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Wrapping in cloth prevents sticking. Reels of fabric may be stored for a few moments or a few days, wrapped in cloth to prevent it from sticking to itself when rolled up. These reels are brought from storage to machines such as this, in which the fabric is out on a powered bias cutter to exact length for one ply of a tire. This worker is making a layer of two plies, with the cords running at right angles, one laid on top of the other. This layer will later be used by a tire builder in building up the plies of his tire to the required number. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Wrapping in cloth prevents sticking. Reels of fabric may be stored for...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Military tire manufacture. Huge truck tire like those shown in this tire storeroom are playing important part in the nation's war effort. Tires like these are used on huge trucks and military prime movers. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Military tire manufacture. Huge truck tire like those shown in this ti...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Forming the bead with "saucer," this tire builder follows every curve of the tire, shaping and pressing on the new layer. This saucer is matched by another on the far side of the tire which works on the other side at the same time, assuring perfect balance of the finished tire. The saucers may be swiveled in every direction to press the tire at right angles or lightly at a tangent. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Forming the bead with "saucer," this tire builder follows every curve ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Adding the bead wire. Taking a more solid form, the carcass is now ready for the addition of another bead before the final layers of fabric are added. The bead cover is shaped to the exact curvature of the tire, and fits its diameter perfectly. The bead is forced into position under pressure by the machine controlled with the worker's right hand. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Adding the bead wire. Taking a more solid form, the carcass is now rea...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

The woman's touch is final. Double-checked after painting, finished tires pass before this woman to make sure they are perfect, that the sidewall markings are correct and clear. Firestone(General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

The woman's touch is final. Double-checked after painting, finished ti...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Weighing ingredients. As in any recipe, this measuring of ingredients for the "batch" of the rubber must be done with great care. At this point it is determined whether the raw rubber will be converted into tread stock, fabric gum, tube stock, repair material or mechanical rubber stock. All ingredients--rubber, chemicals, liquids--are placed in the metal tub, and delivered to the mill room for processing. General Tires, Akron, Ohio

Weighing ingredients. As in any recipe, this measuring of ingredients ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Warehouse view of cord stock. Cord stock as it is received from the mill. This special twist cotton cord comes from southern mills. It differs from other tire cords in that it is woven and twisted by gear-driven machinery instead of belt-driven equipment. Slips and strains of belt-machinery are reflected in the cord and on into the finished tire, whereas in a gear-driven machine there are no slippages, therefore no weakened cords in the finished tire. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Warehouse view of cord stock. Cord stock as it is received from the mi...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

A black and white photo of a person laying on a bed. Office of War Information Photograph

A black and white photo of a person laying on a bed. Office of War Inf...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Putting tire into curing mold. From the vacuum expander, the potential new truck tire is taken to this "watch-case" curing mold in which it is baked under high heat and pressure for a long time. The exact time and temperature varies with the type and size of tire. The airbag inside the carcass is filled with live steam during this process so that heat is added from both inside and out. The mold contains the tread pattern, or design, as well as all markings which will appear on sidewall. Under this heat and pressure the rubber turns semi-liquid, and flows into every crevice, completely bonding the rubber processed fabric carcass to the cushion, the cushion to the tread. After this operation it is now one unit--a complete tire. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Putting tire into curing mold. From the vacuum expander, the potential...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Vacuum shaping machine. Flat carcasses taken from the storage racks are placed in this vacuum machine in which two things happen. First a combination vacuum suction and squeezing action pulls the tire into the shape it will always have in use. Second, an airbag is forced into the inside to provide inside strength for the curing step. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Vacuum shaping machine. Flat carcasses taken from the storage racks ar...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

A black and white photo of a man working in a factory. Office of War Information Photograph

A black and white photo of a man working in a factory. Office of War I...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Closing the cover of the mold. Entirely automatic, the "watch-case" mold is closed by pushing a button, which starts several operations. First the airbag is filled with live steam which circulates during the entire process; next an automatic timer sets itself for the proper length of time and temperature; next pressure is exerted to squeeze the tire into the mold pattern. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Closing the cover of the mold. Entirely automatic, the "watch-case" mo...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

The guillotine. Having slid down the trough on the lower left, the bale of raw rubber is now being squeezed against the knife blades on the left under terrific pressure. These blades fan out into eight selections, cut the rubber into eights like an orange divides into sections. General Tires (Firestone), Akron, Ohio

The guillotine. Having slid down the trough on the lower left, the bal...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Checking fabric rolling off calendar. Through this calendaring machine, the heated cords are squeezed through warm rubber under terrific pressure which completely insulates each individual cord in its own sheath of rubber, and produces an extremely strong fabric of the weftless type. Close watch is kept to maintain uniform thickness and texture at all times. In front of the worker is the trough into which a fresh supply of special gum rubber is constantly being added. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Checking fabric rolling off calendar. Through this calendaring machine...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Splicing the line. The loose end in the worker's left hand is feeding an uninterrupted supply of cord to the machine from an emergency spool at the worker's feet. Meantime he searches through the maze of cords to find the one which has broken, to make his splice, and to resume the supply from the regular spool. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Splicing the line. The loose end in the worker's left hand is feeding ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Tire building. This tire builder starts the carcass by slipping a layer of fabric onto the tire drum. The layer is made with the seam cut on the bias so that there will be no straight-across strain on the tire seams. The layer fits tightly, and each successive layer is banded to the preceding one by applied pressure. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Tire building. This tire builder starts the carcass by slipping a laye...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Wrapping truck tires. All sizes of tires can be wrapped by this machinery, which has an opening just large enough for the tire to pass through. It throws a semi-circular catapult through the middle of the tire; the catapult carries the roll of paper with it, unwinding as it goes. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Wrapping truck tires. All sizes of tires can be wrapped by this machin...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Wrapping the finished tire. Seeing is not necessarily believing. Even when you see the tire-wrapping machine in operation, it is difficult to understand how it works....spinning a strand of paper around a tire as fast as the operator can feed them in. All the operator need do is place the tire in position; the machine does the rest. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Wrapping the finished tire. Seeing is not necessarily believing. Even ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Molds automatically open. At the end of the curing time, the mold draws the steam out of the airbag, opens the lid and ejects the tire from the tread pattern. Workers need to do nothing but pull out the finished tire and put in another uncured carcass. General Tires, Firestone, Akron, Ohio

Molds automatically open. At the end of the curing time, the mold draw...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

A black and white photo of bags of cement. Office of War Information Photograph

A black and white photo of bags of cement. Office of War Information P...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Testing the finished tube before packing. Fully inflated, every tube is tested by immersion in water before being dried, and packed for shipment. Rarely do workers find an imperfect tube, but this extra precaution is taken in every instance--just in case. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Testing the finished tube before packing. Fully inflated, every tube i...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Centering fabric on the drum. The fabric layer is slipped onto the drum, layer upon layer, by the use of a rod forced between the last layer applied and the one being applied while the wheel is spinning. This rod stretches the new fabric sufficiently to permit the loop to fit snugly in place--clear on the carcass. After the fabric is in approximate position, the tire builder checks it for accuracy by stopping the wheel, bending the overhanging edges over to see that they each overhang the same distance. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Centering fabric on the drum. The fabric layer is slipped onto the dru...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Raw rubber wheeled to mill room. Wagonload of cut rubber is carted from the cutting machine into the "make-up" room where ingredients are gathered, weighed and measured for each batch of rubber to be made up into General tires. Firestone (General Tires). Akron, Ohio

Raw rubber wheeled to mill room. Wagonload of cut rubber is carted fro...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Storage racks for unshaped carcasses. Awaiting the shaping machine, these "finished" carcasses are hung on opened racks, on which they slide easily on and off. Although these carcasses do not look much like tires, they are only two steps away from final completion. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Storage racks for unshaped carcasses. Awaiting the shaping machine, th...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Making the wire beads. Beads which reinforce the tire and hold it firmly on the rim, are made of the highest grade piano wire, and are extremely tough and durable. They must be made to precisely the correct length, and are foiled on the machine illustrated here. Care must be taken that there are no burrs, slivers or rough spots which might cut into the bead wrapping or fabric. General Tires, Akron, Ohio

Making the wire beads. Beads which reinforce the tire and hold it firm...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Sealing and shaping the bead. Each new bead must be sealed into position by this forming tool as well as by use of the solvent-cement compound. Every tire built is the personal achievement of the expert tire builder. Building a larger size truck tire often consumes a full day's work! Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Sealing and shaping the bead. Each new bead must be sealed into positi...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Tying in new spools. This is a highly skilled occupation, and is supervised at this tire company by a man whose previous training was in a weaving mill in Scotland. The deft weaver's knot, which will not pull out, must be tied in the fraction of a second whenever a break occurs, to catch the broken ends together without interrupting the flow of cord. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Tying in new spools. This is a highly skilled occupation, and is super...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Adding valve patch and stamping. As the endless tube passes by, the proper length of each tube is automatically crimped into the edge, and serves as a guide for placing the valve patch and stamping the trade name. This tire worker operates both sides of this machine....places the patch into position before it reaches the pressure rollers, and stamps the name just after it leaves the rollers. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Adding valve patch and stamping. As the endless tube passes by, the pr...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Air bag put into carcass. Under intense hydraulic pressure, this airbag is forced into the casing while it is still in the suction-shaping mold. The bar from the top comes down hard, forces the airbag into a pretzel shape and rams it into the carcass, where the airbag snaps back into shape and fits the new carcass perfectly

Air bag put into carcass. Under intense hydraulic pressure, this airba...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for military aircraft is illustrated by this photograph. Tire at bottom is of type used on average medium bomber while small tires at top are for tail wheels of various types. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Wide range of tire sizes required for milit...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Inspector in rubber factory checks large airplane tire prior to preparation for shipment. Stack of airplane tires for a famous American fighter are shown in background. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Inspector in rubber factory checks large ai...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

On the mill rollers. First the raw rubber is wedged into the revolving steel drums and mashed into a flat sheet which clings to one of the rollers like clothes sometimes stick to a clothes-wringer. Powders and liquids tossed into the center of this surging mass soon become a part of it. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

On the mill rollers. First the raw rubber is wedged into the revolving...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Milling fabric stock. The batch nears completion. Smoothly mixed, the batch of rubber has lost all streaks and patterns and has become a solid mass of thoroughly integrated rubber stock. The rubber shown in this picture is quite soft and sticky, characteristic of the gum rubber which is used to impregnate cord fabric. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Milling fabric stock. The batch nears completion. Smoothly mixed, the ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

View of the creel room. Spools of cord are brought from storage into this creel room, from which they are woven into tire fabric. Each spool is connected by a complicated pulley arrangement to the bank of cords seen in the center of the picture and travels overhead to reach that bank. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

View of the creel room. Spools of cord are brought from storage into t...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Leaving this tire builder's hands, this finished carcass is rolled away to the vacuum expanding machines, or to storage until these machine operators are ready for it. Since the rubber throughout the carcass is not yet cured, the tire is still somewhat soft and squashy. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Leaving this tire builder's hands, this finished carcass is rolled awa...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

As the steel rollers revolve, the worker slashes out a section of a size easy to handle and rolls it into an armful. He holds his razor tightly against the drum until the proper amount has rolled up, then makes a quick, diagonal slash across the drum, cutting this piece away from the milling roll, and carries it away to a nearby truck. Usually there are about a half-dozen arm-sized rolls of prepared rubber in each completed batch. They are cut away in succession until all have been used up. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

As the steel rollers revolve, the worker slashes out a section of a si...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Feeding cord to the fabric machine. Cords feed down through the floor to the calendaring machine two stories below. As may be seen from this picture, the cords are gathered in four banks at this point, but join together in a solid mass by the time they reach the rubber-impregnating calendaring machine. Another set of four banks of cords also issue from the creel room carrying heavier weight cord stock for truck tire use. Firestone, Akron, Ohio

Feeding cord to the fabric machine. Cords feed down through the floor ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Giant tire manufacturing. Construction of modern airports and other military facilities which requires moving large quantities of earth necessitates equipment identified as earth movers. Earth movers use huge rubber tires like these, some of which cost as much as $2,500 each. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Giant tire manufacturing. Construction of modern airports and other mi...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Inspector in rubber factory checks large airplane tire prior to preparation for shipment. Stack of airplane tires for a famous American fighter are shown in background. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Inspector in rubber factory checks large ai...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Shaping the tire with "saucers." Spinning discs which are delicately controlled by movable arms smooth out each layer of fabric as it is added to the growing carcass, and curves around the sidewall and bead with considerable pressure. In the center foreground, one of these saucers may be seen as this tire builder maneuvers it around the sharp corner of the tire drum. In the right foreground two others pull across from the center to the edges to smooth out each layer. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Shaping the tire with "saucers." Spinning discs which are delicately c...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Creel room in action. Two spools are needed for each of the endless cords. As fast as a spool runs out, the auxiliary spool is immediately pulled into service. Each time one of the spools is replaced, the new spool is tied to the end of the spool which is unwinding so that there is never an interruption in any cord. Should a cord break, it is immediately replaced from an emergency spool until the break can be repaired. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Creel room in action. Two spools are needed for each of the endless co...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Seating the valve and seaming the tube. After each tube is snipped off at the proper length, it passes to this worker who places the open and over a sleeve, and forces the valve into position right in the center of reinforcing patch. This makes doubly sure that the tube is absolutely leak-proof. When this is done, the cube can be seamed shut--the operation which is taking place here. The two ends are butted together, the sticky rubber is bonded together under pressure, and passed on to the curing molds for vulcanizing. Firestone (General), Akron, Ohio

Seating the valve and seaming the tube. After each tube is snipped off...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. This shot taken through a huge bomber tire shows an attractive rubber company employee with small airplane tire used on some military aircraft. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. This shot taken through a huge bomber tire ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Headed for last cleanup. Six giant truck tires, of the non-directional type are being wheeled in for cleaning and painting. This pattern, developed for the U.S. Army in 1941 is used for field equipment....gives excellent traction in forward or reverse because of the horizontal cleats, yet rides well on the highway on the continuous center rib. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Headed for last cleanup. Six giant truck tires, of the non-directional...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Shaping the sidewall. Moistening the bead area with a special rubber solvent and cement, the tire builder makes ready to force the overhanging edges down and around to the bead where it will first be anchored, then trimmed. The wheel spins and stops by foot control, leaving both hands free for work upon the tire itself. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Shaping the sidewall. Moistening the bead area with a special rubber s...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

A black and white photo of a man working in a factory. Office of War Information Photograph

A black and white photo of a man working in a factory. Office of War I...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Through final inspection. Tires on an endless-crane overhead, swing through the final inspection department and spray paint booth where they are given a preservative coat of special tire paint. The tire-around-the-man is the new military tire--the non-directional. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Through final inspection. Tires on an endless-crane overhead, swing th...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Aircraft tire manufacture. Workman packages airplane tires of type in common use on U.S. military fighter aircraft. Goodyear, Akron, Ohio

Aircraft tire manufacture. Workman packages airplane tires of type in ...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Caption card lists some of the printing history of image. Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Informa... More

Marking point for the valve stem. These tires are so perfectly balanced that the weight of the valve stem is allowed and provided for. This woman attaches a label to the tire at the point where the valve stem should be placed. Balancing a tire was once considered unneccessary, until it was demonstrated that out-of-balance tires cause wheel shimmy, excessive wear and many other tire evils. Firestone (General) Tires, Akron, Ohio

Marking point for the valve stem. These tires are so perfectly balance...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Loading raw rubber. Bales of raw rubber, removed from wooden crates in which they have traveled from Singapore, are wheeled up to this endless chain loader, which will automatically feed it into the "guillotine," the first step in making tires at an Ohio tire plant

Loading raw rubber. Bales of raw rubber, removed from wooden crates in...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More

Removing the finished tire from the tire drum. The inner drum shoes are unlocked after the tire is loosened; They are removed, leaving the tire free to slide right off. Then they are replaced and the next tire is started. Firestone (General Tires), Akron, Ohio

Removing the finished tire from the tire drum. The inner drum shoes ar...

Actual size of negative is C (approximately 4 x 5 inches). Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944... More