Wonder Book of Rubber #PRD3-173

In 1870, B. F. Goodrich established the first rubber plant west of the Atlantic seaboard in Akron, transforming the town into the world’s leading center for rubber manufacturing. This brief but pivotal moment in industrial history laid the foundation for a booming industry that would shape transportation and technology for decades to come.

Sir Henry Wickham’s remarkable journey begins with his pivotal role in transporting rubber tree seeds from the Amazon to Kew Gardens, setting in motion a global transformation. The story follows how these seeds were nurtured, then sent to Ceylon and beyond, laying the foundation for vast rubber plantations across southeast Asia.

In the lead-up to World War II, scientists Michael Faraday, Dr. Waldo L. Semon, and John L. Collyer explore the chemistry behind rubber, unlocking the secrets of its composition and paving the way for synthetic alternatives. Their work on the right "compound" becomes a crucial step in securing American independence from imported rubber.