Auburn Rubber Company
Encyclopedia
The Auburn Rubber Company was a rubber
products manufacturer best known for its line of children's toys (Leopard 2003). It was probably the largest producer of rubber and vinyl toys in the world, though Norway's Tomte Laerdal
, and Sweden's Galanite
were major European producers.
, in 1913 as the Double Fabric Tire Company, it made tires for the Auburn Automobile Company
. In the 1920s, the company changed its name to the Auburn Rubber Company, phased out its production of tires and introduced new products such as shoe-soling sheets. In 1935, it began making rubber toys, including toy cars, trucks, tractors and animals. Most vehicles were four to eight inches in length and cast in a variety of colors. During World War II
, the company made soles for combat boots and gaskets for so-called "jerry cans."
One sports car appeared to be a cross between a Cunningham and an Aston Martin. One convertible looked mainly like a Cadillac, but who could be sure? Another odd sedan had fins like a Pontiac, a front grille like a Kaiser Traveller and a general shape like a forward look Chrysler. Utility and service vehicles in the small size were also popular such as a fire engine, a telephone truck (it looked like a Dodge) with two ladders on top, and a flat bed truck. Police cars (molded in blue) and fire chief cars (molded in red) appeared to be variations on 1955 Chevrolets. What appeared to be a policeman on a Triumph single cylinder motorcycle also was popular, also a Harley three wheeler. One of the more clever vehicles was a boy on a tricycle molded in a waving position.
Models were simply constructed, typically only 7 parts: the body, four wheels, and two metal axles with flared tips to keep the wheels in place. The wheels were a slightly harder vinyl and were usually molded in either black or yellow. One popular coloring feature was the application of sprayed on silver coatings for the windows, grilles, bumpers, and other highlighted areas. Peoples' faces in bas relief style would often be molded into the windows of the cars - and often separate views were seen from the driver's side to the passenger side. Entire torsos were often molded into the open interiors of convertibles or roadsters. Similar to other plastic or vinyl vehicles of the era, the toys were often shipped and sold with many vehicles clumped together in a single box - so the buyer could walk away with the vehicle of his choice - individual cars and trucks were not sold in their own packages.
Cars and trucks were also molded in larger sizes, from about five inches up to about ten inches or so. An Indianapolis style open wheel racer, a variety of tractors and farm implements, a road grader and other construction vehicles, an articulated cab and stake bed truck, a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a less realistic Cadillac-style 'station wagon', what appeared to be a 1955 Plymouth station wagon airport limo car with a variety of different people molded into the windows and other more fantastic creations. Tanks and airplanes were made.
The toy company was sold in 1959 and moved its dies
to Deming, New Mexico
, in a transaction described by author Jonathan Kwitny
(1979) in his book, Vicious Circles: The Mafia in the Marketplace, as an example of the penetration of a legitimate business by organized crime
. The former plant in Auburn was eventually acquired by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
and is now used by Cooper Standard Automotive. Auburn Rubber in Deming went out of business in 1969, and its toy cars could be found in retail stores through the early 1970s.
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
products manufacturer best known for its line of children's toys (Leopard 2003). It was probably the largest producer of rubber and vinyl toys in the world, though Norway's Tomte Laerdal
Laerdal
Laerdal is a major manufacturer of medical equipment and medical training products based in Stavanger, Norway. Established in 1940 as a print shop, it soon began manufacturing popular rubber toys under the name Tomte Laerdal. Parallel to this was the manufacture of medical training models and...
, and Sweden's Galanite
Galanite
Svenska Galanite Industri, usually known simply as Galanite, was a Swedish vinyl and plastic company based in Löddeköpinge, which made mostly toys. Cars were the most popular, but trucks, farm vehicles and airplanes were also produced.-Toy Type:...
were major European producers.
History
Started in Auburn, IndianaAuburn, Indiana
Auburn is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,086 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1836 by Wesley Park , the city is the county seat of DeKalb County. Auburn is also known as Home of the Classics.-Geography:...
, in 1913 as the Double Fabric Tire Company, it made tires for the Auburn Automobile Company
Auburn Automobile
Auburn was a brand name of American automobiles produced from 1900 through 1936.-Corporate history:The Auburn Automobile Company grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1875 by Charles Eckhart...
. In the 1920s, the company changed its name to the Auburn Rubber Company, phased out its production of tires and introduced new products such as shoe-soling sheets. In 1935, it began making rubber toys, including toy cars, trucks, tractors and animals. Most vehicles were four to eight inches in length and cast in a variety of colors. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the company made soles for combat boots and gaskets for so-called "jerry cans."
Vehicles
Toys were made in many different styles, models and sizes. Proportion and detail were fairly good for vinyl toys. Probably the most famous were the four inch variety. Some of the model selections could be quite clever, for example, a 1955 Thunderbird, a Triumph TR-2, 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, a 1957 Ford Ranchero, and a neat Ford Model A variant Hot Rod.One sports car appeared to be a cross between a Cunningham and an Aston Martin. One convertible looked mainly like a Cadillac, but who could be sure? Another odd sedan had fins like a Pontiac, a front grille like a Kaiser Traveller and a general shape like a forward look Chrysler. Utility and service vehicles in the small size were also popular such as a fire engine, a telephone truck (it looked like a Dodge) with two ladders on top, and a flat bed truck. Police cars (molded in blue) and fire chief cars (molded in red) appeared to be variations on 1955 Chevrolets. What appeared to be a policeman on a Triumph single cylinder motorcycle also was popular, also a Harley three wheeler. One of the more clever vehicles was a boy on a tricycle molded in a waving position.
Models were simply constructed, typically only 7 parts: the body, four wheels, and two metal axles with flared tips to keep the wheels in place. The wheels were a slightly harder vinyl and were usually molded in either black or yellow. One popular coloring feature was the application of sprayed on silver coatings for the windows, grilles, bumpers, and other highlighted areas. Peoples' faces in bas relief style would often be molded into the windows of the cars - and often separate views were seen from the driver's side to the passenger side. Entire torsos were often molded into the open interiors of convertibles or roadsters. Similar to other plastic or vinyl vehicles of the era, the toys were often shipped and sold with many vehicles clumped together in a single box - so the buyer could walk away with the vehicle of his choice - individual cars and trucks were not sold in their own packages.
Cars and trucks were also molded in larger sizes, from about five inches up to about ten inches or so. An Indianapolis style open wheel racer, a variety of tractors and farm implements, a road grader and other construction vehicles, an articulated cab and stake bed truck, a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a less realistic Cadillac-style 'station wagon', what appeared to be a 1955 Plymouth station wagon airport limo car with a variety of different people molded into the windows and other more fantastic creations. Tanks and airplanes were made.
Other Toys
In a more traditional vein, an antique style wagon with horses was also offered. Toy soldiers, cowboys, trees, farm animals, farm buildings, and even farm implements were also molded in a variety of colors. A life-sized horseshoe game (as they were rubber, they didn't do as much damaged when you were clonked in the head) was labeled as Auburn "safe play" toys.Company Directions
The toy company was sold in 1959 and moved its dies
Die (manufacturing)
A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create...
to Deming, New Mexico
Deming, New Mexico
Deming is a city in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, located 60 miles west of Las Cruces. The population was 14,116 at the 2000 census. Deming is the county seat and principal town of Luna County.-History:...
, in a transaction described by author Jonathan Kwitny
Jonathan Kwitny
Jonathan Kwitny was a Jewish American writer and investigative journalist. He received the University of Missouri School of Journalism's honor medal for career achievement. His book jacket biographies record that his reporting forced J...
(1979) in his book, Vicious Circles: The Mafia in the Marketplace, as an example of the penetration of a legitimate business by organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. The former plant in Auburn was eventually acquired by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a United States based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacementautomobiles and truck tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires...
and is now used by Cooper Standard Automotive. Auburn Rubber in Deming went out of business in 1969, and its toy cars could be found in retail stores through the early 1970s.