Gutta Percha tyres (tires)
 

http://oldcmp.net/Images/tyres/gutta_percha/gp_logo.jpg

Came across a set of these on a Ford F30 ambulance at the Army Transport Museum at Bandiana recently.

I don't recall seeing this type of tyre here before. They're too old and hard to use on the road, but they look the part.

It led me to start to compile a page or two on the subject.

Keith:

Gutta Percha & Rubber, Limited is/was a very common name for tires (tyres) here in Canada.

Founded in 1883, it advertised itself as the largest all-Canadian rubber company. (No snide comments, please.);)

The company had 14 branches across Canada and a subsidiary in London, England as well as being represented by direct agencies in a number of countries in the world-particularly throughout the British Empire.

From the somewhat jingoistic quotations above, one can surmise that the publication from which I quote was produced during wartime.

Interesting subject! Pete, quick! Call Nigel Dawe! :)

Seems gutta percha is the "Malay name for what probably is the whole residue from the latex, dried after collection from whichever tree was its source" - read the whole story at bouncing-balls.com

H.

When I was a boy, our neighbour across the street was a rep for Gutta Percha, but I always thought it was used for rubber boots and root canals, not tires. Apparently cable insulation was the biggest and original use.

There's a 10.50-16 Gutta Percha tyre offered for sale on www.gaf92.nl, listed here for reference only.