ABSTRACT
The commodity chain of wild rubber is represented at one end by a process of extraction and coagulation/smoking, and at the other end by several stages of industrial transformation. London represents the terminus, though London was only by some measures the most important city of rubber in the UK. Most significantly it was the site of early technological innovations – many attributable to or associated with Thomas Hancock. As early as 1820 – with the imports of Hevea – Hancock had produced 'the pickle' for masticating coagulated/smoked rubber in combination with various solvents. Ebonite refers to overcooked, hardened Hevea used, to the industrial applications noted, for furniture manufacture. Ebonite was also known as Vulcanite. Goodyear had a sizeable display of furniture and housewares in The Great Exhibition assembled in a display titled the 'Vulcanite Court'. The commodity character of rubber reflects its incorporation into one or another production regime – from Belenense artisanal shoe production to London tyre manufacture.
