1496

Christopher Columbus brought back samples of rubber to Queen Isabella.

1740

French scientist La Condamine, while visiting Ecuador, gave rubber its French name "caoutchouc" derived from the Inca word meaning "weeping tree".

1770

Joseph Priestly noted that this substance could "rub" out lead pencil marks, thus becoming rubber.

1820

Thomas Hancock invents a mastication machine which allowed rubber to be softened and mixed and thereby shaped and set into various products.

1823

Charles MacIntosh developed a process of coating cloth with a solution of rubber and benzene, producing waterproof garments.

1839

Charles Goodyear discovered, quite by accident, the process of vulcanization.

1845

First patent for pneumatic rubber tires by Scotsman R.W. Thompson.

1876

Henry Wickham made the first attempt to cultivate rubber seedlings outside of South America.

1888

J.B. Dunlop re-invented pneumatic rubber bicycle tires.

1910

First commercial production of synthetic rubber.

WW1

Demise of trade in "wild rubber" from South America partly due to the rubber leaf blight "Dothidella ulei" but plantations in South East Asia (Malaysia and Singapore) flourished.

1920

The Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) was formed.

1920s

Major fluctuations in natural rubber prices spurred on more research in synthetic rubber - by 1929, SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber, the most popular synthetic rubber) was developed in Germany

1930s

Canadian rubber industry was characterized by low cost imports from US and Hong Kong, high local labour costs and inability to compete in the export market.  RAC successfully lobbied for reduced excise tax on imported crude rubber.  RAC successfully lobbied to maintain high tariffs on imported finished goods to encourage domestic manufacturing.

1940s

By 1941 Japan controlled South East Asia and effectively cut off supply of natural rubber.  Synthetic rubber production promoted in North America but shortages or rubber meant rations and price controls for the war effort.  Quote from C.D. Howe; when referring to the rubber industry's war effort, "One of the outstanding contributions by any industry to Canada's war effort."

1950s

The rubber industry in Canada mirrored many others; high growth and new investment spurred on by consumer demand for cars, houses and other goods. The Korean War led to the North American Defense Production Sharing Agreement, an initiative which helped to encourage a re-emergence of Canadian manufacturing, including rubber, from the shrinkage which accompanied the shift from war footing adjustment to the peace time adjustment of the late 1940s. The emergence of Bombardier's "Skidoo" led directly to the creation of a rubber products industry in Quebec's Eastern Township.

1960s

The signing of the Canada/USA Automotive Products Trade Agreement (otherwise known as the Autopact) in the mid 1960s led to a huge expansion of Canadian automotive parts manufacturing and vehicle assembly capacity. The safeguards built into the Autopact led to a parallel expansion of the rubber manufacturing industry in order to meet the increased demand for tires, tubes and rubber automotive components by the automotive assemblers.

1970s

Canadian plants began feeling the pinch; facilities were too small by world standards; too many short production runs; labour costs increased; difficult to compete with larger, more efficient facilities in the US.  Oil Cartel effects: higher prices for petrochemical products such as tires; fuel efficient vehicle standards introduced requiring better rolling resistance from tires.  Radial tire production started by all major tire makers.

1980s

Major recession in early '80s resulted in the closure of a number of facilities.  By mid-80s a number of mergers took place and Free Trade talks began.  The RAC began talks with federal government to assist with modernization of domestic industry - result was the Tire Duty Remission Program which saw over $1-billion to upgrade their facilities in return for tariff relief; savings to the rubber industry amount ed to over $250-million.

1989

Free Trade Agreement implemented and RAC negotiated a ten-year phase-in to protect domestic manufacturers.

1990s

Early 90s saw another major recession hit the rubber industry hard with more shake-outs and downsizing. By mid-90s, the industry bounced back with record output, though with much lower employment This increased efficiency led to new capital investment, further strengthening a smaller, though now world-class, domestic industry.

2000s

TBD