The production of the first Goodyear tyre was a historical moment in Jamaica. It was celebrated by the minister of trade and industry and members of the team. William Cherrington, managing director of Goodyear, said that tyre had met international standards and they were ready for production.

Published Tuesday, February 14, 1967

Goodyear turns out first Jamaican tyre

Gleaner Industrial Reporter

At midday yesterday, the first commercial tyre to be made in Jamaica came out of a machine at the factory of Goodyear Jamaica Ltd.

Black, gleaming – and hot! – it looked every inch the perfect tyre. It bore the name Goodyear with the company’s symbol of the winged foot.

More significantly, it bore the important words: 'Made in Jamaica'.

To the Hon Robert Lightbourne, minister of trade and industry, fell the honour of taking the tyre from the machine. Putting on asbestos gloves which are used in the factory, he held the hot rubber article.

“This is a great moment for Jamaica – and for me,” he said.

A small gathering of company officials and others, including workers in the plant, witnessed the historic event. A thrill of excitement ran through the group as the machine opened and the tyre was revealed.

Passenger tyre

Lightbourne had been invited by the managing director of Goodyear Jamaica Ltd, William Cherrington, to witness the production of this first commercial tyre to be made in Jamaica.

At a news conference, Cherrington announced that the tyre represented the start of regular production at the factory at Morant Bay. It was a passenger tyre, size 5.90 ×14, one of the most popular sizes in Jamaica.

Cherrington also announced that this first tyre made in Jamaica would be on display at the Goodyear Jamaica booth at the Industrial Exhibition, sponsored by the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, which opens at the National Arena on Thursday.

“Production is underway at Goodyear Jamaica Limited,” he said proudly.

Also speaking at the news conference, Lightbourne referred to the negotiations which had taken place to bring the factory into being. He said he was glad that “everything has come out so happily".

“Good luck to Goodyear,” he declared. “May it help not only to improve our country but, specifically, Morant Bay and the surrounding area!”

Another speaker at the news conference was the Hon Alton Phillips, custos of St Thomas. He said everyone in Jamaica was grateful to Goodyear for having come into the country with “this large investment”. But the people of St Thomas were more grateful to Lightbourne for having placed the factory in the parish, where it would provide employment for some 300 workers.

“May every year be a good year for Goodyear, Mr Phillips said.

Oakley Bell, production director of Goodyear Jamaica Ltd, spoke on behalf of the staff, saying how anxiously they had looked forward to that day – the start of production in the factory.

Judgement

Bell passed judgement on the tyre after it came out of the machine – which is known technically as a curing press. The press takes the embryo tyre and subjects it to pressure for some 15 minutes, at the end of which it comes out the finished product.

“A first-class tyre,” was Bell’s verdict as he examined the tyre in Mr Lightbourne’s hands.

Earlier, the minister had pressed a switch to start the curing press. The embryo tyre – an odd-looking rubber cylinder shaped somewhat like a barrel – was placed in the press by Howard Catlett, the curing press operator, a Goodyear man of 30 years' service.

After leaving the press, the tyre is left to cool – it comes out at 323 degrees Fahrenheit! – and then is trimmed and inspected.

Cherrington disclosed at the news conference that, on February 1, the first check tyre was built and cured in the factory. That tyre, he said, had been completely checked in the test laboratory at the factory by Bert Hedberg, the technical superintendent, and his associates.

Their report: “The first check tyre met all our international standards for quality and workmanship.”

Other check tyres were built and also tested – with the same favourable result.

And yesterday, observed Cherrington, “the first tyre is being produced with 14 months of the ground-breaking – which took place at the start of 1966.

Also present to witness the production of the first commercial tyre of the plant were Donald Miller, financial director of Goodyear Jamaica Ltd,  J.C. Breakspeare, Snr, a director of the company; and J.C. Breakspeare Jnr, an executive of Bryden and Evelyn Ltd, distributors for Goodyear in Jamaica.

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