Dunlop Rubber (Australia) Limited

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In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic bicycle tyre, forming the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company in Dublin in 1889. In 1893, the Company opened a branch office and factory in Melbourne's Chinatown district. In 1899, a Canadian syndicate purchased the Australasian rights from the UK Company and floated the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company of Australasia Limited in Victoria on 30 August 1899. In 1905 the Company purchased its main rival Barnet Glass & Sons Proprietary Limited. In 1908, Barnet Glass created another public company, Barnet Glass Rubber Company Limited which also merged with Dunlop in 1929, being fully absorbed in 1937. On 16 August 1920 the company changed its name to the Dunlop Rubber Company of Australia Limited and became a listed public company on the Melbourne Stock Exchange, and since then has remained the parent company of the group. After merging with the Perdriau Rubber Company in 1929, the company adopted the name Dunlop Perdriau Limited, which changed to Dunlop Australia Limited in 1967. In 1980, the company acquired Olympic Consolidated Industries and a half-share in Olex Cables (which became a wholly-owned subsidiary in 1981). To reflect this merger, the name of the company was changed to Dunlop Olympic Limited.

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Open Access
Advertisement Dunlop tyres: you can always depend on
(The Bulletin, 14 April 1910, 2004-02-25T05:48:23Z) Darge, photographer
An advertisement for motor tyres that incorporates a photograph of two women in a Vinot et Denigard car on an unsealed road. Both women are dressed in coats and firmly secured hats, and the driver also wears gloves.The car is an open, unroofed model with padded leather upholstery and brass trim and light fittings. Its logo is an intertwined D and V in a vertical oval. The photograph was taken by famous Melbourne car photographer, Darge.The advertisement's main caption is: You Can Always Depend on Dunlop Tyres. For their Fine Quality ensures Long Wear - a Big Mileage - and a Minimum of trouble.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop tyres: Look at this "Railroad" cover!
(2004-02-25T05:49:06Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a photograph of a well used tyre attached to a vehicle wheel. According to the text: 'The owner informs us that it [the "Railroad" tyre] has run 3,500 miles on a heavy car, at Longreach, Queensland. The photo is unretouched and conveys better than words the remarkable qualities of "Railroad" Dunlop Tyres.' "Railroad" tyres had a tread that resembled the sleepers on a railway track. They were Dunlop's prime motor vehicle tyre. Even after the introduction of the new "Cord" tyre in around 1920, many Australians, especially those in the bush, preferred to buy the "Railroad".
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop bicycle tyres: Cyclists! Start off right
(The Bulletin, 8 December 1910, 2004-02-25T05:48:24Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a photograph of a young woman on a bicycle. She is in front of the steps to what is probably a suburban house. The bicycle has a V frame rather than a cross bar, dark mudguards and pale tyres. The woman is dressed in a long white skirt, a high necked blouse and wears a straw hat with a black band. The dark haired model in her white hat appeared in many Dunlop advertisements of this time, including ones for tennis balls. The house steps are framed by classical garden urns in front of lush foliage and two metal sculptures of storks.The advertisement's main caption includes: 'they have no equal for- Wear, Quality & Satisfaction.'
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop bicycle tyres: the spot that tells!
(The Bulletin, 16 February 1911, 2004-02-25T05:48:26Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a painting of a hand in a fist with the thumb down superimposed on a photograph of Francis Birtle's bicycle. According to the caption, the bicycle is loaded up with 150lbs. of luggage for his trip around Australia. It leans against a rabbit-proof fence, with the front wheel in the Northern Territory and the back wheel in Queensland. The Dunlop Tyre label is visible on the rear tyre. Birtle's baggage, which is held onto the bike by a number of buckled straps includes a swag, a metal dish and a leather satchel. Birtles rode around Australia in 1910-11 on a two speed "Universal" bicycle. The advertisement's main caption includes: ' When a Cover is branded - Dunlop Tyre. You Know - Every Cyclist Knows - that it is the best that money can make or buy - and that it has no equal for - Wear, Quality, & Reliability.'
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop bicycle tyres: The world-famed Warrnambool and the Colac 100 races
(2004-02-25T05:49:32Z)
An advertisement that incorporates two portrait photographs and five snapshots of bicycle race incidents. The portraits are of: Hubert Opperman (Victoria), Australasian road champion, 1926 and T.H. Marshall (Queensland), Australasian amateur road champion, 1926.The captions for the race photographs are clockwise from top: 'Finish of Australia's Greatest Cycling Event - the Warrnambool; Heavy Road in Stony Rises; Water Splash near Colac; Feed Station near Colac; Fall - in mud patch - Stony Rises.'The 165 mile Warrnambool to Melbourne run was for cash riders and the 100 mile Colac to Melbourne race was for amateurs. The Warrnambool and the Colac races were held on the same day each year. In 1926 that date was 9 October just after 48 hours of heavy rain which made conditions on the roads very difficult. Since 1897 Dunlop Rubber had helped sponsor bicycle races by setting up food stations along the routes. In the 1950s Sir Hubert Opperman became a federal member of parliament.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: Central Australia conquered by an "A.E.C." truck!
(2004-02-25T05:49:16Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a painting of Messrs. Dunkley and party driving a truck up a steep, rough track. The vehicle's progress is watched by three men including an Aboriginal man with a spear. In the distance can be seen a camel driver and his camels. The truck which set off on its trip in July 1925 has signs on it announcing that this is the: '1st Commercial Motor Test Thro. Central Australia.' Although the laden machine shod with Dunlop pneumatic cord tyres weighed 6 1/2 tons, it successfully completed the pioneer truck drive across 2000 miles of difficult terrain. A.E.C. trucks were so named because they were supplied by the Associated Equipment Company in Britain that had been set up to re-use the large numbers of Four Wheel Drive vehicles left in Europe after World War I. The main caption includes: 'A remarkable achievement. 6 1/2 Tons Cross Australia from Adelaide to Darwin, on Dunlop Cord Tyres.'
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: Interesting snapshots
(2004-02-25T05:49:21Z)
An advertisement that features fifteen landscape photographs from a motor journey in Western and South Australia incorporated into the letter "D". The main caption includes: 'Interesting snapshots on this and opposite page were taken by Messrs. Burton and Bradley in their preliminary trip across Australia in their Dunlop shod "Vauxhall" prior to their record drive from west to east.' The record-breaking journey took from December 8 to 14 in 1923. The team was hoping for a five day record, but a crash at night in a deep hole near Meningie required repairs that caused a 12 hour delay. Burton was involved in a number of record breaking drives.The descriptions of the snapshots are: '1. Typical of country near Mt. Ives Station (S.A.), 1413 miles from Perth; 2. Climbing out of dry creek bed; 3. Crossing the "Coorong" desert (S.A.); 4. Breakfast in sand desert; 5. Rough limestone track; 6. Border post marking boundary between W.A. and S.A. (907 miles fromPerth); 7. Pass up cliff from Eyres to Nullabor Plains; 8. Pinetree sandhill in desert; 9. Inspector of vermin proof fence; 10. Horrock's Pass, east of Port Augusta; 11. Spinifex and limestone country west of Balladonia station (W.A.); 12. Nullarbor Plains (extreme west of S.A.); 13. Typical ironstone plain country - skeletons of camels along track; 14. Camped for night in desert; 15. Same as No.7.' This image is half of a double spread advertisement. The other half is 031-06-06-ng3547 and includes portrait photographs of the drivers and twelve more snapshots.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: price list
(The Sun, 26 June 1926, 2004-02-25T05:49:08Z)
An advertisement that superimposes a detailled table of price lists over a painting of a "cord" tyre. The "cord" featured a structural innovation to the cotton fabric used for the carcass of the tyre and was introduced around 1920.The main caption is: 'Motorists can now purchase the best tyres on Australian roads at a figure that represents the utmost economy in tyre upkeep.'
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: Remarkable motor record across Australia
(2004-02-25T05:49:18Z)
An advertisement that incorporates twelve landscape photographs from the preliminary trip to a 2889 mile drive across Australia as well as portraits of the driving team. The main caption includes: 'Words cannot adequately describe what men, car and tyres had to contend with in the great West to East drive across the continent from Fremantle to Sydney by Messrs. J. Burton and W. Bradley aboard a 30 h.p. Vauxhall car shod with Dunlop Cord Tyres.' The journey took from December 8 to 14 in 1923. The team was hoping for a five day record, but a crash at night in a deep hole near Meningie required repairs that caused a 12 hour delay. Burton was involved in a number of record breaking drives. This image is half of a double spread advertisement. The other half is 031-06-06-ng3548 and includes a list of descriptions of the snapshots on this page. They are: 16. Saltbush country west of Port Augusta (S.A.); 17. Ironstone track near Mt. Ives (Mount Ive) station; 18. Up rocky pass near Nundrabulla station (W.A.), 838 miles from Perth; 19. Spinifex country near Mt. Nonning (S.A.); 20. Camels drinking at rock hole between Balladonia and Eucla; 21. More ironstone country; 22. Ironstone track near Mt. Ives; 23. Car track through heavy sand in desert; 24. Same as No. 18; 25. Some team!; 26. Camel team scooping out a dam; 27. Typical desert country.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: The shade of the ferns!
(2004-02-25T05:49:14Z) R. B. or B. R.
An advertisement that incorporates a painting of a motorist and a couple at a waterfall. The text panel suggests that the scene is a fern gully in the hills, possibly the Dandenongs, which was a popular summer retreat for Melbourne residents. On the text panel, a season's greetings box decorated with Xmas bells suggests that this image was used for the 1925 Xmas period. The car has no identifying insignia, but the shape of its front is similar to that of the Australian made Lincoln. The tread pattern of the car's Dunlop "cord" tyres is sharply rendered. The main caption includes: ' When it's near 100 in the shade in the city how one longs for the fresh cool air of the hills, the welcome shade of the fern gullies.'
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop cord tyres: What the Overlanders say about "Dunlops"
(2004-02-25T05:49:24Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a testimonial letter, a photograph of the overland driving team and a painting of the Dunlop Rubber Mills flanked by the Australian flag ringed by a tyre and a relay torch. The caption includes: 'On the completion of our long journey to Darwin and back in the Bean Car we beg to testify to the wonderful services provided by Dunlop Cord Tyres.' The letter is headed 'Sydney, September 1st, 1924' and is signed by (indecipherable initials, possibly 'G' and 'L') Simpson; M. H. Ellis/ Leader and Francis Birtles. Birtles was famous for his travels, and Malcolm Ellis was a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald who subsequently published a book on the journey.The letter lists the places visited on the 6314 mile return trip from Sydney to Darwin and describes the difficulties of the terrain crossed. The car was a 4 cylinder 14 h.p. standard Bean car and the journey was undertaken on behalf of its English manufacturers, Messrs. Harper Son & Bean who wanted to get acquainted with Australian conditions. The journey started June 4 1924 and lasted 28 days.The motorists wear helmets and goggles and are accompanied by a blue heeler dog. Various boxes are stored in the back of the car as well as strapped onto the side along with three spare tyres.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop motorcycle tyres: 679 miles in one day
(The Bulletin, 13 March 1913, 2004-02-25T05:48:29Z) I.H.C.
An advertisement that incorporates a drawing of a motorcyclist depicted as if he is riding out of the promotion and towards the viewer. He wears goggles and his clothing appears to be of thick material that is very securely fastened over his chest. The advertisement's main caption includes: 'This record performance has just been registered on Victorian roads by P.J. O'Brien, who added over 50 miles to the previous best figures'. In one day in early March 1913, the Melbourne motorcyclist O'Brien rode his 3 1/2 h.p. "Rover" 679 miles on a round trip to Camperdown via Mortlake and Lismore.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop Rubber Company: Buy Peace Loan Bonds
(2004-02-25T05:48:56Z)
An advertisement comprising a large drawing of a tyre in a text box superimposed on a scene of three men driving on a country road. The tyre is the Railroad type because the tread pattern is like that of sleepers on a railway track. The main caption refers to the loan bonds that were introduced in 1915 to raise finance for the war effort, but which from July 1919 were sold as Peace Loans in order to fund repatriation schemes for returned soldiers.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop Rubber Company: Heartiest greetings from all Dunlop users
(2004-02-25T05:49:02Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a retouched photograph of a building illuminated to welcome H.R.H., the Prince of Wales. The occasion is the Prince's visit to Australia in 1920. He arrived 26 May in Melbourne aboard the Renown at the start of a three-month tour. An artist has painted onto the photograph such details as the Union Jack flag, the sky and the lettering that proclaims: 'The Dunlop Rubber Company of Australasia'. The central image is of three plumes, a crown and the motto: 'Ich Dien' (German for 'I serve'), pricked out in the dark by rows of light bulbs. This gesture of welcome was used on a number of buildings in the major cities during the Prince's visit. A text panel pasted onto the print states: 'A Beautiful Illuminated Welcome to the Prince displayed by the Dunlop Rubber Co., Melbourne'. The text also describes the colour scheme used.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop Rubber Company: quality and service
(The Bulletin, 11 February 1915, 2004-02-25T05:48:37Z) J.H.C.
An advertisement that incorporates pen drawings and wash paintings. At the top of the image, a fist clutches ribbons connected to medallions depicting a large range of Dunlop products. The fist is drawn as if it has punched its way out of the Dunlop Rubber Mills. The factory was established in 1902 in Melbourne on land across from the Yarra River and close to the Montague railway station. A caption claims that it is the: 'Largest [mill] in Southern Hemisphere - Area 5 3/4 acres'.The advertisement also depicts a standing man and seated woman who study a huge parchment that lists the company's products and outlet addresses. The main caption includes: 'The Name Dunlop stands pre-eminent in this Country for the Highest Quality of Rubber Goods'.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop Rubber Company: The new Dunlop tennis ball is just perfect!
(Table Talk, 13 December 1928, 2004-02-25T05:49:38Z)
An advertisement that features wash and line paintings of a woman tennis player and an over-sized container of tennis balls. The woman and a ball are depicted as if they are moving beyond the border of the advertisement. The woman's hair is held back from her face by a striped hairband and she wears a loose, short, sleeveless dress and sand-shoes. Her arm movements suggest that she is about to deliver a serve. The balls issue from an octagonal container with laurel wreath imagery included in its packaging graphics. Stitch lines and 'Dunlop 1929' are visible on the balls. Dunlop began making vulcanised rubber tennis balls in 1909 from a formula introduced by factory superintendant, John Kearns.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop truck tyres: Supreme for slow wear
(2004-02-25T05:49:28Z)
An advertisement that incorporates drawings of truck tyres, one solid and one a pneumatic cord, as well as a cross-section segment of the solid tyre. The caption includes: 'fit Dunlop - it pays!'. According to an item in Dunlop's Motoring and Cycling Notes of June 1926, the experience of the Swiss Postal Service had demonstrated that despite higher costs in installing pneumatic tyres on medium size trucks, savings were made on increased petrol mileage, fewer repairs and higher speed and yearly mileage per truck.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop tyres: 20.000 miles world's tour on B.S.A. machines
(2004-02-25T05:49:34Z)
An advertisement that incorporates a photograph of the motor cyclists on their machines flanked by their portraits, and a map of their world tour.The caption includes: 'Two English motor cyclists - Messrs. B.H. Cathrick and J.P. Castley - who have undertaken to Girdle the Earth - on B.S.A. 9.86 h.p. Dunlop-shod side-car outfits - have arrived in Australia after having completed the greater portion of their itinerary.' The motor cyclists left England early in September 1926 and arrived in Fremantle on May 19 1927. Cathrick made the journey on behalf of his employer, B.S.A. Motor Cycle Manufacturing Company while Castley was gathering material for the Motor Cycling Weekly. The two men wear trousers, jackets, ties and hats and a pair of goggles hang around Cathrick's neck. 'Sinai Desert' is written on his side-car and Castley's machine flies a Union Jack. B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms Company) was originally a munitions manufacturer before it started making cars in 1907 and motor cycles in 1910.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop tyres: Canberra!
(2004-02-25T05:49:26Z) B.R. or R.B.
The main caption is: 'Australia's Day & Australia's Tyre.' An advertisement that incorporates a drawing of a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. The scene is viewed from above and is framed by an Australian flag wrapped around a Dunlop tyre. Large crowds and soldiers are in attendance as the Duke of York arrives in a horse drawn carriage to officially open the building on 9 May 1927. The front entrance is crowned by an arrangement of flags and drapes and the area has been made festive with more flags and strings of pennants. Dame Nellie Melba sang the national anthem. The text argues that Dunlop has contributed to Australia's coming-of-age by providing the wherewithal for motor vehicles to open up the country.
Open Access
Advertisement for Dunlop tyres: Captain Malcolm Campbell's world-famed "Blue Bird"
(The Bulletin, 21 March 1928, 2004-02-25T05:49:36Z)
An advertisement that incorporates three photographs of a racing car and a portrait of the driver.The main caption includes: ' Mr. Bert Hinkler, Australia's famous airman, kindly brought to us, from London, these photographs of Capt. Malcolm Campbell's wonder car, "Blue Bird." 'The text is an account of Campbell's new speed record achieved at Daytona Beach, Florida, USA in March 1928. Another caption describes the car's "fishlike" tail and there is also a panel that lists the machine's details. This particular vehicle was the "Blue Bird II", an improved version of the machine with which Campbell had achieved a speed of 183 1/2 m.p.h. in 1926. The "Blue Bird" cars were specially built to break speed records.

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Browsing Dunlop Rubber (Australia) Limited by Subject "Advertisements"