Hood Rubber Company

Hood Rubber Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Shoes/Rubber
Founded	1896
Founder	Frederic C. Hood, Arthur N. Hood
Defunct	1969
Headquarters	Watertown, Massachusetts , U.S.A.
Key people	George Henry Hood, Frederic C. Hood, Arthur N. Hood
Number of employees	8450

The Hood Rubber Company was a manufacturer specializing in rubber products and footwear, based in Watertown, Massachusetts. Established in 1896 by Frederic C. Hood and Arthur N. Hood, the firm emerged as a prominent entity within the rubber shoe sector. In 1929, it was acquired by the B. F. Goodrich Company, functioning as a fully owned subsidiary and continuing the production of both Hood and B. F. Goodrich branded shoes until the facility ceased operations in 1969.

Origins

George Henry Hood, an experienced figure in the American rubber business, founded the Boston Rubber Company in 1877 with a manufacturing site located in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He expanded into rubber footwear production in 1887 by purchasing assets from a shuttered factory in Franklin, Massachusetts. His sons, Frederic Clark Hood and Arthur Needham Hood, later joined the enterprise to enhance output under the Boston Rubber Co. name.

In 1892, Boston Rubber Co. combined forces with ten other manufacturers to create the United States Rubber Company, marking the first major rubber trust in the United States. That same year, George H. Hood retired as his sons established the Hood Rubber Company as a separate corporation.

During its formative years, Hood Rubber notably employed a significant number of Armenian immigrants in Massachusetts, contributing to workforce diversification within the region.

Establishment

The incorporation of Hood Rubber Company took place on October 12, 1892, with initial capital of $50,000. The founding members included Albert D. Bossom, Frederic C. Hood, Arthur N. Hood, Augustus L. Thorndike, and Myra T. Hood. By November 12, 1896, the company had inaugurated a manufacturing facility covering 67,564 square feet in Watertown, Massachusetts, staffed by approximately 225 employees.

Footwear Manufacturing

In 1897, Arthur N. Hood introduced a system for inventory and cost tracking that enabled monthly estimations of production expenses, thereby improving operational management. The subsequent year saw the launch of the "Tuff Boot," a lightweight rubber boot that achieved commercial success. In 1901, the firm debuted its “Rolled Edge” shoe series featuring soles with upturned edges designed to enhance resistance to wear.

The arrival of Dr. Carl Otto Weber in 1904 led to the creation of the India Rubber Research Laboratory in Boston, fostering advancements in product development. By 1909, Hood had diversified its offerings to include canvas shoes with rubber soles and tennis sneakers.

Throughout the early decades of the twentieth century, Hood produced multiple basketball shoe models such as Centre and Hyscore. Their distinctive "Smokrepe" crepe rubber sole incorporated a reinforced toe bumper and cushioned heel that provided a competitive edge in athletic footwear.

The introduction of the Hood Conference Basketball Shoe occurred in 1933; this was followed by the patented Hood Conference “P-F” Basketball Shoe in 1948 which featured Posture Foundation arch support—a significant innovation that expanded their market reach with tailored versions for both men and women over subsequent years.

Wartime production

Throughout World War I, Hood provided trench boots to the French and British military forces—durable rubber footwear designed to endure the severe conditions of trench warfare. During World War II, the company manufactured military boots along with a range of rubber products for the U.S. Armed Forces operating in both the Pacific and European campaigns.

In July 1929, Hood secured a patent for the first puncture-resistant rubber outsole intended for work shoes, strengthening its foothold in the industrial footwear sector.

Automobile tires and tubes

In 1906, Hood Rubber Company ventured into the production of automobile tires and tubes by founding the Shawmut Tire Company in 1907, which was overseen by Frederik C. Hood and A. N. Hood. Shawmut depended on Hood Rubber for its supply of materials and labor. Nevertheless, escalating raw rubber prices forced Shawmut to cease operations in 1912, while tire manufacturing persisted under the Hood Rubber brand.

Merger

On August 31, 1929, Hood Rubber Company was integrated into The B. F. Goodrich Company. Following this merger, B.F. Goodrich centralized its footwear production at Hood Rubber’s Watertown facility, optimizing its organizational framework and broadening its market presence.

Awards

Between 1941 and 1945, Hood Rubber Co. was honored with four Army-Navy "E" Awards, acknowledging outstanding achievement in wartime manufacturing—highlighting the company’s operational excellence and effective leadership during World War II.