HISTORY OF THE RUBBER BAND
In 1820, Thomas Hancock in London invented a machine called the "Masticator" that allowed rubber to be softened, mixed, and shaped.

In 1823, he made the first primitive rubber bands.

In 1839 Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanization, heating the rubber to cause a chemical change and providing elasticity.

On March 17, 1845 Stephen Perry, a British inventor and businessman, patented the rubber band.

An average rubber tree yields 19 pounds of rubber latex annually. It requires 700,000 rubber trees to supply Alliance each year with natural rubber.

Trees are six years old before tapping begins and may be tapped for up to 28 years.

If we laid our annual rubber band production end-to-end, the bands would encircle the globe fifty times... or cover the distance between the earth and moon 5 1/2 times. We service customers in 25 countries.

RUBBER BANDS - The earth-friendly solution
Did you know that the American industrial system wastes more than 95% of all the materials that are extracted? Rubber bands are the REUSABLE packaging solution......and rubber is organic and more biodegradable than plastic, stretch film, polys, strapping, etc. Bands are the earth-friendly solution!

Andy Rooney named Rubber Bands as "one of the ten greatest inventions of the century."

Look for the Bandyball® on Mel Gibson's desk in the movie "What Women Want."

Look for the Band Pic Pac on Tommy Lee Jones' desk in the movie "The Fugitive."

Look for the airman's trusted rubber band in the movie "Memphis Belle."

Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, secured his gear with Alliance bands.