Abstract A new electrostatic field strength meter has been described which measures and records, not only the magnitude of electrostatic fields, but also their polarity. This device has been used in a study of the mastication of rubber, and has furnished data which indicate that rubber becomes less negative, and may actually become positive, as mastication proceeds ; this indicates in turn an oxidation of the molecules as well as an electronic rearrangement and orientation of the rubber molecular chains. Data on GR-S polymerized at different temperatures show entirely different electrostatic breakdown curves, which, with other physical characteristics, indicate unusual properties of the crude low-temperature polymers; e.g., high molar weight, long-chain molecules, already or easily oriented, which do not oxidize or break up appreciably on mastication. A partial correlation of Mooney viscosity and electrostatic contact-potential and field strength has been shown for rubber and GR-S which have been masticated on a rubber mill. The new electrostatic-field strength meter shows promise as a new tool which can be used in processing control, and also as a research instrument for obtaining fundamental information on mastication, pigment dispersion and incorporation, as well as an aid in forming new concepts concerning the structure of matter.