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While rebuilding Barber, Rieber kept his eye on American Republics, founded by the late J. S. Cullinan, one of Rieber's old Texaco bosses. In 1946, after the stock market slump had knocked American Republics shares down to $11.50, Rieber began spending some of Barber's idle cash picking them up. By 1952 he had acquired 33⅓% of the stock for an average price of $25. By so doing, he made American Republics a bigger tail than the Barber dog. Last year the company grossed $22.2 million, netted a thumping $5,200,000 after taxes. Last week's deal will still leave Barber holding 25% of American Republics—and Rieber still firmly in control.