This paper discuses current methods for the assessment of theological and curing properties of rubber materials, i.e. raw gum and filled compounds, with respect to now established aspects of rubber science. By considering how a basic property like the (shear) modulus is likely to evolve along the operations, it is shown that rubber processing can be considered as a journey on a tridimensional map Modulus -Temperature Process stage. With this approach, the scopes of rheometry and vulcametry are clearly identified. The limits and difficulties in assessing the theological properties of rubber materials are seen when considering how the viscosity function varies with filler content. This leads to the important observation that rubber compounds cannot readily be tested in linear viscoelastic conditions. Basic principles of testing methods are then considered with respect to peculiar properties of rubber materials and a few recent novelties in commercial instrumentation are reviewed.