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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SERIOUS VENEER SHORTAGE DUE TO WAR EMBARGO.
Scarcity of Ships and Excessive Freight Costs Send Prices Upward, and Appreciably Diminish
Stock of Available Veneer—Piano Manufacturers Facing Difficult Problem.
On top of the steadily increasing prices charged
for hardware, felts and other materials that go
inside the piano and the stains and varnishes that
go on the outside, the piano manufacturer is to-
day faced with another problem brought about by
a very probable famine in veneers growing out of
the embargo placed upon the importation of luxury
articles by the British Government.
Practically 90 per cent, of the best mahogany in
the world, that coming from Africa, is first brought
to Liverpool, auctioned and then reshipped to the
United States or any other country where the de-
mand exists. Cuban and South American mahogany
and other cabinet woods are sometimes brought
direct to the United States, but much of it finds
its way to the Liverpool market in British bot-
toms, and must be transshipped from there.
With the British embargo against veneers in
force—and there has been a similar embargo de-
clared by France—the veneer men in the United
States must depend upon logs that can be brought
direct from Africa on the one or two ships of
limited capacity operating between this country
and the Dark Continent, and upon limited sup-
plies from Cuba and South America for future
supplies. Meanwhile present demands are being
taken care of by drawing upon the reserve sup-
plies of African stock, which are rather limited.
A letter received last week by one of the big
New York mahogany veneer houses from a cor-
respondent in Liverpool, dated February 24, reads
in part as follows:
"With regard to mahogany, the prices are very
high, and the market has risen anywhere from 25
to 50 per cent., according to grade of wood, since
the writer was on your side in December. This
has been caused by the small arrivals and has
been stimulated by the Government having pro-
hibited the import of mahogany. This has been
done to try to secure better freight room for more
necessary goods."
In discussing the general situation a prominent
veneer man said to The Review:
"The demand for cabinet woods during 1914 and
1915 was small. Prices fell. Logging in Africa
and elsewhere was curtailed correspondingly. Then
with the war there was still less logging. A
sudden increase in demand in the United States,
and the trouble began. With practically no veneer
now arriving at Liverpool, and the reserve there
being depleted by what small shipments American
manufacturers can coax through, an embarrassing
situation all around seems inevitable so long as
the war continues. Several New York companies
have received small shipments recently, but they
have been long delayed. One firm recently char-
tered a ship at the rate of $425 a day, plus all
expenses for crew, coal, etc., etc.
"Two years ago mahogany veneer sold at twelve
to thirteen cents a foot. Now it is selling at
eighteen and twenty. Circassian walnut, supplied
from Turkey and Russia, .is practically out of the
market. In regard to oak, the situation locally is
similar to that of mahogany abroad; mills in the
South and Middle West were forced to curtail or
even shut down during the business depression of
the last two years; now with the sudden big de-
mand they are resuming, but rather slowly.
"A few of the big manufacturers, foreseeing the
present shortage, stocked 'up far ahead. One talk-
ing machine concern in particular bought from
ThcOWoVcnccrCo.
CINCINNATI, O.
Importers a n d Manufacturers of
Figured Mahogany, Circassian Wal-
nut and Foreign Woods for high-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
Nmw York OfRcm and Samplm Room
Grand Central Palace Building
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN, Eastern RepreteiUtiye
many veneer houses enough to last perhaps a year.
What will develop within a year is perhaps prob-
lematic, but with almost no American-owned ships
available and the war claiming all foreign bottoms,
veneer users can only do the best possible with
present supplies and pray for the end of the war
to come speedily."
Enlarging upon the existing . conditions and
their cause an editorial in Veneers says:
"The long period of depression has been fol-
lowed by one of unusual activity, which bids fair
to continue indefinitely; the furniture factories are
working overtime, building operations are above
normal and other veneer-consuming lines are fol-
lowing suit.
"During the hard times consumers who ordi-
narily carried large stocks of veneers in excess of
their immediate demands allowed these stocks to
become depleted and contented themselves with
placing small orders to cover their current needs.
Though a majority of the veneer mills continued to
produce, it was considerably less than the usual
quantities; much that they made went into their
warehouses instead of being shipped, and some
mills practically closed down.
"This had its natural effect on logging opera-
tions, which were not carried on to the usual ex-
tent; then weather conditions intervened that ren-
dered unavailable many of the logs that had been
cut. The assurance of brisk business came too
late for a normal supply of logs to be provided.
"On top of this is the situation brought about by
the European war, which has entirely cut off the
supplies of some of the popular foreign woods.
The advance of over 300 per cent, in ocean freight
rates has drawn all the available bottoms into the
transportation of foodstuffs and munitions and
made the rates prohibitive as far as carrying logs
is concerned. One well-known importer of ma-
hogany endeavored to provide for his supply of
mahogany logs from Central America by purchas-
ing two large freighters, but these were registered
under the English flag and were promptly requisi-
tioned by the British Government and are now
being used in the transportation of war materials."
Users of wool are very much interested in the
proposition, coming from England, to place an ex-
port tax on all wool from Great Britain and her
possessions. The principal reason given for the
project is that it would provide a great deal of
much-needed revenue after the war is over. Aside
from this, it was thought that the British woolen
industries would in this way obtnin their raw
material cheaper than would those of other nations.
This latter notion has governed the British some-
what in placing their embargoes on the shipments
of wool while the war has been in progress, since
by removing Americans as competitors at the Lon-
don wool auctions the English manufacturers have
been able to get raw materials at lower prices.
PATENTS GRAND PIANO ACTION.
GLUE SHOULD ALWAYS BE WEIGHED.
Justin O. Schwartz's Invention in This Field
Assigned to Hardman, Peck & Co.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, March 13.—Hardman, Peck
& Co., New York, are the owners, through as-
signment by Justin O. Schwarz, same place, of
patent No. 1,173,315, for a grand piano action.
This invention relates to piano actions espe-
cially adapted for player grand pianos.
The object of the invention is to provide im-
proved means for supporting the back check and its
lever from one of the rails, and for connecting
i with and actuating it by the support in such
r.'anner that said check and its lever may be
readily removed without disarranging the other
parts of the action.
One Reason
for our continued suc-
cess and steady growth
is the fact that we use
the best grade of Pig
Iron obtainable.
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C F GOEPEL&CO
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NEW
YORK
PROPOSE EXPORT TAX ON WOOL.
Great Britain May Seek Additional Revenue by
Levying Tax on Wool Shipped Abroad.
The only safe way to measure quantities of glue
and water for mixing is on a basis of weight, be-
cause the same bulk measure of glue will not al-
ways weigh the same, nor will the glue substance
always be uniform in a given cubic measure.
THAT'S ENOUGH.
"Ethel is taking violin lessons."
"She is? Why, the poor girl hasn't the slightest
ear for music."
"I know, but she has beautiful elbows."
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions
of any kind.
INVISIBLE
HINGES
Out Of Bight,
mmmr im mintP
protruding
ii th
emphas
Illustrated Catalor S
•ailed on request
Matawan Steel & Iron Co.
M ATA WAN, N. J.
Dftntt
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SOSS MANUFACTURING CO
435 413 ATLANTIC AVK BROOKLYN.N V