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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
41
HOW INCREASING GLUE COSTS AFFECT THE PIANO TRADE
WAR'S EFFECT ON SUPPLY TRADE
The Scarcity of Labor and the Shortage of Raw Materials Has Forced Glue Prices Upward, and
No Immediate Prospect of a Declining Market Is in Sight—Dollar Glue Predicted
A fair indication of the rapidly increas'ng
cost of supplies in the piano manufacturing in-
dustry is given by the situation in the glue mar-
ket. Never before in the history of the in-
dustry has glue reached its present high prices.
The rapid increase in the cost of this com-
modity is in every way legitimate, and has been
brought about by conditions obtaining in the
glue industry itself. Labor, which ordinarily
could be secured at from $1.50 to $2 per day,
is costing from $3 to $4.50 per day in the glue
plants. The scarcity of raw material is an-
other important factor which has caused the
upward trend of prices. • Prior to the European
war glue manufacturers were able to import
large quantities of raw material at a very low
price and free of duty, but conditions have so
changed that only a negligible quantity of raw
material is being imported, and this raw mate-
rial has increased at least 150 per cent. There
is another reason for the scarcity of raw ma-
terial, in the fact that beef is being shipped to
Europe on the hoof, and the bones, hides and
hoofs of beef thus exported are not brought
back to this country, so that their value as a
source of raw material supply is lost.
While the glue industry does not use a large
number of chemicals, those chemicals which are
used in the making of glue have greatly in-
creased in price since the beginning of war, and
this, combined with the cost of shipping goods
at the present time, has also been a contribu-
ting factor in increasing the price.
There is no immediate prospect of any de-
crease in the present cost of glue. Glue manu-
facturers have sold their entire outputs for
some months to come, and many of the fac-
tories are closed during the summer months,
owing to the difficulty experienced in getting
the glue liquor to jell during warm weather.
Information from authentic sources seems to
indicate a further increase, rather than a de-
crease in glue prices; in fact, it is being freely
predicted that $1 per pound will be the pre-
vailing price before the end of this year.
While the above facts apply mainly to ani-
mal glue, vegetable glue has also kept pace with
the general increase in cost of all kinds of
supplies.
So far as vegetable glue is con-
cerned, labor costs have increased greatly, and
the chemicals and the raw materials used are
both hard to obtain at a low price, because the
best raw material is imported and ocean freight
rates have increased enormously.
Commenting on the glue situation, Wm. A.
Breckwoldt, secretary and treasurer of Julius
Kreckwoldt & Co., of Dolgeville, N. Y., manu-
facturers of sounding boards, back and bridges,
recently said to a representative of The Re-
view: "Glue may be considered a small and
unimportant item in the piano supply industry,
yet the increase in price of this commodity is
really more serious than would appear at first
glance. In the past, we haye always purchased
a very reliable grade of glue, on the standard of
Peter Cooper's X grade, at a price of from
\2 x /z cents to 16 cents per pound. When it is
taken into consideration that the average piano
back takes two and one-half pounds of glue, it
can readily be seen what the increased cost
means to piano supply manufacturers."
Many piano supply men have protected them-
selves to a certain extent by placing good sized
advance orders for glue, but glue manufacturers
have been forced to refuse extraordinarily large
orders extending over any considerable period
of time, so that every manufacturer of piano
supplies who uses glue is facing, and indeed has
already faced, a serious increase in the price
of this humble but important commodity.
SHUT DOWN ON ACCOUNT OF HEAT
The factory of Geo. W. Braunsdorf, Inc., was
among those that closed during the torrid spell
that held New York in its grasp last week. In
spite of the location of the factory at 422 East
Fifty-third street, one-half block from the river,
and the excellent working conditions in this
modern plant, Mr. Braunsdorf appreciated the
trying conditions in working under the intense
heat and closed down while it lasted.
MATERIALS,
TOOLS AND
SUPPLIES
Experience of Otto Higel Co., of Toronto,
Canada, May Be Studied With Profit by Piano
Supply Houses in the United States
TORONTO, ONT., August 6.—An excellent sum-
mary of the manner in which the war affected
the piano supply trade of Canada is offered by
the Otto Higel Co. An officer of this company
said recently to The Review:
"Immediately after war was declared the piano
trade in Canada experienced a very decided set-
back—orders were countermanded, pianos re-
possessed and collections became slow.
"The player-piano suffered more severely than
the ordinary piano because in many instances
people who had partly paid for players secured
exchanges by which they took pianos instead.
"When it became apparent that the war might
last for some time, then the people settled down,
and when it was found that a greater demand for
labor existed and when wages were increased,
the purchasing power was naturally increased
and business, not only in the piano trade but in
all other trades, became very brisk.
"Prices of raw materials, especially metals,
have increased in price enormously, and the
cost has continued to increase. It is a wise
precaution to lay in a good stock.
"Trade with us is nearly normal now, but
we find it exceedingly difficult to obtain sufficient
labor."
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INVISIBLE HINGES
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"OUT OF SIGHT
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EVER IN MIND "
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Hinge protruding
you know 'SOSS"
is the answer.
Soss Hinges
emphasize beautiful
wood finishes as
there is no project-
ing metal on either
side oi door.
PIANO MANUFACTURERS
HAMMACHER, SCHLEMMER & CO.
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
SOSS MANUFACTURING CO.
435 443 ATLANTIC AVE. BR00KLYN.N.Y
Richardson Piano Case Co.
Manufacturer* of
Upright—
Grand—
Player—
Cases
Established 1891
4th Avc. & 13th St.
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Made in
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numerous sizes.
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FOR
HINGES, BUTTS, CASTERS, PEDALS, FELTS,
CLOTHS, PUNCHINGS, SWINGS, HANGERS,
KNOBS, LOCKS, ETC., AND A FULL LINE OF
TOOLS USED IN TUNING, REGULATING AND
REPAIRING. CORRESPONDENCE INVITED.
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LEOMINSTER
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MASS.