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THE
DECEMBER 28, 1918
STEEL TRADE MOVING CAUTIOUSLY
Sales of Steel Have Been Neither Large Nor
Numerous During the Past Few Weeks
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
tion of the patriotic spirit in which the copper
producers had accepted maximum prices sug-
gested by the Price-Fixing Committee and the
industry's unceasing efforts to produce the ab-
normally large quantity of copper required to
supply the war needs of ourselves and those as-
sociated with us in the war.
"The industry through its spokesman testified
to the courtesy and consideration it has always
received at the hands of the Price-Fixing Com-
mittee, and to the fact that the fixing of maxi-
mum prices by the Government had developed,
at the numerous meetings., a vast amount of in-
formation which had been most helpful in stabil-
izing and standardizing the industry."
As yet the reduction in the price of steel,
which was announced a few days ago, has had
only a moderate effect on the trade. Some sales
have been made at the new levels, but they have
been neither large nor numerous. The indus-
try, it is held, is now in process of adjusting it-
self to the new condition.
After having been denied the experience for
more than a year, something like open-market
conditions have returned to the iron and steel
industry during the last week. As yet it has
been no more than a very modest beginning. DISTILLED WATER FOR GLUE=MIXING
Some sales have been made at the reduced
prices, but these have been neither large nor Purity of the Water Used Is An Important
numerous. Both buyers and sellers apparently
Factor In Producing Good Glue
believe it is a time to move with the tide. The
whole industry is engrossed in digesting com-
Many piano manufacturers have trouble with
pletely the changed situation and is endeavoring their glue mixtures, and usually lay the blame on
to formulate policies to meet a number of im- the glue itself. Often, however, the fault lies
portant questions which quickly have been in the kind of water used, rather than in the
brought to the front. In the wake of the new glue. Impurities in the water with which the
price announcement has come a flow of requests glue is mixed will almost always give a poor
for cancelation and suspension of orders placed mixture, and even the best grade of glue will
at higher prices. An important question up not show up to best advantage if care is not
for study relates to the status of first-quarter taken in seeing that pure water only is used in
contracts, especially for material covering war mixing it.
or essential work, much of which now is" can- The advocating of the general use of distilled
celed. Had the Government given official water in mixing glue may seem extreme to some
status to the reduction recommended by the piano manufacturers; however, as the price of
producers and desired by the latter, this tonnage glue continues to climb, researches are being
manifestly would have been entitled to revision. made by glue experts for obtaining the greatest
The reduced prices have thus far brought no possible value out of each pound of glue used,
large amount of new business. Now that the and it may be safe to predict that possibly in a
market is open the possibility of further reduc- year or so hence no one will think of mixing
tions is distinctly a factor. The British read- glue without the use of distilled water. Dis-
justment in iron and steel, it is said, has been tilled water is in its best shape for the mixing
somewhat complicated by uneasy labor condi- of glue when it is used immediately after it has
tions, and the termination of Government sub- cooled, as after standing some hours it becomes
sidies.
stale.
Some manufacturers, thinking that they have
an easy way of obtaining distilled water for mix-
COPPER REGULATION TO END
ing glue, may take to the utilizing of condensed
War Industries Board Will Relinquish Control steam from their boilers or engines for this
of Metal January 1
purpose. This is not advisable, because the ex-
istence of oils, grease and other impurities in
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 23.—The War this substance is so general that hardly an ex-
Industries Board announced last week that price ception in this regard can be found. The only
regulation of the copper industry by the Gov- sure way of obtaining pure distilled water is to
ernment would end on January 1, when the prepare it especially for this purpose, which can
board will go out of existence. The price has be done with no more trouble than using the
been fixed by agreement at 26 cents. The board condensation.
expresses the opinion that the great demand for
Scientific research along this line would save
copper, including that needed for reconstruc- thousands of dollars on the annual glue bills,
tion work abroad, will create a demand equal at and the sooner the users of glue come to the
least to normal times.
proper realization of the importance of pure
After a meeting of the Price-Fixing Commit- water in the glue, the sooner they will surmount
tee with the copper industry a statement was their apparently high cost of gluing.
issued which read in part:
The user of glue is entitled to every cent's
"The chairman called attention.to the fact that worth of money he expends for this purpose,
among the vital war needs of the Government but if he persistently insists on spoiling his glue
copper ranked second only to steel, and wished knowing he has nobody to blame for poor re-
to place on record the Government's apprecia- sults but himself.
.WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
PIANO
ACTIONS
HIGHEST GRADE
ONE GRADE ONLY
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES—WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Avenue and West Forty-Sixth Street
NEW YORK
47
EED OUR
ADVICE!
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. GQEPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NEW YORK
GREETINGS FROM_A. L. WESSELL
Arthur L. Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel &
Gross, New York, has sent to his friends an at-
tractive card bearing holiday greetings in keep-
ing with the spirit of the times. The card bears
a miniature American flag in the proper colors,
and the edge of the card is also decorated in red,
white and blue. The greeting in its entirety is
in every way emblematic of these victory days.
Robert L. Kapp Co., Inc.
Makers of
HIGH GRADE
GRAND
UPRIGHT
PLAYER
HAMMERS
Ask for our " Super Strong " Hammer, the
•Ides of which are made double strength
by a special process
767 East 133d Street
NEW YORK
You will find it profitable as well as
satisfactory to use Behlen's Varnish
Crack Eradicator.
Its use eliminates the necessity of scrap-
ing off the old varnish and shellac, sav-
ing much time and trouble and inci-
dentally expense, at the same time giv-
ing you the very best kind of a surface
for the new finish.
Send for a sample can today and try it.
H Behlen & Bra.
Anilines • ^ ' ^ .Stains
Shellacs 'N,^*^ Fillers
371
PEARL ST., NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
Manufacturers of \ PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
Manufacturers •« j HIGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
r A C T i r T A M rVTi?¥»7 V A D I /
CASTLETON, N E W Y O R K