Music Trade Review

DECEMBER
THE MUSIC 1'itAbE REVIEW
15, 1923
41
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HARD FIGHT IS BEING WAGED ON HIGH DUTY ON CASEIN
Ingredient of Only Practical Glue for Water-resistant and Heat-resistant Glue in Plywood Has
Increased Heavily in Price, Due to High Import Taxes Levied on It
One of the principal problems of the domes­
lie plywood industry, in all its branches, is the
present fight against the high duty on casein.
In the final hearing before the C nited States
Tariff Commission, recently, this question was
discussed extensively and much stress was laid
on the fact that the dairy interests are not con­
tent with a profit of 150 per cent on casein.
The coated paper manufacturers, who use by
far the largest portion of the casein consumed
in this country, were joined by the plywood
manufacturers in their appeal for a reduction
of the duty. It was shown that casein, which
has always been on the free list, was placed on
the dutiable list at a price of 2~/' cents per lb.,
and that when this tariff was imposed Argen­
tina diverted its -exports to Europe instead of
the United States, resulting in an increase of
price from 10 cents to as high as 30 cents.
Counsel for the paper manufacturers, at the
final hearing, showed that at 15 cents per lb.,
double the average for the six years before the
duty was imposed, the dairymen could make
ISO per cent profit, but have refused to make
casein because of the larger profit possible
throug:l making powdered milk.
The case of the plywood manufacturers was
presented most effectively by Lawrence Ot.tin­
ger, rcpresenting the plywood manufacturers,
and who filed resolutions of the Plywood Man­
ufacturers' Association, as well as letters from
many individuals. In his presentation of the
ca'ein situation as it affeds the plywood indus­
try Mr. Ottinger said: "Casein as a wood­
working glue is a post-war development. It is
a new factor in the casein situation.
The
amount of casein used for the manufacture of
plywood in the United States during the year
1922 was approximately 7,000,000 pounds (esti­
mated). During 1923 the consumption will be
lit tic greater despite increased business, because
of price. The Cnited States could not produce
the normal domestic requirements of casein
prior to 1915. With the added requirements of
the plywood industry it cannot produce more
than a small fraction of those requirements.
"Casein is the only practical glue for produc­
ing water and heat-resistant plywood. Europe
uses water-resistant glues exclusively fo·r its
plywood manufacture, casein predominatIng.
I ,
~
The man who uses Behlen's Varnish
Crack Eradicator can afford to figure
lower, yet makes more profit on a re­
finishing job, than the man who does
not use it.
"Consideration of the duty on casein from the
standpoint of cost production in the l:nited
States, as compared wi th the cost of production
ill the _\rgentine is futile. The cost of pro­
ducing casein in the Cnited States is very much
greater than in the Argentine. In the latter
country labor is cheap and the drying is largely
done in the sun. In the United States labor is
high and. drying is done entirely by artificial
heat. If a duty commensurate with the differ­
ence in cost is to be placed upon casein, its use
as a plywood glue or in fact for any purpose
will be practically eliminated.
"To be used as a glue for the manufacture of
plywood, the price per pound of casein may not
exceed the price of casava flour by more than
50 or 75 per cent. This difference in price the
manufacturer can probably absorb because of its
availability for export. There is a very small
duty upon casava flour and there has been no
important change in its price for the last two
Yf'ars, whereas casein has advanced fr'o m ap­
p:oximately 8 cents to approximately 26 cents
per pound during that period. The importance
of casein as a plywood glue may be realized
by a study o·f the door situation on the Pacific
Coast; practically every mill located there has
changed to casein, despite substantially higher
costs. The change v. as made because it opened
up the export field and eliminated many com­
plaints which foreign buyers had made. Also,
the very damp atmosphere of the Pacific North­
west itself caused a great deal of trouble with
the non-water-resistant glues. The importance
of this particular section of the country in re­
gard to casein will be understood when it is
considered that at least 60 per cent of the ply­
wood manufactured in the Cnited States i5
made in the States of Oregon and \Vashing­
ton.
The average price per square foot
of Oregon fir plywood is approximately 60
cents. The cost of the two glue lines, with
casein at 25 cents ptr pound, is approximately
I cent per square foot. The cost of the vege­
table glue lines is about one-third of 1 cent
per foot.
"For a great many purposes, a water-resistant
plywo'o d, such as is made with casein glue, is
indispensable, as in plywood for the manufac­
ture of aircraft, steamships, wagon sides and
roofs, refrigerator manufacture and countless
other purposes. The question of the conserva­
tion of our timber resources is closely identified
with the plywood industry. The plywood man·
ufacturer uses a low class of material for the
center of the panels and a better class of lum­
ber for the faces. The cutting is almost exclu­
sively done with a knife, which is much more
eco,nol11ical than sawing, as there is no kerf
waste.
"The subject is a large one and the argument
in favor of the relllo\'al of the duty on casein
might be continued at great length and with
many details."
The reason-he saves the time, trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var­
nish and shellac and the finished job is
just as satisfactory, too--if not more so.
Monarch Tool &MlgeCoe
WaU Box"., Hacasln" Slot Box".,
Coin Slid"., R"roU Ha"hln"., Mon"7
Box"., POlllp., Pomp Hardware_ Spe­
"Ial Part. ·Mad.. to Order.
OINOINNATI, O.
UO Opera Pla"e
Send for a sample can today and
try it.
HAAS
« SON HAVE GOOD YEAR
End Twelve Months Working Overtime to
Catch Up With Orders Which Are at Present
on Firm's Books
Henry Haas & Son, Plainfield, N. J., have
had one of the most successful years in the
history of the business, which dates back to
1860. This house has always been one of the
best known manufacturers of piano and player
piano hardware. For many years it was sit­
uated in New York. The steady growth of the
business, however, necessitated larger manufac­
turing facilities and about two years ago they
acquired a splendid plant in Plainfield equipped
throughout with the most up-to-date machinery,
every department being located on the ground
floor. In this way a most progressive plan of
operation was put in force and they placed
themselves in a better position than ever to
handle the growing demands of the piano in­
dustry.
The increased popularity of player-pianos has
naturally increased the demand for player-piano
hardware and at the present time the factory
is working its force overtime in order to take
care of the requirement~ of the trade.
Harold L. Haas, head of the company, stated
to a representative of The Review this week
lhat he was very much gratified with the busi­
ness they have done this year and looks for a
good start for the new year.
LUMBER STANDARDIZATION MEETING
Producers, Distributors and Buyers Meet in
Washington Conference Under Government
Auspices to Reach Final Agreement Upon
Standardized Sizes of Lumber
.'\ final general conference of lumber pro­
ducers, distributors and conSlImers has been
called by the Secretary of the United States
Department of Commerce and is being held this
week in Washington, D. c., to take action upon
the recommendations presented recently by the
Central Committee on Lumber Standards.
This meeting in Washington will embrace
(1) a discllssion of the Central Committee's
recommendations; (2) a move to adopt these
"American Lumber Standards" presented; (3)
the determination of a da.te when such standards
shall become effective and likewise the setting­
of a regular revision period when the results
of the Central Committee on Lumber Standards'
recommendations shall be surveyed and any
necessary changes made; (4) the appointment
of an Interim Committee to function between
these regular revising conferences.
Wm. A. Durgin, Chief of the Division of
Simplified Practice, L'nited States Department
of Commerce, has issued an appeal that the
various associations interested, as well as those
individuals qualified to represent any branch of
the lumber industry, attend this conference in
Washington.
Leather SpeciallYi
Tanned for Player~
Pianos and Organs.
Also Chamois
Sheepskins, India!;
and Skivers
A Specialty of
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
Stain.
Fillers
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Ave., and 8th St.
.
THE
tF11
GOSHEN
AR,.T NOVELTVCO.
C)tclusipe manufacturers tf'
Piano Bel\.ch.es
and M'-1sie eabinets
lIfriie/o7"catalOfi Qnd deiaU4
INDIANA
Pneumatic and
Pouch Skin LfIO.thcrs