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THE MUSIC TRADE
SEPTEMBER 26, 1925
REVIEW
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Grade Marks on Lumber Lead to Real
Economy in the Woodworking Industries
best
not
are
ing
Axel H. Oxholm, Chief of the Lumber Division of the United States Department of Commerce,
Washington, D. C, Explains the Advantages of This System
Depreciation of Patents
Allowed in Tax Returns
A PAMPHLET dealing with the subject of
"^^ "Grade Marks on Lumber" has been pre-
pared by Axel H. Oxholm, chief of the Lumber
Division of the United States Department of
Commerce, Washington, and is being distributed
to many veneer and lumber concerns supplying
the piano industry by the Hardwood Manufac-
turers' Institute, Memphis, Tenn. The pamphlet
points out many advantages of the proposed
system of grade marking and has the endorse-
ment of Secretary Hoover.
Under the head of "Promotion of Economy
in Use of Lumber," Mr. Oxholm writes: "Lum-
ber, unlike many other articles, can not be
analyzed by any physical or chemical means to
determine the grade. As there are no two
boards alike, it is evident that the grading of
lumber must depend upon expert knowledge and
practical experience. It is also evident that very
few consumers can possibly have the expert
knowledge which will enable them to verify the
quality for which they are paying. Grade marks
on each piece of lumber would in time educate
the consumer to a better knowledge of grades.
The' consequence would be that the consumer
would realize that he has frequently in the past
bought and paid for a grade of lumber too good
for the use intended. Such purchasing methods
are naturally wasteful, since they result in the
use of material more expensive than necessary.
"Consumers in many cases have found that
certain grades supplied by certain mills are
suitable for certain purposes. The grade mark-
ing of lumber (indicating the source) will give
the consumer the assurance of receiving such
stocks, and the natural consequence will be the
stabilizing of business. The stabilizing of the
demand, on the other hand, will induce the mills
to cater to the particular demands of the con-
sumers and will bring the two elements closer
together and result in a better understanding.
"Much has been said in regard to the unin-
telligent competition prevailing in nearly every
branch of the lumber trade. The grade-mark-
ing system will help to clean up these practices,
and there will be a concentration of the busi-
The man who uses Behlen's Vamish
Crack Eradicator can afford to figure
lower, yet makes more profit on a re-
finishing job, than the man who does
not use it.
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.
Send for a sample can today and
try it.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Aniline*
Sh«lUc.
Stains
Fillers
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th AT*., and 8th Bt.
ness in the hands of such distributors as are
performing a real service to the consuming pub-
lic. Moreover, as a result of the decreased
cost of selling lumber, the distributors will be
in a position to reduce their percentage of
profit.
"It has been the experience all over the world
that lumber which is not grade-marked tends
to arouse undue suspicion because its identity
is concealed. No inference is made that the
grade marking of lumber will enable the manu-
facturers to impose on the trade by shipping
lumber of inferior quality. If this were the case,
it would immediately be reflected in a decreased
demand. A knot or other defect in a piece of
lumber which has not been grade-marked will
often be magnified by the complaining party.
This is the natural practice in cases where the
rule is 'let the buyer beware.' In cases where
the quality may be toeing the line but still is
within the limits of the grade it is evident that
the mark of a responsible shipper will in many
cases avoid unnecessary and often unreasonable
complaints."
Better Means for Obtaining
Statistics on Raw Wool
International Institute of Agriculture at Rome
Suggests Improvements in That Line De-
signed to Benefit All Countries
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 21.—The im-
provement and unification of the methods for
obtaining statistics on raw wool are suggested
in a report just issued by the International Insti-
tute of Agriculture at Rome, which has been re-
ceived by the Department of Agriculture. Such
a movement, if instituted, the report declares,
will benefit all countries and all individuals
interested in the question, whether growers, im-
porters or manufacturers. Attention would be
directed to the gathering of statistics on (1)
production, (2) imports and exports, (3) stocks
and (4) consumption of wool.
Annual returns for wool production are al-
ready made in the United States, Australia,
New Zealand and the Union of South Africa,
but it is stated that there is a certain delay in
publication which is often so considerable that
the figures are rather of historic interest than of
practical value for purposes of the market.
years in our history. Our customers arc
only ordering in large quantities but they
also talking better and the trade is becom-
more healthy."
Solicitor of Internal Revenue Offers Important
Ruling of General Interest to Manufacturers
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 21.—Manufac-
turers and others in the music industries who
hold patents on their products or on equipment
used in their manufacture may claim deprecia-
tion of the value of such patents in making
their income returns, according to a decision
of the solicitor of internal revenue.
Cases are before the Bureau of Internal Rev-
enue involving depreciation claims on patents
acquired prior to March 1, 1913. In his de-
cision, the solicitor points out that when rap
income tax law of 1913 was enacted patent's
had a value as of that date, which represented
part of the taxpayers' capital. As time wejit
on, shortening the life of the patent, its value
became less, and the taxpayers' capital, in so
far as it was represented by the patent, dimin-
ished. It is only after deductions for deprecia-
tion are made that taxable net income is dis-
coverable, the solicitor held.
The opinion holds that the regulations of the
bureau covering this form of depreciation, which
differs from depreciation of property in that the
latter is lessened value from use, should be fol-
lowed. These regulations provide that in com-
puting a depreciation allowance in the case of a
patent the capital sum to be replaced is the cost
of the patent, or, if acquired prior to Ma^jc-h
1, 1913, its fair value as of that date. It is hetd
also that failure of the taxpayer to claim such
a deduction in making his original return does
not constitute the exercise of an election or
option.
Argument Is Postponed
WASHINGTON, I). C, September 19.—Arguments
in the "Philippine mahogany" case, originally
set for hearing last month, have been postponed
by the Federal Trade Commission on applica-
tion of counsel for the Indiana Quartered Oak
Co., New York. The co-defendants in the case
are the Thomas E. Powe Lumber Co., of St.
Louis, and the Hammond Lumber Co., the
Robert Dollar Co. and the Kirchmann Hard-
wood Co., all of San Francisco. The gist of
the defense sets forth that the term "Philippine
mahogany" was not coined by the defendants
but has long been a trade designation.
Improvement in Demand for
Piano Hardware Is Noted
When in the
Market for
Cabinets-
The "ART
Quality Merchandise
Write for Catalog.
Coming of September Bringing a Substantial
Volume of Orders for Hardware and Acces-
sories to American Piano Supply Co.
A rush of business in piano hardware and
accessories has been experienced during the past
two or three weeks by the American Piano Sup-
ply Co., Inc., New York, according to William
C. Hess, vice-president of the company. Mr.
Hess states that from his observations the ac-
tivity that started the last week in August seems
to be felt everywhere in the industry and ap-
pears to possess a momentum which will carry
it through the season.
"We are very optimistic with regard to Fall
conditions in the piano industry," said Mr. Hess,
"and we expect personally to have one of the
STYLK NO. 181
The Art Novelty Co.
Goshen, Ind.
PHILIP W. GETTING & SON, Inc.
213 East 19th Street, New York
Sole Afenti for
WEICKERT HAMMER AND DAMPER FELTS
GRAND AND UPRIGHT HAMMERS
Made of Welckert Felt