Presto

10
PRESTO
MARKING GOODS
FOR EXPORT TRADE
Department of Commerce Again Warns Ship-
pers of Goods to Foreign Countries to
Make Marks Large, Distinct and Leg-
ible, Using Only Indelible Ink.
FOREIGN CUSTOMER ANNOYED
Improper Marking Punishable by Fines and in Some
Cases Goods Not Numbered as Directed Are Con-
sidered Contraband and Liable to Heavy Fine.
Proper stenciling of packages in export trade of as
great importance as the packing itself, says the De-
partment of Commerce. Proper and distinct mark-
ing is absolutely essential in export trade. However
carefully an exporter may construct his containers
and pack his merchandise within them, if the marking
is illegible, easily rubbed off, or becomes blurred and
unreadable through dampness or the rubbing to
which a package is subjected on an ocean voyage,
loss of goods or months of delay in receipt of the
shipment, are most likely to result. Losses from im-
proper and incorrect marking run into millions. Too
much emphasis can not be placed on correct marking,
says the Transportation Division of the Department
of Commerce.
American exporters, with many years background
in foreign trade, have not overlooked the importance
of legible, permanent marking, but criticism has been
made of the marking done by careless or inexperi-
enced exporters. The principal causes of complaint
have been brush marking often illegible, or the use of
very small stencils, and ink without indelible quali-
ties.
Wrong Numbering Punishable.
Brazil in particular has promulgated regulations in
regard to consecutive numbering of boxes or cases,
and any departure from these is punishable by heavy
lines. In Salvador, goods bearing duplicate numbers
are considered contraband, and are liable to a fine of
25 per cent of the duties.
The stencil marking done by Americans is, gener-
ally speaking, too small, according to reports from
abroad received by the Department of Commerce.
Even large cases are marked with one inch stencils.
Our competitors make a specialty of marks from 3
to 5 inches high, the consignees mark and destination
being legible at 200 yards, in contrast to the usual
American marks of 1 inch or inch and a half, which
cause delay in discharging, particularly at night, be-
cause of the difficulty experienced in reading the
small, and sometimes indistinct marks.
Stencils
should be not less than 2 inches, and on large cases,
marks five inches high, would not be too large.
No Tags Permissible.
In marking bales, marks should not be placed on
the burlap itself, nor should tags tied to the bales be
used. Some exporters stencil a piece of cotton or
canvas with the necessary marks, and sew this to the
bale. A better way is to mark a metal plate, fas-
tened securely to the metal bands with which the bale
is tied. The use of tags should be avoided, as they
are easily torn from the package, or, perhaps, become
defaced. If tags must be used, they should be of
metal and securely wired to the package.
All marks should be stenciled. Brush marking,
aside from the fact that some few countries prohibit
it, is most unsatisfactory for foreign shipments. As
a rule the complete marks should be placed on at
least two faces of the packages, though some ex-
porters mark on sides, tops and bottoms.
The marks must agree in every detail with those
shown on invoices and bill of lading. The whole of
the mark should be together, in order to simplify
the work of checkers, custom-authorities, and others
who handle the goods. A prominent place should be
given the consignees name, destination and routing.
These must be in large letters, and, if possible, in
the center of the face of the package. The weights,
gross, tare, net or legal, cubic measurement and
serial numbers are usually placed in the corners.
These are usually stenciled in red by English and
German shippers to distinguish them from consignee
and destination marks.
The Indelible Ink.
That a good quality of black, waterproof stencil ink
or paint be used is of prime importance. In case the
articles to be stenciled are of a dark color, white ink
or paint should be substituted for black. Many ex-
cellent waterproof marking inks or paints are avail-
able to the exporter. Fountain brushes are com-
monly used because they insure a clean, legible mark.
Many exporters cover all marks with a coating of
shellac, which costs but little, yet makes all marks
absolutely impervious to dampness, water or rubbing.
For the information of exporters, the composition
of United States Army stencil black standard paint is
shown: Pigment, 50 per cent; liquid, 50 per cent.
Pigment shall consist of drop black 50 per cent, cal-
cium carbonate 50. Liquid portion shall consist of
varnish (clear spar), 70 per cent; combined dryer and
thinner, 30 per cent. The thinner shall consist of tur-
pentine or volatile mineral spirits, or a mixture
thereof.
The Packing List.
A packing list should be enclosed within each pack-
age, showing the contents of the case, as an aid in
tracing any losses. Each case should also contain
a duplicate set of markings, so that if any or all of
the exterior markings are defaced, there will still be
ample information to insure delivery of the goods to
their proper destination.
The use (fi cards or tags attached with wire is not
favored by good shippers or by the steamship com-
panies because no matter how secure a tag may be
fastened, the rough handling incident to an ocean
voyage will often pull it off or leave it in an unread-
able condition. Another objection to the use of
tags is that it is necessary to turn them over and get
down close to them before they can be read.
No Advertising on Package.
There is a very strong objection among shippers
against placing advertising matter on cases. Mark-
ings should always stand out in bold relief for the
benefit of freight handlers and to secure rapid trans-
portation. Every unnecessary mark, whether adver-
tising or irrelevant instructions makes the address
and case number more difficult to read and what is
much more important, makes the work of pilfering
such a package much easier. The pilferer must work
fast and will always give his attention to the package
whose advertising tells him what it contains, in pref-
erence to a box whose contents are unknown. Many
shippers of valuable goods have found that their
losses due to pilferage have been greatly reduced by
leaving off their cases all advertising matter and ref-
erence to contents.
Finally, it is obvious that "caution marks," such as
"fragile," "handle with care," etc., are not of much
value unless they are in the language of the country
of destination, for freight handlers are not expert
linguists.
NEWSY FACTS ABOUT THE
MEN WHO RETAIL PIANOS
January 26, 1924.
KIMBALL PIANO THAT HAS
MADE 190 OCEAN TRIPS
After Thirty-seven Years Old Piano Is Replaced by
New One from Chicago Industry.
The W. W, Kimball Co., Chicago, has received an
interesting letter from Walter S. Pierce, of the Walter
S. Pierce Company, Spokane, Washington, under
date of January 8th, reporting the sale of Kimball
piano No. 336233, in mahogany, now on its pilgrimage
to South Sydney, Australia. The dealer writes of his
experience with an old Kimball piano as follows:
"Will say incidentally that I have with me Kimball
piano 1187, No. 5, which I sold to the same company
in 1887. It has made one hundred and ninety trips
across the Pacific Ocean and is still in good
condition."
That letter suggests the kind of indorsement that
means a great deal in indorsement of the durable
qualities, no less than refined character, of the piano
which, for almost forty years, has been subjected to
the wear and tear of nearly two hundred crossings
of the Pacific Ocean and still remains musical when
replaced by a modern instrument bearing the same
name and from the same factory.
James R. Patterson, dealer in music goods, Evans-
ton, 111., is erecting a building for his business at 816-
18 Church street.
Henry G. Johnson
Piano Mfg. Co.
Manufacturer*
of
i
High Grade Pianos
and Players
Items gathered From Various Sources Relate Inci-
dents in the Trade Activities.
Edward Peterson, who was for many years con-
nected with the Bailey Music Rooms, St. Johnsbury,
Vt., has opened a store of his own on Railroad street,
St. Johnsburv.
The fiftreth anniversary sale conducted by the J. E.
Lothrop Piano Co., Dover, N. H., which extended
over a period of two weeks, was the most successful
ever held by their company both as to volume of busi-
ness and percentage of cash on sales.
The line of the Schaff Bros. Co., Huntington, Ind.,
has been taken on by C. J. Heppe & Son, of Phila-
delphia, and by Gallup & Alfred, of Hartford, Conn.
The William Gushard Co., Decatur, 111., has greatly
increased its music department. The entire mezza-
nine floor is now given over to pianos and talking-
machines and on the fifth floor of the store a large
grand department has been added.
The building occupied by Mrs. Minnie R. Richards,
music dealer on Main street, Georgetown, O., is to
be razed and replaced by new modern structure.
Until building is completed Mrs. Richards will occupy
temporary quarters.
The music department of the Barnhart Book &
Music Store, Huntington, Ind., has been moved to a
store on Jefferson street, with W. H. Barnhart in
charge.
The music store of Hans Nelson, Clearbrook,
Minn, was destroyed by fire recently. The property
was insured.
USED PIANO DEPARTMENT PAYS.
A few months ago an unoccupied corner of the
basement of Barker Bros, store in Los Angeles was
looked upon as so much waste space. It was a sort
of combination carpenter room and store room for
more or less useless material. Today this same corner
is bringing in from $10,000 to $15,000 a month. It
has been converted from profitless waste space into
the home of the used piano department. As explained
by G. E. Nowlin, sales manager of the piano depart-
ment, this new department has no overhead. It is
occupying what had been regarded as waste space.
The company went to no expense in fitting up the
salesroom and officials are greatly pleased over this
newlv found source of revenue.
Factory and Offices
Bellevue, Iowa
Chicago Office
Capacity
6,000 per Annum 307 Great Northern Bldg.
Becker Bros.
Manufacturers
of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Warerooms
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
WILLIAMS
PIANOS
The policy of the Williams House is and always
has been to depend upon excellence of product
instead of alluring price. Such a policy does not
attract bargain hunters. It does, however, win the
hearty approval and support of a very desirable
and substantial patronage.
U/IIIIAMC Makers of Williams Pianos,
WILLIAMS E p w o r t h P i a n o 9 B n d Organ.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/