SUPPLIES CUT OFF RESULT OF THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1914, Page 8

SUPPLIES CUT OFF RESULT OF THE WAR

EFFECT ON IRONMONGERY TRADE Hollow-ware and enamelled-ware, the latter more especially, are two lines that have been seriously affected by the war. The reason is that Germany does a large export trade in hollow-ware and has practically captured the whole of the enamelled-ware trade. Other German lines, such as carpenters' tools and cheap gate fasteners, are also cut off. The manager of one ironmongery establishment to-day informed a Post reporter that his firm had had two years' contracts with German and Austrian manufacturers for the supply of certain goods, the arrangement being that shipments should be sent forward once every three months. Two shipments had been sent, but the contracts, of course, would never be fulfilled in their entirety. The manager stated that already some of the up-to-date English manufacturers were seizing the opportunity of manufacturing lines which had hitherto been exclusively confined to the Germans. One of these was cheap gatefasteners. The British manufacturers had never been able to compete against the Germans in this particular article, and the result was that the latter had the trade practically in their own hands. Since the outbreak of the war, however, English manufacturers were quoting for gate-fasteners. The isanie informant add'pd that sometimes, when people's pockets were affected by their patriotism, the latter had. to take second place. He instanced the case of some carpenters. Several of these visited his shop to purchase "jack" planes. Invariably they demanded the German article, at two ehillings, in preference to the Englishmade plane at three shillings and sixpence, although the latter was of infinitely better quality and workmanship. One feature which would seem to indicate that German, business people knew that war was inevitable ie that this year Christmas stocks of German goods have, in some instances, arrived earlier than ever they have previously done. One firm, which expects to receive its Christmas supplies about October and November, this , year received them as early as August. "MADE IN GERMANY" OTHER LINES AFFECTED. The manager of one large warehouse, which carries a stock comprising 50 per cent, of German, Austria^ and Belgian manufactures, principally German, also reviewed the position. One line — tumblers — he stated would be completely cut off. These wei'e made exclusively in Belgium. Other goods — made in Germany — such as a special make of clock, stationery, and tobacco pouches would also be unavailable now that war had broken out, while the position would be the same with regard to cherry-wood pipes and amber mouthpieces made solely in Austria. Toys would be the chief line affected, however, as the Germans had practically a monopoly of these. Fortunately it was the custom to order Christmas stocks in January, and this year's supplies had arrived in June. Of course, when these stocks were exhausted no more would be procurable until the war was over. The toys were manufactured mostly by residents in the south of Germany, who sold them to the exporters. No country in the world could' compete with Germany in the manufacture of cheap toys. Certain lines of dolls came from France, but only a very small portion. It had been*suggested, said the informant, that the toys could be made in Japan, but he did not think' this idea was feasible, as the Japanese did not have the models nor the special facilities required for toy manufacturing. One effect of the war, he said, would be to largely increase America's exports of lead pencils. As was well known, Bavaria up to the present has been the chief exporter of this line, with America second on the list. The position now would be that orders which would have gone to Germany will now go to the Eagle Pencil Company, of New York. As far as watches were concerned, Switzerland was renowned for its manufacture of pocket time-pieces, and although orders might be allayed on account of hostilities, he did not think there would be any difficulty in eventually getting them executed. His firm carried very large stocks of all lines — to last about twelve months — and, unless the war was of long duration he did not anticipate any great difficulty in replenishing them.