Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-10-27

duras, Manila and Canton, there are regular sn:il
markets and the pnce s those places from four TO
seven dollars per pound. The duty on shell was Ul
merlv fifteen per cent but by Clays Compromise Bill
both horn and shell are admitted duty free. Bot this
has not benefited the manufacturers for prevous 10
the taking of the duty, both the raw MATERIAL and the
manufactured article paid the same amount OF duty
There has been, true, striking dmlnuion IN the
mportalisns of shell combs well as horn combs OF
late years, but this has been entirely owing 70 the
improve in the manufacture OF the American ar
tlcle and not TO any protection or advantage rem
dered them by the government or wisdoh u QUIZ 10
gislators. -
The manufacture of shell combs began in this
country about thirty years ago; we then made aoest
fifty thousand dollars worth, and also imported al
least FIVE times much as we made, or tnree nun.
bred thousand dollars worth These lmportations OF
shell combs were principally or solely from England
with the exception of what is called the carved Can
ton comb" which, as its name implies, was brought
from Canton. Boston and Salem used TO import al.
nually about one hundred thousand dollars worth OF
carved Canton shell combs with profit of at least
from fifty TO one hundred per cent TO the importers
In this business Boston and Salem did more than
any other three cities, probably more than the rest
Of the Union; on account of the East INDIA business
being principally owned in Salem; although the pro-
duce imported by Salem ships and owners Is chieny
sold in New York and Boston. The East India ton
mage owned in Salem at the present time beng we
believe greater than II IS IN New ork III view
York, however they used 10 import nearly as many
Canton combs as were imported exclusively by Bos-
ton owners-say fifty thousand dollars worth annu-
ally.
We now import no Canton combs-not a dellar's
worth annually: the whole business was knocked IN
the head by Mr.. lizard and others, who began the
manufacture of carved shell combs IN Boston, about
years back although at one PERIOD Mr.. W. hinisol
has purchased Canton combs to the amount OF SIX
thousand dollars annually.
THE workmen were ali sef-taught. Mr.. w. used
TO procure wood engravers &c. and set them TO carve
the shell. AT first he used to work up about |oUo
pounds annually and he found market for his goods
Immediately he used to employ twenty hands hight
and day to out shell carved combs without being
able to supply the demand, bat now only employs
about five. For two three years after the manu-
facure began here, the importers continued TO import
the Canton comb, not knowing ofthe manufacturer 8
movements, they lost many thousands OF dollars by
the operation, and their own ignorance.
There were enormous profits accrulng to importers
| on the Canton combs. A dealer paid then ten dol
lars for what them ve and they used almost
varably to smuggle the article in: We know OF lot
that arrived one ship for which the importers re-
c1ived five thousand dollars, not one Of which
ever saw the custom house.
We used to import other shell combs from Eng
land TO the amount fifteen years ago, OF half million
| of dollars annually, in New York, Bottom and Phila-
delphia We do not now import in the ratio Of five
per cent to what we did dozen years back-for we
then imported at least half of all that was used.
The amount Of shell imported and made up may be
estimated as follows -
There twelve manufacturers Ut shell combs In
this city, and many more in New York state.
These have an average capital of ten thusand dollars
| each, and employ five or six hands each, who earn
two dollars day on the average though occasionally
some much as six dollars day.
In Boston the number is about six, with capital
and workmen similar to this CITY, In the state OF
Massachusetts, there are twenty manufacturers SINH
ary circumstanced. In Connecticut there are twelve;
in Philadelphia there are twenty; each on par with
the New York manufacturers; and in Baltimore there
are six with an average capital of five thousand dol
lars each.
There are not half dozen in all the other cities in
the Union and those principally occupied IN repair
ing the productions of the Atlantic Cities
Each Of the above manufacturers used TO work up.
thtce years ago. at least two thousand pounds OF
shell annually. Mr.. Willard has worked up in one
year three thousand pounds Of shell at $40 per
pound. But now on account Of an alteration OF the
fashion alone land not on account of the pressure)
they do not cut up on an average over twelve hun
dred pounds each. Mr. w. has cut up within the last
ten years not less than twenty thousand pounds OF
shell, worth two hundred thousand dollars.
This change Of the fashion, produced by one ladys
caprice has thrown stock Of ten thousand dollars
worth Of carved combs upon one dealers hands that
will not fetch half their cost; and the comb
makers all over the country, have suffered in like
manner.
The stock of shell combs in the principal Cities
consists as follows, at the present tme-
In New York, e2so,eoo
PSiiadelpAi., 10000
Baltimore. 100000
Elsewhere, 10000
s7sO,soo
There are about ninety manufacturers the
Union who each makeup, annually, over enc thousand
pounds Of she'll worth ten thousand dollars, making
sum total of shell worth at least million Of dollars.
The cost of the manufacture bears a proportion Of
twenty five per cent to the ceet swelling the 10
one million and quarter Of dollars werth Of combs
made here; and we only import few pocket combs,
not worth one hundred dollars year. The reason
is, that we make much better article here for the
same price.
Whilst we feel proud as Americans at this result,
help expressing our regret at the dminaton,
in the domestic manufacture which has been brought
about by the change Of fashion; IN ether words by
the ickleness of lady's disposition:
IL must have been observed that ladies nov twist
their hair up into little round stump the top OF
the head like the muattos Of the 1--WE points; that
they can fasten the bunch of hair with small three
or five pronged comb resembling Neptune's trident.
This il called in fashionable CIRCLES, the five point
comb partly from its having five prongs, and partly
beca use il is much in vogue on the Five Points.
year or two since the manufacturers could not make
the shell combs large enough 70 suit the ladies tsstee
but, behold in one day, without any premonitory
symptoms, the old fashion was dropped like hot
potaloe-he Five Point fashion spruDg up-a republi
can system was set up-thsre was no distinction Of
combs-servant girls-wives OF bankers and brokers,
neercsses and nobodiee, all had combs alike and this