Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-05-09
\ THOROUGH REFORM NEEDED IN THE PLAN
OF PURCHASING THEM.

A THOROUGH REFORM NEEDED IN THE PLAN
OF PURCHASING THEM.
There are some fourteen Sewing Machine agencies
in this city, with branches scattered all the Coast
These agencies represent equal number Of Sewing
Machine manufactures located in the Middle and
Eastern States of this country Some of these depos
were established in San Francisco many years ago,
while Others are OF more recent date.
Out of the fourteen sewing machines in use in Cali
forna we might mention the following which have
been In constant demand for years, and have never
failed to fuh the guarantees of their agents. Wheeler
& Wilson, Howe, Florence, and Davis. The last one
was introduced about eighteen months ago, and has
made a splendid record As matter of course, the
gentlemen who preside over these agencies differ
somewhat TO the value of patents and principles Of
construction, but in the main spirit of great fairness
exists in the trade, which, in contrast with other lines
of business, is truly refreshing.
The most important question with sewing machine
merchants to-day is to convince the public that the
article they sell is not only reasonably low, but
cheaper than any other in commerce which requires
the same capital in manufacturing and handling.
1t is most singular fact that the sewing machine
industry of this country has found in the press and
the more advanced thinkers in commercial matters,
so few advocates.
The cry OF monopoly has been trumpeted before
Congress for years, and heralded by the selfconst
tuted philanthropists far and near Grave questions
of public policy have been urged, coin used for log
rolling with Senators and Representatives, newspa
pers controlled by interested parties to prevent extern
sion of patent rights and special privileges to sewing
machine manufacturers The cry has been universal
Bring down prices; break up the combination; open
the trade to general competition" 1t does not require
much special pleading TO prove the alacy of such
soning, and that both commerce and public opinion
interested in maintaining the rights of the pat
entees.
by the opponents of sewing machine companies The
present rate is regarded extravagantly high, and
much in of other articles which bear relative
cost in manufacturing. Now, what are the facts Of
the and what has been the history of every sew
ing machine company in the country?
Large sums have been invested in this particular in
dustry without yielding reasonable interest. 1t
has not been uncommon thing, for years past, to
trace many large failures in Eastern cities to the
stocking and equippng of Sewing Machine Manu-
factory. These instances, but alas, too
frequent in the annals of American trade.
In the business of making sewing machines the very
highest state of mechanical art required to perfect
the machinery In fact, the machinery for manufac-
turing machines must be perfect in all OF its details
as the machine itself Now. the machinery cannot
be had without money. Large sums of it, not less
than two hundred thousand dollars, will fit up
ing machine shop; and in this do not include
the cost of engines boilers, shang, the cost of the
foundry machinery or the cabinet shops, which re-
quires another hundred thousand dollars more.
Then this all. Raw materials must be purchased
to commence with, requiring immediate outlay Of
probably fifty thousand dollars more.
What is to be done with the machines when they are
They must be sold VIII those people
who camor about cheap sewing machines go to the
and plank down the cash and carry them
home with them? No The machines would remain
in the factory forever if the company depended upon
purchasers in this way Therefore it is necessary to
open agencies and warehouses in different sections OF
country suitable for distributing goods Every
piece article IN sewing machine must be paid for
by the manufacturer long time before it is sold, and
it requires very large number of mechanics to keep
a factory in operation.
These but few of the requirements necessary
to the business, whilst almost every other enter
prise be prosecuted at lower pressure rate. We
believe that the price of sewing machines would be
reduced tomorrow provided that the public would
adapt themselves to the terms of purchase which
regulate the worlds of commerce. We mean payment
of cash delivery, or early settlement without nu
merous conditions of purchase.
A man buys a machine, but only on trial, for few
weeks If he likes it he pays for it, If not the agent
must cancel the contract. In some the agent
has not this option the purchaser suits his con-
venience by not paying at ALL
Then the question of the middle-man has to be dis
posed of before much can be done to adjust prices
Every sewing machine agent is compelled to employ a
number of solicitors a large commission, and
sometimes travelling expenses added. A retinue of
instructors also employed at big salaries instruct
not only in the rudiments of machine sewing, but in
the higher branches of the art such rung telling
braidng, and forth. If the student should prove
stupid and require more than ordinary instruction,
the overconscentious dealer deems it his duty and
matter of pride to increase the number OF lessons,
thus adding materially the running expenses of his
business. All these incidentals, which probably
to thirtyfve per cent. of the cost every
machine, the purchaser has to pay indirectly.
Then, besides all these dif1cutes which hamper the
sewing machine trade, comes the installment plan.
Agents have to deal with all kinds of peoplerch and
poor honest and interruptions. In the majority of
their transactions they have to take some hazardous
chances and add TO the original price, in other
words the price asked for cash. additional sum to
the cost of replevin if necessary Just soon
as the public will buy sewing machine and pay on
delivery without demanding a thousand guarantees
from the agent, the price will come down; not till
then There very few articles manufactured from
metal that do not pay larger profit the capital in
vested than sewing machine. Stoves, agricultural
implements, and many other things which do not re.
qure instruction in their use, pay much higher per-
centage their manufacture. We hold that the own
do with the price now paid for a sewing machine the
evil lays in the plan of purchase already mentioned
Scores of letters received by agents daily in this
and other cities, inquring when the price will be re-
duced TO $50 $40 The Examinations of the press all
over the land, against the sewing machine interests
have produced this state of AFFAIRS which doubt
less retarded the growth of many manufacturer and
persuaded the people to defer purchasing for some
connected with the interests
All commercial stratas rest upon this foundation, and
both dsasrously The business of manufacturing our
rstcass sewing machines is now in the hands of hon
held out to them by the public to continue their opera
tons. Unfortunately our Government does suff.
GENTLY encourage protect inventive talent Those
and enghtens the world, should receive from the
State perpetual support and not merely protection
for some nfteen or twenty years. This protection
should carry with it fee simple" which the power
of man could neither imperil nor annul.
We apprehend that when the sewing machine pat
ents run out the gates Of fraud will be opened wide
the land.
what will certainly follow in case Congress should
fuse grant a renewal of sewing machine patents
aey%eg az has s an are IN ~ he
last, headed as follows:
"THoMPSoN, HANNA b CO."
"We found occasion in June number of last wear
to expose the fraudulent of certain parties
known as Mu!ligan Co.. who represented themselves
offered to sell at twenty dollars each After our sI
their operations were of brief duration, and
eas the t IN III
apd safe to suppose that where party offers Xaa.
some dishonest transaction. In this connection we
refer 70 new concern who are now advertising In
plete and of absolute perfection for the small sum Of
no. and further promise to make liberal terms with
agents We called upon the enterprsing vendors of this
machine, Thompson, Hanna Co., and found them
offering for sale eheap-ooking single.thread, chain