The Red Cloud chief., 1877-06-14

NC &C 10IUbW0 AU8l0s
Easces Of the Expiration Of Patents.
Various opinions prevail among the
manufacturers Of sewing machines q
10 the effect upon their business Of the
recent expirations Of patents. Henry
Bristow, agent of the Domestic Com
pany, said yesterday to a tribune 70
porter that their wholesale trade would
not be impaired. Their agents were
constantly coming to the city and max.
ing new Contracts, and he thought il
was q mistaken idea that the compa-
mics would suffer. The canvassers only
would suffer, as they would now get
from Is to 20 per cent commission in
stead OF Is to 30 per cent. as formerly.
1t was not proposed to discontinue the
sale OF sewing machines by installments,
a. the company had 1000 out now, and
their system of collection was working
well. The plan Of putting machines out
on trial would. be materially changed.
The company had lent 800 on trial, but
this required a large force Of teachers
and other employees. Heretofore can
vassers had been permitted to put on
trial any number Of machines. They
were now limited to ten each. When
the reduction was announced, more than
the average number of buyers made
purchases, on that account. "The gist
of the matter. as far as Oncer us"
said Mr.. BristOw, in conclusion, els, that
the reduction of prices enables us to sell
machines and hire at less
expense, and at the same time increases
our sales by popular prices"
10. Woods, f the firm Of Wheeler
Il Wilson. said the expiration of patents
was the occasion not the cause of the
reduction of prices. The real reduction
was made months ago, and prices had
only been kept up nominally since that
time. A machine that formerly sold for
S75 had been reduced to $50, but $50
was allowed then for a sewing machine
gwen as part payment, while now 80
only was given. The system of install.
ments had proved ruinous. 1t was
better to sell machines outright as low
as $2OOr S25 dollars apiece. Thousands
had purchased machines who had no
credit, and after paying other bills the
sewing machine was paid for-if any.
thing was left. 1t had been stated that
there was a combination at Washington
to get patents extended, but no such
attempt had been made for several years,
and there had never been any combi-
nation among the leading manufacture
ers to keep up the prices. The pros
pective changes in the methods of the
business had temporarily checked the
sales, because canvassers had not made
arrangements for beginning work. Last
week the Wheeler Il Wilson Company
had done nothing, but on Saturday and
Monday business had revived.
Edward Clark. President of the Singer
Sewing Machine Company, said it was
too early to tell what effect the expira-
ton of patents would have on the trade,
but he thought in a few months the
sales would be larger than ever. The
great competition must stop. for imita-
tors could not live on their sales, while
the Singer Company could make a fair
profit at the reduced rates. Bad meth
DDS Of selling must also be abandoned,
and as a natural consequence the ma
chimes having the highest reputation
must besOld more extensively than ever.
As a matter of fact, more money has
been lost than gained in the business
during the last few years. Few compa-
MES had declared dividends, and many
had sold stock without having anything
now to show for it.
Up to the time when the last "fOun-
dation patent" expired the owners of
those patents collected a royalty of s.
for each machine made by companies
not possessing the patent. Expensive
litigation was often required. With
the recent expiration of patents law
suits fell through, and as all companies
which had the means were at liberty to
manufacture, those with the largest
capital at nee put down the prices, to
deter others from entering into compe-
titiOn. The Singer was selling more
now than before the reduction. This
might be accounted for from the fact
that may people had delayed buying. as
they expected a fall in prices. On the
average, profits were now equal to what
they formerly ere. The outlook for
responsible companies was better than
ever, while the permanent effect Of the
reduction could only be told after sev-
eral mOnths.-N. Y. Tribune.