The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-26
CHEAPER SEWING MACHINES.

EFFECT OF THE EXPIRATION OF IMPORTANT
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VIEWS ON THE Ma
CHINE rRADE-soME REDUCTIONS.
.sTherc has been no great reduction In the price OF
sewing machines" said Mr.. Woods, representing
Wheeler l. Wilson'S Sewing Machine Company, to a
HERALD reporter yesterday. He then continued in
substance: Tho public has in the main greatly msun-
oerstood the effect Of the recent expira-
ton OF the patents upon some Of the principal
features OF the sewing machine. Tho pat.
cnts upon the needle and upon the feeding
gear, have iapscd; but some OF the companics-ours
among them-hod patents upon various other parts
OF the machines, some OF which have years TO run.
The public have formed wrong opinion Of this bus-
ness from much which has been published. Thoy
expected greater revolution than can possibly take
place In prices The result is dminution II anything
rather than stimulus III the trade People arc really
waiting for tho great lessenng OF prices which had
been so widely advertised The reduction in prices for
machines is merely nominal. Those prices are about
rs low they will reach Tor some time. Our company
for the last four or six months have sold machines at
nearly as low a gurc that OF to-day. The profits
heretofore have beer largely In the hands OF the agents
or middle men. Those will feel the change. Beside
the natural decrease in their percentage comes In
the difficulty OF disposng of the old machines Some
Of the companies now only allow SlO Tor tho
old machines whom new machines arc sold; some al
low only $5-somo allow nothing The old machines
we're always regarded as so much discount. Tho
agents have 10 do closer hguring and the relax
ing OF their efforts In tho presence OF smaller prohs IS
an element in the present dulncss OF the trade
Tho representative OF Wilcox a. Gibbs, Broadway
and Bond street, had noted no material change in tho
tide Of business The lrm claims 10 put their new
mach inc GU the market at reduced prices on account
OF is mechanism and finish. 1hoy hold several
patents with several years TO rum On their old style
tension machine, with features similar TO the machines
of other firms. they have made the following reduc
tions:-- ~t' -
Cash price before expiration OF patents $50
Cash price since expiration Of patents %
Tue gentleman representing the Domestic Sewing
Machine Company spoke of the difficulty OF speedily
asccrtaining the changes which might have come to
the sewing machine interests over territory wide
as that which the company covers. He was OF tho
opuion that there had been decided increase OF cash
sales The company had reduced prices for machines
as follows taking as standard what might DO called
the family machnc:-
Before expiration Of patents.
Alter expiration Of patents. 90
1t was claimed that the company had made reduce
ton OF $40 every style OF machine, with discount
OF ten per cent Tor cash.
The singer Company claim an increase OF trade Tho
representative OF the company said there had been
reduction OF abou, fifty per cent in the prices OF ma
chimes.
Tho Home Sewing Machine Company. Union square,
have q pacard out announcing the reduction OF 500
machine TO 500 and all other machines ut proper
tonae icsscning OF prices
change OF base in tho matter OF prices. There seems
to be a belief that n there be marked fall in
price II viii not affect 10 any great extent the
man uacturing companies themselves, but that II will
be severely ielt by the middlemen. The sowing ma
chino women will also feel the change IN one way-that
cheaper rate will BIO for cash, least Tor shorter
time contract than that OF former years. One thing
which will affect the general market IS the belief that
10 Is already pretty we'll stocked with machines.