The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-05-17
Sewing Machine Patents.
GREAT DEDUCTIONS TO BE MADE AT
ONCE. A


is reached in respect of further reduc-
tions in prices. One Of the princi.
pals said: .. '.. q
"There is a great deal of buncombe
about reductions. The Singer people
do announce reduction from $50 to
$50, but they do not specify the par~
cular machine. If people bought for
cash we could afford to soil q machine
that costs SIS for $25; and would be
glad to do it. Bat they don't buy for
cash. They pay an installmont, SIS
month or so, take two years TO pay
up Uneven if thoy pay at all. Then,
we sell but little at the factories. We
spend the extra cash in putting our
machines before tho people. There
are agents and bills of all kinds to
pay. Advertisements, pamphlets, and
all that sort of thing take an immense
amount of money. We really get only
about $25 ourselves. The rest goes to
others. No one would be moro glad
to make reductions than we, if we
could have the world come to us and
buy for cash; but the world won't do
it,"
Correspondont-What royalty did
you pay?
Onicial-Oh, the royalty is noth>
ing. Three dollars ON q machine was
the whole of it. The money didn't
go in royalties, but in commissions.
C.-And the public hive to pay it.
How many mon doyou employ III this
factory?
Official-In busy times about q
thousand. They make good wages
and live we'll. We keep them busy
most Of the time. One of our ma
chimes has sold over nine hundred
thousand, noarly q million in fact;
others run up to 10000 and so on. We
sold over 10000 last year, and you
observe one of the other companies
advertises q sale of $4,000. There
arc millions of sewing machines in
this country, and a great deal of money
has boen made in the business. We
have had our share, and ii purchasers
bought for cash we would mako more
profit, and they would get machines
cheaper. We can sell our $55 machine
for S25, and will do it. We havo not
concluded what to do in general, but
shall probably not make any very ex-
tonsive changes. [ found in New York
that the Singer people purpose taking
advantage of the public excitement to
secure, if possible, the lions share OF
future patronage. They say they will
from day to day sell machines which
have heretofore brought them $50, for
$50; but thoy want the $50. They
tell the same story of costly agencies
C.-Has competition increased the
demand2
Oflicial-Yos, in an unhealthy way.
1t has been the ruin of some compa-
MES and the bane of all. Competition
led to extravagances Of every kind.
The great idea was to sell the most,
and sometimes those who sold the
most were the greatest losers-losers
because everybody was trusted. "No
pay, no machine" is the motto from
this time on.
C.-But isn't "cheap for cash" a
better motto?
Oficial-WeIl, yes; and it's our mot,
to, too. There is no reason why O
really excellont machine should not be
had for $50. You may say that we
will sell our regular $50 machines, as
good as tho best, for $50 cash.
C.--And of course you make good
thing of it then?
Official-We shan't complain. Nor
will any other company complain.
The fact is, when the public and the
companies come together and under
stand that tho money of the ono does
not go into the selfish pockets Of the
other, but is spont for expenses ncces>
sary to the system now to be aban-
doned, matters will have q worry diff.
ferent look, and both parties can drive
a better bargain.
C.-You don't intend TO say that