Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-31
SEWING MACHINES.
Some INTERESTING Figures Called OMt by a
Jamb0ree Among the AGENTS.


JambOree among the AGENTS.
New York Sewing Machine News for July. ]
Editor Sewing Machine News:
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, June, 19S1.-Can
anybody approximate the aggregate sales
of all the companies in the United States,
their advent? The Singer company tells
us they have sold half million in $780,
This, no doubt, is true, and compare
lively speaking it's very small work for
them to do in year. They advertise
1900 offices in the united States, 5000
in Canada and Europe, with force of
so, 900 employees Can it be possible it
only dispose of 539, 500 machines in one
year.
We find in analyzing this great bust
ness of theirs that each year averaged l19
machines sold per year. If you go
further into investigating and allow one
third of their force to manage, superln-
tend and act as the clerical force, we
have two thirds of the number, or about
81, 900, to sell the goods, which, to aver
age, would show that each salesman dur
ing last year sold sixteen machines
apiece, or one and fraction each month
to man This, dear editor, l cannot
understand. Will you explain how these
offices, the expense, and an army of en-
ployes can be maintained on so small a
business? 1t is not commensurate with
the force. consistency, thou art a
jewel"
If such force of men sold less than
two machines each per month in a year,
it would be worse than fallacy to contin-
ue such business. l earnestly solicit
thinking mems opinion on these points,
and ask if every one of these half million
sales stick and are paid for at full prices
Ito say nothing of the t'comebacks'') can
a business like this be profitable? The
only conclusion can form from this by
pothesis is that they sell more machines
a year, or have less offices to support.
You might as well say you had hun
dred printers, -sompositOrS and pressmen
whose salaries and expenses amounted to
81 900 day. and then tell me your circu-
lation was $50, 900 year. A reflection
would show shortage of SIS, 900 if you
depended on your sales. Another fact we
Americans fail to notice, or even attempt
to combat, is that the Singer company do
not sell in the United States three-fourths
of all the machines. The great bulk of
their business is in Europe, hence the ne
cessity of two thirds of their Offices in
foreign lands, with a proportionate
amount of help. The reputation of the
Singer company is unprecedented,
and in their day theirs was
practically the4 best machine, but
they are not keeping up with the pro-
gressive age, and to-day there are many
new machines far superior, and unless
they soon launch upon the market their
long looked for t'New Oscillating Shuttle
Machine which has been introduced in
some of the large cities, they will even
tually lose their good name.
Hoping you will tell me, Mr.. Editor,
the total sales of all makes to date, and
also how many subscribers you have for
this growing Neaos of yours, | promise all
the aid possible to increase It's numbers.
D. III. Southwark, the forger, whose
trial was postponed in May, can bask in
the shade of our jail while longer. Mr..
A. Armstrong, the American manager of
this place, claims to be renting his com
pany an average of $1,000 each month,
and to prove it, shows the books. The
Singer, under Mr. T. G. Stratford, moves
along in its usual routine. Ludwick, the
"New Home" man, says people are 60
ing crazy over New Home Machines
CAPTAIN RoUFFNER.