New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-15
THE EXPORT GLASS TRADE.

Few people outside OF the trade are aware
that the United states have been exporting glass goods
10 South America, Cuba and Australia In competition
with foreign manufacturers The export trade III tms
line OF goods is STILL however In Its infancy III speaR
ing of this subject to TRIBUNE reporter Leading
sxporter recently sad Nearly eight years ago repre-
senatves from dozen leading houses were sent abroad
70 find market for large surplus stock OF glass goods
which had accumulated during a period OF BUSINESS
depression They visited Mexico, South America
Cuba and Australia and succeeded in disposng OF large
ouantties OF these goods The prices obtained were In
many instances below actual cost but at that time
manufacturers willing to unload their stock at
siglt discount. The foOthod thus obtained In the
foreign markets has been retained since then win the
return of prosperous times prices advanced ana Win
them there slight decline In the amount OF goods
e1portcd The trade to-day, though not SO large Is
moro legitimate"
HWhat Is yOnr best maTketf"
think Havana is about the best at present Cubans
nae about per cent more glassware IN proportion 10
their population than do here. South America is also
a good market. There some peculiartes about our
trade with the latter country which are interesting The
market doesn't change down there as 1t does almost
ayerywbere else. The people want the same patterns
hoth in form and size year after year 1t very diff
cult to introduce anything They are satisfied with
what their fathers used. II doesn't matter how many
improvements yOu make both as to qualify and Style
they sti cling their old notions in regard TO the tit
Of /
north with cargoes OF coffee and dyesnts to load with
Glassware for the return trip. They buy the cheap
grades for about So barrel and realize falr proht from
Inc sale on their arriy at Rio JanelrO
How do you classify glass g0Odsi ~,
"Thcre are general classes, lime ana crystal Inc
lime glass Is the cheaper We can give to 1t all the mp
pearance OF the crystal hut the ring OF the latter WIZ
has the real bell ring There difference of 40 per cent
between the lime and crystal glass IA tue quy o., tne
s tSas. an" O'H'r "'A'0''''' '''p''' ' - -
Do YOU think that you produce as fine goods here
in rrla md nm iTAuge!'
Yes do. But the main dinicnlty lies In the fact
that we cannot manufacture such glass as cheapy as
fbev .n in those countries where labor may he bought
for mere song Therefore the American uAnuiaetnrer
has M imdnce9eut 10 encourage him to produce high
Ia .S,da ~ goods am very sure market would
speedily absorb glassware OF this Character s cost
cpnld he kent down as low as the imported article Tho
old de. that all fine goods must be manufactured abroad
Is fast dying ont AL pressed ware tunbiers T n
dishes tea SETS etc, made from the lime glass our
exports are almost entirely confined TO tins CLASS rms
seems the only line OF goods IN when we can SUE
cessiuly compete with foreign manufacturers. we mako
The most Of our sales through commission merchants
They send their orders aud We I'll them Tor any part
Of the world Frequently few houses abroad contfOl
the exclusive right TO certain patterns Of glassware.
We make contracts with manufacturers or large orders
of goods ri given des4gn We are Obliged 10 chIry a
large stoob goods In order to be ready Ia meet
any delSad ma%S PP1 TO "a about 81 oooo
The reporter called upon several Importers ana
"Onr export trade don a"o1t ~ TS0'o oo0 40 S'
England nlonopOlizes II ALL Although SZ,3oo,VVo III
capital is invested In the manufacture or plate ana
window glass in this country, we cannot eompete VITA
foreign manufacturers. About one third OF au Inc gss
best we can only underse foreign plato glass by about
per regards the comparative merits OF foreign
aud domestic plate glass viii say that there are few
people who tell the difference In this city American
plate used i'll the White Equitable Morse and
Kelly Buildings Out West 1t is liked Just as well as
foreign. No colored glass windows are made in this
country. Belgium has worldwide reputation for the
manufacture of these goods Labor Is cheaper there
than IN England and for that her dealers
derse their British rivals The average cost of painted
windows is ~ cents square foot Scotland has also
vDn a reputation for her plain colored windows. Ii
will M long limo before America will be able estab
ijsb foreign arket for her goods. We have an abund
snce OF coal sand soda and other materials for making
but while labor remains at the present high figure
we cannot hope compete with TRANSATLANTIC mauutao-