Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-23
Is NOT ENCOURAGING.
The Outlook for Filling Your Pantry
Shelves for the Winter.
CANNED FRUIT WON'T BE PLENTY,
Because the Season is Slow and Very Back
ward This Year.
THE WOMEN STICK TO SEALING WAX

Inquiry among the manufacturers and
dealers in cans for fruit, develops the fact
that the old-fashioned tin can of the grand
mothers holds its place in popular favor, in
spite of the multiplication of patent sealers
for glass cans. The sale of cans of all kinds
has been less this year than during the
previous two or three years, because of the
backwardness of the season and the de-
creased production of fruit.
Rankin & Holdship, manufacturers of
cans and pals, report steady increase in
the general trade in manufactured tin goods,
but very poor demand for fruit cans. Mr..
Holdship said yesterday: "Last year we
sold about 1000 gross of cans for fruit. 1t
was good season. This year the season is
backward. 1t has been wet and cold. OF
course. as we deal only with the wholesale
trade, we cannot tell as much about the
fluctuations of the consumers demands as a
retailer. think tin cans for preserving
fruit are holding their own, although glass
cans are now used for many kinds of fruit.
Some fruits contain acids which attack the
tin and the solder. Tomatoes contain
considerable acid, but tin is generally
used for them by wholesale Gamers. Cam
ming houses prefer tin because it is more
safely shipped, not being so liable to break
age. That makes no difference with persons
who can for family use.
"There has been no decrease in the price
of tin plate since this firm took possession
here, but that has been only IS months.
The price of tin plate controls the price of
tin cans and other tinware. While there
may be slight falling off in the demand
for fruit cans this season, there is steady
increase when we take the business of three
or four years together"
A SLOW SEASON.
John Dunlap & Co. turn out the stamped
tops and bottoms for cans which they sell to-
other manufacturers. Mr.. Dunlap said:
"Last year we sold about: 19, 900 gross Of
tops and bottoms 1 think this will be an
average season, although it is very late.
The tomato crop has hardly begun. Tin
cans are used generally for tomatoes and
peaches, which come at the end of the can
ming season. 1t is, therefore, little too
early to say how the canning season will be-
1t is slow so far, but the last halt of the
season may make up for it. 1 hardly think
it will, however. The peach crop will be
light. The sale of cans to consumers runs
until about the end of September"
Demmler Brothers deal with the retail
tinware trade. One of the members of the
firm said yesterday: "This has been a weak
season for tin cans. The fruit crop Is light,
and tomatoes and peaches are specially
scarce. In tact, they are just coming into
the market. Another thing, last season
there was a great deal of fruit, and the
women put up so much stuff that many fam
lilies have a great deal lett over this year.
We are taking care not to get too large a
stock on hand.
"One retailer was telling me yesterday
that his customers are falling back to tin
cans. A great deal of fruit can't stand