Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-29
In HARDWARE LINES.
A Large Fall Trade in Heavy Hard
ware Reported by JObbers.
MANUFACTURERS SMALL MARGIN.
Effects Of the New Tariff on Cutlery and
Tin Plate Goods.
CUT NAILS ARE SUPPLANTED Bl WIRE

OFFICE OF THE PITTsBURG DIsPATcH,l
TUESDAY. October Is 1890. I
October is one of the good months of the
gear for the general hardware trade. An
Interview Yesterday with representative OF
one of our leading Wholesale firms developed
the following facts concerning this great in
dustry: The demand for general hardware
is better than it usually is at this time.
Prices of heavy goods, such as nails and
iron, are now fairly steady, although the
tendency for the past month or more has
been toward lower prices. The grades of
steel from which these products are made
have been declining of late, and the effect is
seen in the decline of all finished products,
especially on heavy goods. There is a better
feeling, however, in the past few days, and it
now Looks as though prices would be stronger
fog the balance OF the year. At this time last
year there was quite furry in heavy hard
now. At present prices of both cut and wire
rails manufacturers claim that there is no
margin lett The card rates for cut steel nails
are 81 80 and wire nails & 80. A number OF the
Wheeling mills are making preparations to
change from cut nails to wire
nails. II has been demonstrated
that the change can be made st small expense
from the cut nail machine to the wire machine
Wire nails are steadily growing into favor and
bid fair dispace the cnt steel nail as the lat
ter displaced the iron. The production OF all
kinds IN the United States about two years ago
sggregat ed about l0OO0,0OU kegs. At that time
about 10 per cent OF The total product were wire
nails. Now the product in this line Is not less
than so per cent of The whole. Ihere rs out
one establishment ia this city engaged IN Ine
manufacture of cut nails. ana that IN smalI
wav Several firms which In former years dld
an immense business in this, have OF late turned
their attention TO other products. There is
now a Southside mill OF large capacity, and
Fslr,cl. TTnrp nai1S
and demand j. good for the entire product.
Nethcds IN vogue ten years ago are no longer
profitable and the manufacturer who cings to
tue old ways viii soon find himself in the rear.
Signs of Unusual Activity.
There is unusual activity in the line of build |
ers' hardware. Prices vary little this season |
from last but there is greater demand for |
higher class of goods. A better class of houses |
than formerly are going up. and with the I'M
proved style of dwellings and business houses |
comes the demand for a better grade Of build- |
ers hardware. AS to the effect of the new tariff 4
hardware, the following facts were de- /
velopeG: There has been an advance of about |
2o per cent in the price of cheap cutlery and |
carving knives. The principal advance has |
been on the cheaper grades of cutlery On Ger
ma knives of the finer grade the advance has |
!. cen very slight. The furry on tlnware has no |
solid founda ion on which TO rest. There is at
present no good reason for anv advance in tin
ware. the new tariff, so far as this class of
goods Is concerned. Will not 60 into effect
until July ]. 1891 Up to that time dealers will
be able to lay in big stocks from abroad at old
Ta,es. so that the advance from the new tariff /
'rll. not be due for a year ahead. The talk of
-'1 per cent advance on tin cups is the product
yf wild imagination.
Wheat and Flour.
The No UtUeSteH Miller has this to say of
the situation in its current number: The Min
neapolis market Is stronger than it was a week
ago In 1857 there were 100000 bushels of
wheat IN the elevators az this time and in lSS6
T. 00O 600 bushels At this time there are only
5 900 900 bushels, and there was about the same
quantity in the elevators year age. The weak
factor Of wheat and -four markets is the Euro
psdn situation. Late London advices report
markets as dull and disposition on the part of
buyers 10 purchase only for immediate wants.
Stocks Of -four in the principal cities of Europe
are about the same year ago.