Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-06
CHEAP WORK ABROAD.
German Va. American Sewing Machines
Report Of Consul Monaghan.

United States Consul Monaghan at Mannheim
reports as follows: Germany is producing about
100000 sewing machines annually. OF those
destined for the foreign trade many find their
way into all the countries of South America,
and, strange as it may seem. a consignment has
been sent to Chicago, in the United States. An
enterprising member of a very progressive and
enterprising firm is gong around now with the
idea of shipping regular consignments to the
United States gotten up with titles, Ornamental
tons. &C., to meet or make trade with the
many millions of Germans in the United States,
if with no one else. He is looking for good
agent. The titles. instructions, decorative de-
signs. in fact. every thing about the machines,
is to be German. This firm is the second largest
in the empire, it produces about 3d. 600 ma
chimes IN year and employs aDoas Oo
machine. With this they are beating our man
ufacturers SO they claim, in every country out
side of the United States. Why and how! First,
because they produce and sell much cheaper,
if Inferior article, and. as far as inferIority
goes they claim that ours is better only in
finish and decoration; that theirs answers the
peoples wants Just as well, and "once this be-
comes known poor people, buying things for
work rather than for ornamentation. buy ours
(the Germany and save the difference IN price
for pictures or something else; besides you
Americans give them what you make, what you
think is best, allowing them to know nothing
about the matter, while we make an effort to
find out their desires;
THEY ARE THE BEST JUDGES
of what is best for them. Circumstances alter
cases is as good in Chilli, Peru, Brazil, Argen-
tine as in New York or London" This manu-
facturer confessed to me that his iron castings
are by no means SO good as ours and that we
have lots of better machines than those of Ger
M N q hr1t they ara nd hat
when manufacturers of the United States go
outiide to sell they must go prepared to meet
the wants of and respect the ideas of people
with whom they wish to make trade; and,
above all. that people get an idea that tools
and machinery lose in quality when they get
too much decoration and finish. The founder
of this firm was formerly in the United States;
he and his sons still retain their Ameri-
can citizenship. The company is now
what Is called an "Actiengeselschafft,
marks mot quite s25O,OOO) capital. With 700
workmen ii. e., men and and women, for much
OF the lighter work, decorating and box making,
is done by women and girls--these latter get
about % or "a cents day. they turn out $4,000
to 1900 machines year and pay about 500 900
own wood work out of native German woods,
poplar and pine, and black walnut for veneer
ing. The average wages for men is two marks
Qess than so cents) day. Even out OF this
tne uen save, auO are sOH1etlfueb. tnOugn sup
pose not often, stock holders in the company
for which they work. The superintendent said
they had quite number of such; that they are
very thrifty and very frugal; that strikes or So
called labor movements and agitation are I'M
known. This superintendent speaks excellent
English and, l may add, German. Spanish,
French and Italian. In answer to my question
as to the cause of the recent progress in Ger
many he said:
Right here is where the Germans are going
to beat the world. Not only their art and in
dustrial schools, but those for languages and
commercial training. are going to give them
the wing -footed or rather wing-tongued mes
sengers of trade"