Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-15
WALL PAPER.
Pittsburg Has the Second Largest Jobbing
Trade in the Country in This Line
SOME INTERESTING FACTS IN THAT
CONNECTION.
The Manner in Which a Leading HOUSE
Conducts the Business.

For a quarter of century Mr.. John S.
Roberts has been in the wall paper business.
serving in every capacity from clerk to pro-
| prietor. In order to obtain information re-
garding branch of business which is in
many peoples minds about spring season, a
call was made on Mr.. Roberts in his new
location, 1921 Liberty street. yesterday.
"Yes," said Mr.. Roberts, in reply to
questions, ''it is fact, although not gen.
| orally known, that our iobbing business is
the largest i'll the country, with one excep-
tion. We keep about a dozen statesmen on
| the road during ten months of the year, and
| our receipts of wall paper average three
carloads week the year round. Of course,
much of this is reshipped by us to our retail
| customers, so that between receipts and re-
| hin;Eents we handle about one carload of
wall paper every working day of the year.
OYr business goes largely through seven
States, and in lesser quantities to 10 or II
Others
MULTIPLICITY OF DESIGNS
When asked regarding the number of pat
terms and coloriugs which were represented
in so extensive a trade, Mr.. Roberts re-
ferred to his books and stated that they had
in stock, or else in samples which could be
promptly supplied, over I, 900 varieties in
wall papers and 1000 in borders. This tre-
ingenious system of bookkeeping that it is
possible at a very few moments notice to
tell exactly how many rolls of any particu-
lar pattern are on hand: and, in fact, it is
possible to take account of stock from these
records without going through the six
stories and basement, which are piled full
of rolls and bundles of paper. But of
course personal examination of stock is
required to show the condition of the goods.
! al
order for your trade? Is not that the risky
part of your business?"
"Well," answered Mr.. Roberts, 'tno man
can tell whether pattern will prove popu-
lar until it is presented to the retail trade.
The manufacturers get up their new de-
signs earlv in the summer The jobbers
then work night and day during July and
August to put samples of these into book
form for their travelling salesmen, who
start to visit the trade early in September.
Sales are usually made for delivery in
March. When the jobbers' orders accumu-
late the manufacturers start TO turn out the
stock, and many design, that at first seemed
sure to find favor everywhere, is left far be-
hind by some pattern that was not so much
esteemed. In fact, we never trust our judg-
ment as to which papers will sell best-we
wait to ascertain before ordering"
: MUST ALWAYS HAVE SOME OLD STOCK.
Mr. Roberts smiled when asked how he
managed to get rid of old stock,sso as to
keep up with the times and show as fine
novelties as wall paper men newly engag-
ing in business. "The fact is that old,
standard papers are a necessity to first
class wall paper establishment, he said;
''the worst drawback to the dealer now en-
gaging in business is his inability to obtain |
some of these old papers which are not
manufactured now. For instance, dark |
dado which is very frequently called for |
must be obtained from some lucky dealer |
who has it in stock. They no longer make |
them. Similarly with such specialties as
perspective papers, used in churches and |
Corinthian columns, which are needed for |
theaters and halls These are nearly un- |
attainable except from a frst-class dealer |
who has kept them in stock. might men |
tion others, but these will illustrate what |
mean. 4"
The reporter was guided through this i'm
mense establishment from cellar to
sixth story, everywhere finding that even
these acres of floor space were crowded with
the stock needed for the trade In fact, |
scatfoldings and shelves are being added in
every corner to accommodate more bundles.
Yet If receipts stopped it would take only
two weeks business to completely deplete
the stock. Mr.. Roberts keeps the largest
line of holdings in the State-or, perhaps,
in the country-and it is fact that if every |
branch of business in Pittsburg transacted
the same proportion of the trade of the
United States that is done here in wall pa
per jobbing, the streets could not contain
'he vehicles required to handle them
The retail department is on the first floor,
md comfort and excellent light are features
which will be appreciated.