The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-03-25
BRITISH CUTLERY.
SHAM AND sHopcY GOODS MADE IN
SHEFFIELD.
Tho "ivory" Handles Of Knives. Canoe and
Umbrellas Are Made Of an Explosive
Compound Dangerous In the House.
Avoid British Zylonite.
SHEFFIELD. Feb. 10,

SHEFFIELD. Feb. 10.
The great weight of cutlery which
has, is being and will be dispatched to
your side consists principally of low
grade of goods at corresponding price.
Every conceivable form of adultera-
ton, trickery, misrepresentation and We
neer is resorted 10 in order TO deceive
and alloy, and so long as some of our
producers can get orders il matters
nothing to them who is afterward
sold" The latest manifestation of
this sharp work was revealed to me by
one in the cutlery trade the other day.
SIS there any adulteration carried on
in the trade of Sheffield?" asked. The
man laughed at me, evidently plying
my ignorance.
"Adulteration - he whined out. 81
should think there is. for with foreign
competition. especially from the Ger
mans, with taxation on our goods in
'Amurica, and with people here want
ing to buy stuff for nowt,' our masters
have to resort to deception and adulter-
alton heavily"
"But in what way do you put shod-
dy into your goods?" This seemed to
put him on his mettle, and he produced
box containing a large quantity of
knickknacks.
"Just come here" he said sharply,
"and I'll illustrate what l mean in a
practical manner. He went on:
Sheffield. sir. as you we'll know, Is
noted the world over for its products in
table cutlery. The day was when for
hats or handles we used nothing but
real bone or ivory. but such is not the
case today. With the change of fashion
and the common rank and file the world
over wanting to be in style like the 'up-
per ten, naturally at dinner time they
want their table cutlery to appear white
and clean. There are thousands upon
thousands who, because their knives
and forks look nice and clean, think
they are ivory halted, and they bought
them as such, but they are as mistaken
and befooled as they never were in all
their lives before.
Just you examine this piece of ma
terial closely" he said as he handed
me table knife haft. Examine it
thoroughly, test it we'll, do as you like
with it and then tell me what you
think is the material. p"
/ obeyed the command thoroughly
and then pronounced it Ivory. said {:
ITS got every appearance Of ivory. It's
white, thoroughly hard, strong and
family streaked."
He said cbeerily: Its no more ivory
than am ivory. It's manufactured
substance called zylonite. resembling in
every point and degree ivory itself, but
to any person out Of the trade it cannot
be deciphered between the real and this
sham ivory. Only experts can possibly
tell one from the other, the two being
to all appearances identical"
''But what is this zy lonite?" 1 asked.
"That, sir, / cannot tell All know
is it's secret composition known only
TO the makers themselves. AN know
about it is this: 1t has already replaced
ivory 60 per cent in the production of
hats for table cutlery. p"
but can this composition be manip-
ulated into everything where real ivory
was once used?
"No matter what you want to pro-
duce it can be used for everything in
the place of ivory, thus materially re-
ducing the cost in the manufacturer s
: hands. But it is always sold as ivory to
the ignorant public outside. It's used
very extensively for making hafts for
table cutlery, for ladies umbrella han
dies, walking sticks, ladies workboxes
! and many other things"
| prt foil hon fIa u
lie may know one from the other and
thus escape oftentimes being gulled?"
"Well," he said thoughtfully, THAT
is difficult matter, but I'll show you
how you may know the one from the
other. This manufactured zylonite,
when it's in polished state, as you find
it ON knife handles, is always inflam-
mable. Look" he said as he struck a
: match and applied it to the piece of zy-
lonite, "see how it blazesr' And literal.
ly the lighted end blazed.
"Then this zylouite is very largely
used in the trade Of Sheffield to replace
ivory, is it?'
: II should consider that at least &C
per cent Of all the table cutlery turned
out here carries with it a zylonite haft.
1.-THE manufacture Of zylonite is Sc
? cret process. The price varies from time
I to time, and black ESQ it seems it can be
had in all colors) is usually cheaper
than other colors. The difference be.
tween the price Of this and real ivory il
, not very much, but being made in
sheets, rods and tubes there is very Lit.
tie waste, and therefore it comes in
{ considerably cheaper. -
Today on this side everything of q
shoddy character is furnishing, while
real, substantial, sound, genuine stuff
is at discount. And who is to helI
largely in the consumption of it? The
answer can only be: The American PEG
pie as long as they have low tariff.
YANKEE.