Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-13
INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE 500
MACHINE Is DOOMED.
WILL join THE S1OO BICYCLE.
TRUST IS EXPECTED To SLASH THE
PRICE SHORTLY.
Opposition Companies Are becoming
Too Numerous. and Stocks of Old
and New Machines Too
Lnrge-Pntcnts Are
Runnin. Out.

Chicago. Dec. 12.-EcfOrc the end of lSoS
the $i00 typewriter will LUve gone the way
of the 500 bicycle and have become as
much memory as the 500 sewing ma
chince of the '.0S-
This, in the opinion Of typewriter man
UfacturerS dealers and selling agents, is
the handwriting on the trade wall ahead
Of them. however much they may regret
it. The typewriter trust formed in April.
l''@. but not thoroughly organized until
June of that year, is finding very difficult
the attempt to maintain its Slt1 figure. so
!lSlGly held for the last four and oue-halt
years The price is 50 high that it not
only allows opposition concerns TO live. but
10 thrive and fatten as well. one OF the
bad features of the thing from the com
bination standpoint is that the old ma
chimes OF the trust companies are used as
Il club with which to beat 4 hole in the
combinations trade. So successfully has
this been done that the typewriter-usinE
public has become acquainted with the fact
that there are many machines as good as
the trust makes. and some even better
The opposition companies are making a
larger allowance for Il secondhand machine
OF trust make than would be allowed for it
by the combination itself. This amounts To
cut in TIE price of the opposition ma
chine and has often served to put it in
had a bad effect-from the combinations
standpoint. of course-as the use of the new
make often overcame the natural preju-
dices of the user of the old machines. So
rapidly are some of the opposition ma
chimes winning public favor, and so great
is the increase in new machines. that 1t is
believed. both by the trusts agents and
their competitors. that bold cut in prices
TO half the present figures would kill off
fully ~ per cent of the opposition COM
panies.
Many of the new companies. who are
financially strong, and who are therefore
In shape 10 reduce their price, have hes
tated to do SO in the fear that the reduc-
ton would class their comparatively un-
known machine as a low grade or cheaply
made. Many of the new companies who are
not so favorably situated. and who are
having a hard time to secure recognition
even under the present conditions would be
utterly wiped out.
As the patents on all of the essential i'm
provements in the typewriter ran out long
since, 1t IS now possible TO duplicate almost
any machine in the market-just as sewing
machines of all makes have been dupIicat-
ed for years. The matter having thus been
reduced to Il question of factory cost, the
time has. therefore. arrived for q bold
stroke to gain the supremacy in the mar
ket. That the stroke will fall. and very
soon, is not doubted in typewriter circles
The actual factory cost of the two makes
most prominently before the public is less
than Sl5-one of them, according to an ex-
employe, being made for less than ST. AL
lowing even the most liberal margin for
selling. advertising and all other expenses,
the buyer who pays $50 for any typewriter
in the market is paying 4 very respectable
profit.
Though ii Is by no means certain that
the first sweeping and open cuts will come
from the trust. it is from this direction
that the trade most fears 1t. 1t is known
that the big combination is heavily loaded
with old and new machines and il is be-
lieved it would like to make way with the
greater number of the loo different type
writers now made in this country
A report which has been current for sew
eral daySsthat one of the leading members
of the combination had given notice of an
intention to draw out in january has set
the trade here in a Quiver and there is an
eager inquiry for the facts.
1t was the contention of the withdrawing
so 1t is said. that all of the peo-
pie who could pay $50 for typewriters were
already supplied. and that the big field
now was to capture those of smaller
means. As it was known that the leading,
combine machines had been sold with a
hrst payment OF only s.. and, that the
scheme had not been favorably enough re-
ceiVed TO dispose of any great part of their
large stock. this story conceded with the
views of the trade.