The Washington times., 1915-03-01
U.S.Firm Finally Wins.
South American Trade
Story of Collins Machete Classic Illustration of the
Progress of American Enterprise in South.
Had Bitter Fight.
BY JUDSON C. WELLIVER.

The story OF the Collins machete is
the classic illustration Of the progress
of American enterprise in Latin
America.
Collins, All American manufacturer,
turned out machete that he, knew
was better than the instrument of war
fare and forestry that the South and
Central Americans were accustomed to
use. He felt certain that IL the people
down there knew what a good piece of
steel he had they would give. him
the business.
But they didn't know
So Collins sent statesmen with sam-
pies Of his machete to visit the coun-
tries where they use that vicious instru-
ment. A machete Is an implement OF
war--snd a mighty bad one--when war
is requiring attention. and in peace It
Is versatile agricultural implement,
used especially for cutting a passage
through the jungle, slashing down cane,
and the like.
Only Bought From Germany.
Collins statesmen took his sample
machetes through the tropical countries
and tried to sell them. Nothing doing
The countries we're supplied with ma
chetes, which they bought from Ger
many. There was no business In sight
However. the salesmen managed to
give away their samples. and as they
had carried plenty Of them along. they
got a good distribution.
Then the statesmen went home, and
the enterprise was charged up to profit
and loss. II turned out to be profit.
, contrary to the usual experience in
such cases
After a while stray inquiries began
to come in to the home Office. There
were demands for this Collins machete
1t had made good.
Pretty soon II began to be necessary
to give particular attention to these or
ders. They came faster and faster.
! The business grew into an important
affair. The territory spread out wider
and wider.
Turned Out Imitation.
After a time the Germans, who have
controlled the machetc traffic. discov-
cred that they were not holding It..
They put on a stunt which the South
American specialists say is characteris-
tic Of a certain element Of the German
and Belgian business people.
They turned out n machete in -xact
! imitation OF the Collins one. The name
collins" was branded on every one OF
the MADE In L. s. a." Instruments;
and on the opposite SIDE OF the blade
! was a picture of an alligator. Both
the name "Collins'' and the alligator
werc reproduced on the German prod
ucts
| For a time Collins began to get less
testimony to the success OF his South
| American invasion. Then curious
thing happened.
The German Collins" knives
didn't stand the pressure so we'll as the
ones from the L. s. A.: but how could
| the buyer tell what he was getting
| The Germans were out to steal the
/ name and reputation of tho American
| article. and they made the imposition
| as complete AS possible.
| It turned out that the alligator on the
| American machete was just a trihe
smaller than that on the German. So
| little was the divergence that IT was
| necessary TO use a glass and be an cI-
| port in order to make certain whether
particular instrument was tho Cor
! man or the American article.
But the country had decided in favor
! or the American goods. The man hack
ing his way through a canchrake or n
| Jungle would spend all his time hack
| ing. II he had an American blade. II
he had a German. ne would be whetting