The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-02-29
Printing Paper and Ink Go Up.

Printing Paper and Ink Go Up. |
Commercial printers will soon be COM
PEELED to ask advances on virtually all
grades Of work. The more than 5O0l
commercial printeries In Philadelphia !
are beginning to feel the pinch of the
dyestuff and chemical shortage caused
by the war. Material advances have
been made by the manufacturers of
papers and inks in the last three months,
and while local printers generally have
been meeting conditions by accepting
considerable curtailment of profit, those
in touch with the situation say the
problem is serious one and adequate
advances to customers are the only
solution.
Franklin w. Heath, secretary of the
Typothetae Of Philadelphia, said that
colored inks had advanced the past few
months from 25 to 200 per cent over the
normal and printers are now paying
from one-half to cents a pound more
than year ago for virtually all grades
OF paper. Advances of one-fourth toone-
half cent pound have been put into
effect within the past few weeks by
manufacturers of coated book papers.
According to Mr.. Heath, the printing
business has recovered in marked de-
gree from the depression of year ago,
and despite the increased cost Of produc-
ton the outlook is good for increased
volume of business, most of the estab-
lishments being busy at present and
having fair volume of orders ahead
There has been marked falling off of
catalogue orders, due to manufacturers
generally being unable, since the war, to
adjust prices on a stable basis. This
meant considerable loss to the printeries,
but in measure the decrease in cata
logue printing has been made up by a
large increase in orders for circulars and
folders, which, partly due to a recent
parcels post ruling, having become a
more popular medium of advertising in
many lines.
Fancy printing in colors is already
falling off and may go out altogether
printers say, unless the dye situation is
relieved. AS the manager of one of the
largest job houses in Philadelphia says
I'VE will be doing our fancy work in
black and white before long, if colorec
inks keep getting more scarce and cost
lily. There was time in the trade wheI
the printer didn't bother to figure the
i, ink on a job, but that time is long pas
md the cost of ink, especially colors, ii
Today big item.''
Not only has the price of inks advanc
ed, but printers are complaining tina
scarcity of dyes and chemicals has haC
the effect of reducing quality, and al
official of large house offered in illus
, tration, the fact that 80 pounds of inl
we're used in run of 200 on certain
stock job year ago. while a run o
900 on the same job last week requir
ed Is pounds.
A circular sent out few days ago by
irwin N. Megargee & Co., to their print
shop customers reflects present con
ditions in the paper trade. The circula
reads:
i Realizing that it may be difficult TO
you to explain to your customers the ad
vance in prices of papers, we are givinI
you below the old as well as new price
on various materials which we use il
making coated and uncoated papers:
Casein. was exc. now tic to 2Sc.
Alum was lc; now &c.
Soda ash, was Csc cwt.; now 2<c lib.
Rosin, was S3.75 bbl.; now $3.50 Dbl.
Bleached sulphite. was &2.65 cwt.; now 81
o 4Zc ID.
Satin white. dry weight. was sc; now SC.
Aniline cOlOrs, was 40c per h.; now $40 Id.
Fourdr1nier wires, Was 29c 50. IT.; now sec.
Wooden and cotton felts have advanced i
| % 20 per cent.
Thirds and blues, was sl.S5 cwt.; now ~
per ID.
Bleach. was Nc h.; now TO- (Unobtainable)
IF you will make use of this informa
ton, we believe you will find it easier t.
explain to your customers the advance
in the cost Of papers"