Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-05

A general average minimum In.
crease OF 90 per cent in photo ensrav.
ings viii become operative in New
York City on April 3. This was de-
cided upon Tuesday evening at
meeting of the Photo Engrayers'
Board OF Trade OF New York, and Is
based upon the standard scale for sell
ing their products adopted by the Ma.
tional Association of Photo Engra"-
ers at the Chicago convention In
June, 1915.
In discussing the proposed increase
with a representative Of the Editor
aud Publisher, one OF the officials Of
the Photo Engrayers' Board Of Trsae
said that the standard scale is De.
signed ON cost plus legitimate profit.
One of the important items in the
cost, he said. was the increased cost
Ct labor, necessitated by q new labor
agreement entered into by the board
of Trade with the Photo Engrayers'
Union, which became effective April ).
Some Reasons for Advance.
Another reason for the increase, he
pointed out. was the greatly increased
cost of raw materials, which have
risen from SO per cent to l246 per
cent In the last year and a half.
AS q forerunner to the proposed IN.
crease, the various members of the
Board of Trade have sent to each OF
their customers circular entitled.
why Photo Engraving Is Costing
More" and showing a comparison OF
the prices quoted In July, 1914, and
March, 1916.
In this schedule copper, one Of the
principal ingredients Of photo engrav-
inv, is shown to have increased IS per
cent, or from 351a cents in July,
1914, to SO cents In March. 1916.
Zinc, another Of the important raw
materials, is shown to have increased
24O per cent, while 40 per cent nitric
acid and 20 per cent muriatic acid
have each increased 100 per cent The
biggest increase, according to the cir
cular, was In potassium bromide.
which rose from Al cents in July, 1914,
to $3.50 in March, 1916, or 1916 per
cent. Other large increases quoted
are: Mercury bichloride, COS per
cent; hydroquinine, TO per cent;
copper silphate, 2S4 per cent; acetie
acid. $40 per cent; acetone, 225 per
cent.
Hiaher Prices fer Small Cuts.
Analysing the new scale of prices.
the Board OF Trade points out that
the burden of the increase viii fall
upon small engravings, while the IN
crease in the large plates viii be pro-
portionately small. Under the present
method of price making. the Board Of
Trade states, the profits OF the bust
ness are Almost wholly derived from
the "fat" on the large engravings.
With the new scale in operation there
will be, according to the estimate Of
the Board of Trade, reasonable
profit.
This means that three-inch engrav.
iEgs win cost proportionately that
much more than two-inch engravings.
and so on upwards to the largest en-
cravings. BY this method, It Is esti.
mated that while the cost OF the small
engraving will average considerably
more than the large engraving, yet
the generally yearly cost to the con-
sumner will be practically the same as
now.
AT the meeting Of the Board OF
Trade on Tuesday evening, "a mem
bers, representing "a concerns, were
present. A meeting Of the board OF
directors of the Board OF Trade was
held On Wednesday afternoon, st
which the action of the Board OF
Trade was ratified, after which the
new scale of prices was ordered
and distributed to the customers Of
the members. Introductory to the die.
tribution of the new price scale. q
circular letter will also be sent out.
informing the customers Of the pro
posed increase and setting forth the
reasons.