Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-15


ed are two. In the first place if
some of the II ounce tars are placed
by 2 ounce jar, the II ounce con-
tainer would be taken to be the larg-
en-, not because of any unfair thick
ness OF glass but simply because
shapes are deceptive to the eye.
The other result is that while a
few cents may be saved on the II
ounce package, the multiplicity of
styles in jars and the closely graded
sizes are a costly proposition. The
manufacturer of glassware has to
make the odd sizes and shapes which
means additional complexity and
overhead expense in his factory. The
grocer has to buy the odd sizes to
| keep complete line Of stock on his
shelves, and the problem of how
| many jars of each size to order be-
/ comes more perplexing. And in the
| long run, as usual, the consumer
pays all of the expense.
Individuality Carried Too Far
The protest may be raised that a
distinctive container is great ad-
yeTtising asset to a firm. This no.
body denies. Sinplification experts
say that no one advocates taking
away the individuality of any pro-
carried into every minute point of
design. If attractive labels and tons
are used there is very little to be
gained by one firm swearing by
square Jars and another insisting on.
heXagonal shapes, especially as odd
styles of containers are more diff
cult and expensive to produce and
have nothing to do with the quality
OF the article purchased.
Economists urge that competition
should be based on quality and SER
NlceabilIty rather than on tricky
shapes OF containers and a confusing
number Of sizes. They also urge that
there should be a fixed terminoloZv
| throughout industry. Full size, for
instance, should mean one set of di
lnensions in an article. At present.
what one factory regards as a full
size blanket may be considerably diff
terent from the full size blanket put
ort bV another factory.
a manufacturer wishing to reduce
the expense OF production or to low
er the price on a line Of goods NAV
decide to cut one inch off the length
and width of his full size blankets.
ihls means perhaps $40 square
inches of goods saved on a single
ola Iiket- Another manufacturer
achieves economy by making his
blankets not quite so thick. The
average customer cannot be familiar
with all these variations. He asks
tor a full size wool blanket and
wonders vaguely at the variety in
prices, sizes, and textures shown
him.
The consumer may say, "But very
often a person does want a balnket
Just little lighter in weight than
the heaviest kind, or just a little mar
rover to fit a special bed" The an
swer to the second part of the argu-
ment is that makers u bedsteads,
mattresses and coverings should CO.
operate to staudardize dimensions.
! The answer to the first is that it
would be cheaper TO order a special
article once in a great while than to
pay a speciality price on almost
/ everything purchased.
! 1t has been amply demonstrated
that the demand for unusual articles
Is not great. The greater part of the
! business done by many firms is in
I a. comparatively small number of
items of its line. In other words
standard items make up the bulk OF
| trade.
/ Yet, manufacturers go on produc-
/ ing uncertain selling goods because
other manufacturers may get their
trade if they don't keep a full line
| Dealers have to buy the full line be-
cause the public may demand it. And
the public, accustomed to all the
compleXity does demand it Just Of
ten enough to keep the vicious cir
Gle revolving at full speed. The
simplification idea is tracking the
vicious circle and already it shows
signs Of slowing down.