The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-05

Milton BrOnner Christmas is that the manufacturers Of toys and Of Christmas ornaments begin work early in the year, and in the late winter and early spring months of l0Al priorities were not bothering factory owners.
 Time was when the bulk of toys for American children was imported from Europe and Japan. After the last war, . native toy industry sprang up and has been increasing ever since. For instance, taking loS9, tho last year for which figures are available, the United states import. cd 4iae,00 worth of dolls. But in America tho value of dolls Manufae- tured was 9l262o, 900. American doll and toy makers predict that the sale of toys and dolls this year will total more than &l00,000 900,
 Christmas tree ornaments once came largely from Germany, CSech- oslovakla and Japan, The glitterlng glass balls and other ornaments were largely made by hand. One big glass company now makes by Inacla- inc process as much In one year as dozens of European factories used to make. The newest thing In tree ore nATnents Is Q wide variety of plas- ties, and the Department of Com- merece here has c Christmas tree on display completely adorned with plasties.
 Next year the toy variety will he more restricted because lead and other metals will all 90 Into defense materials. Toy makers complain that 2,A00 tons of crude rubber, if allowed them, would make millions Of rubber toys.
 BIGGEST
 CHRISTMAS
 It is not only in Christmas toys and ornaments that the seasonal trade Is booming, The same applies to almost every branch Of Christi mas business. The higher pegeent- ago ln dollar figures Is partly due to higher prices for goods, but also applies to volume. Consumer spend. ing for ie4i Is expected to exceed all previous years, including the banner ones of le20 and ieA0.
 Employment In factories making goods for national defense has Swelled the national Income payments to in- dividuAlS to unprecedented figures. Thus, the Department of Commerce estimated the income for last Sep- tember would total Ss,0e0 900, 900, For ell of io4i it Is estimated an ale tlEne high will be attained, an in. crease over lo40 by one.slxth. Federal Reserve Bank figures show that for the first 10 l-2 months of le4i, department store sales gain cd l7 per cent above the same period last year. This has been especially marked in cities where large na- tional defense plants are located, the rise being anywhere from le per cent in Toledo to 30 in Norfolk.
 TAXES
 CUT SALES
 There has been and probably will continue to be for the balance of the year an easing-up in sales of radios, photographs, jewelry, per- fumes and furs, which are now heavily taxed. The ease.up is large- ly due to the fact that before these taxes went Into effect buying was heavy.
 Indications are that the supply of goods for the Christmas trade will Dc adequate, though the effects of the large draft of defense upon ma. terlals will be reflected In the rec duced availability of some individ- ual products. However, stocks for the Christmas trade are usually bought well In advance and govern- ment reports show that purchases have been made in anticipation of strong year-end business. Taking the years i029-25 as c yardstiek, with in- ventories for department stores ct 100, the inventories for September last year stood at 70, while in the same month for l94l they stood at s2.
 Government authorities refused to state what commodities would not be available aS usual. They said the published list would result in rush to buy that would exhaust the counters, and leave nothing for w.na,nM v.aASauk tAssx,aNp