Evening star., 1950-09-17
Camera Angles
Scare Buying of Photo Supplies Discouraged
ander J. Wedderburn
cvrator Of Photography
The Smithsonian institution

The Smithsor
There is much talk these days
about the hoarderS. There is the
woman who lines her pantry
shelves with sugar and the man
who has three extra sets of car
tires hidden in his garage. But
there is another type of hoarder
since the latest war crisis. We
regret to report that this speci-
men is of small group of photog-
raphers, both amateur and
professional, who are jamming
their darkrooms with Aim, paper
and other necessities.
Fortunately this group remains
small at the present time. Any
large scale buying of photo
graphic supplies is to be con-
demned for several reasons. In
the first place, there is absolutely
no reason to fear a shortage be-
cause of the present emergency.
The scope of the Korean action is
not large enough to have any
material effect on the photo
graphic supply market. AS a
matter Of fact, dealers are well
stocked and manufacturers have
given assurance of plentiful sup
plies of equipment and film, pa
per, chemicals, ETC., for the FORE
seeable future.
However, scare buying could
very well change the picture with
In a short time. Both dealers and
manufacturers are taking steps to
prevent any unusual sales of
Photographic material to indi-
viduals or firms. Normal trends
In the coming months indicate
that there will be the usual sea-
sonal increase in purchases.
Seasonal Demand Near.
The other factor which will
automatically promote sales in
the near future is the approach
of the Christmas season which
will begin to affect the profession
al studios, starting next month.
This will call for an upswing In
the sale Of Aim. paper and proc
essing supplies. The Christmas
season will also show a normal
rise in the sale Of cameras and
other items Of equipment. such as
lenses. exposure meters, tripods,
ash-guns and other accessories.
Both dealers and manufactur-
ers are keeping an eye open for
obvious attempts at prof1teering
and black market deals In the
making.
There are few signs that any
such attempts are In the making.
This is mainly because those
people, being In the know, are
well aware that the Photographic
industry is at a peak Of produc-
tion with even greater increases
In prospect. Few amateurs have
attempted to buy large quantities
of supplies in this city at least.
In other parts Of the country it
has been noted, in isolated IN
stances, that professional studios
are attempting to go beyond their
normal quotas of supplies for this
time of year. k
Manufacturers Act.
To meet any abnormal buying
situation, certain Of the large
manufacturers are placing certain
requests for film and paper on
back order and occasionally even
resort to the cancelling of an
order.
You. the amateur photographer,
will gain nothing by boarding
film, paper and chemicals. In
fact you will stand to lose greatly
in more ways than one by over
loading supplies. The first effect
of a general scramble for material
will, of course, be a general and
sharp increase in prices. This
will hit your pocketbook. Sec
ondly, a real and absolutely un-
necessary shortage of supplies
may develop while manufacturers
attempt to meet unexpected de-
mands from stocks on hand and
by increased and unhealthy over
production.
But most important to the in
dividual from g. purely selfish
standpoint is the high perishabil-
tty rate of films, papers and
chemicals. Any amateur worth
his salt is aware of the effects
of time on Photographic materials.
Film and paper will become out
dated long before it can be used
up, with a consequent loss of
quality. Chemicals will deteriorate
even more rapidly. The whole
point is that we have ample sup
plies with every reason to believe
that every photographer will be
able to obtain anything he needs
when and as the need arises.
In support of our contention let
us quote from a letter from the
worlds largest manufacturer of
Photographic supplies and equip
ment:
Many of you have expressed
interest or concern regarding the
future availability of Photographic
materials. In our opinion, there
are a few facts that seem self
evident and, at the same time,
reassuring.
"Our present rate of produc-
ton Of Photographic materials is
at an all-time high. We have
every expectation of continuing
at that rate and even an increas-
ing rate. It is true that we have
had to back order or cancel some
orders for sheet film that are
coming to us from our dealers.
This is because our dealers or
you, their customers. have placed
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