Evening star., 1952-02-21
Quarterly Anotments
0fAIuminunl, Copper,
Brass Cut Slightly

Another slight cut in allotments
of brass, copper and aluminium in
the second-quarter of this year
faced manufacturers Of civilian
type products today.
In announcing the cut, the Ma
tional Production Authority said
some producers of less-essentia1
items who were obliged to operate
under earlier deep cuts would re-
Iceive allotment increases.
At the same time. Defense Pro-
duction Administrator Manly
Fleischmann indicated there is q
chance that users of sheet steel
can obtain additional amounts
during the quarter, provided they
did not need complementary
boosts in copper and aluminium.
The reduction Of copper, brass
and aluminium available should
still be sufficient to keep supply
lines filled. particularly of the
more essential items like refriger-
ators, vacuum cleaners and certain
other items. National Production
A Administrator Henry H. Fowler
said.
Amazed by Ingenuity.
Mr.. Fowler and Mr.. Fleischmann
answered questions at news con-
ference, when the ALLEGATIONS were
announced.
Mr.. Fowler said he was sur
prlsed at the ingenuity manufac>
turers had displayed in the use
lof substitute materials and in
otherwise conserving scarce metals
to keep production up, despite
allotment slashes.
He said it has not been unusual
for firms to maintain IS per cent
OF production with only so per
lcent OF scarce materials normally
used.
To questions as to whether Ger
tain steel items have not begun
TO back up in inventory, Mr..
tleischmann replied:
"One swallow doesn't make a
summer" indicating that the basic
overall shortage still exists. He
went on to explain that author
lzed demand for steel is now closer
to the supply available" attribut-
ing that condition to the effect
OF the controlled materials plan.
Discounts Over Supply.
He conceded that "here and
there. on a mill schedule, there
is an empty space" but he said
that doesn't mean there is an
over-supply of steel.
Relative scarcity, he said. "va-
rles from product to product but
there is no basic change in the
supply demand picture"
In the case of sheet steel. he
said. there has been an easing Of
demand.
I'VE will try to increase allo-
cation Of sheet steel to certain
users, provided they don't need
additional copper and aluminium. y
he said.
In announcing the second quar-
ter allotments, Mr.. Fowler said
NPA is moving in the direction of
greater uniformity Of allotments
among producers of civilian-type
goods" to help as much as possible
to prevent plant shut-doWns.
Some Increased Allotnaents.
Under this principle, he said,
most manufacturers of civilian
type products will be allotted the
same amount Of steel in the Sec
ond quarter as in the first quarter,
and 80 per cent of their base
period usage of brass mill, copper
foundry and aluminium products.
In the first quarter allotments for
this type of production were IS
per cent copper 40 per cent for
wire mill products) and IS per
cent for aluminium.
Increases in allotments were
granted yesterday to makers of
cigarette lighters, costume jewelry
and novelties, handbags and lug
gage hardware.
Higher aluminium allotments
were received by makers of 43
items, ranging from storefronts to
beer barrels, from milk bottle
lcrates to Venetian blinds.