Information concerning optical glass and chemical glassware by United States Tariff Commission

Author:United States Tariff Commission
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Optical instruments, Glassware, Glass manufacture -- United States, Tariff -- United States
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : Govt. print. off.
Published: 1919-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

VIEWS OF MANUFACTURERS, SCIENTISTS, IMPORTERS AND

OTHERS.

TARIFF COMMISSION CONFERENCE WITH GLASS MANUFACTURERS.

At the conference of the Tariff Commission with glass manufacturers at Pittsburgh, Pa., in January, 1918, the following statements relative to chemical glassware were made by the manufacturers named:

J. H. Fry, vice president of the H. C. Fry Glass Co., Rochester, Pa.:

Before the war, the chemical ware came principally from Germany. The price of that ware landed in this country was so low that there was no inducement to the manufacturer to make it. In fact, we never figured that we could compete in that field as long as we had to compete against the foreign ware.

These two lines have increased our factory production about $200,000 in the last year.

The technical problem in the chemical glass industry is to secure the proper mixture of materials and the required skill in manufacture. We had trouble in getting skilled labor with technical experience. It took us about six months to really get a production that was satisfactory.

A large quantity of chemical ware is used by the laboratories and colleges of the United States. If that ware comes in duty free, as under the conditions existing prior to the war, we can not compete. It is necessary to have tariff protection on that ware if we are to maintain the quality that we are now manufacturing: and it was necessary to get a good quality in order to replace the foreign ware We can sell a limited amount to the mills and factories, but as a rule, I do not think we would be justified in manufacturing either the quality or the large line that we are now making. The chief quantity consumed is used in the scientific and educational institutions. We have always felt that the colleges should pay a duty the same as anyone else on this ware. They should pay a duty, just the same as they have to pay the price on iron or anything else to build their buildings. We have to support the colleges, and the colleges in turn, I think, should support the manufacturers. We are always making donations to colleges, and it does not seem fair to have them buying one of their principal articles from the other side.

The German manufacturers had the materials, they had the skilled labor and they had the jump on us in producing this ware. We are getting the jump on them now because they are eliminated entirely. It remains to be seen what the effect of the war will be from the labor standpoint, and as to whether or not they will overtake us in manufacturing after the war. Of course we do not know. The reason that they had the advantage then was that the American factories could not compete. We have now proven that we can make a high quality of laboratory ware at reasonable prices.

To a certain extent there was a special prestige for German chemical ware in this country, which had to be overcome. Many of the chemists were Germans.

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