Hi all,
After yesterday's post I thought about the Custom House and where the Mexican Tariffs were enforced, which reminded me that over the years I've heard various authors ask about other career choices for characters other than school teacher, cowboy, etc. Has anyone ever considered a Custom House employee? Wikipedia describes a Custom House as a place to process paper work for the import and export of goods. Custom Houses were vital to our economy during the 19th century. And personally, I think there are a lot of interesting situations that could come up in a Custom House.
Below is an excerpt from a math book, yes a math book. It lays out the various jobs and definitions in or surrounding a custom house.
CUSTOM-HOUSE BUSINESS.
712. A Custom-House is an office established by government for the transaction of business relating to the collection of customs or duties, and the entry and clearance of vessels.
713. A fort of Entry is a seaport town in which a custom-house is established.
714. The Collector of the Port is the officer appointed by government to attend to the collection of duties and to other custom-house business.
715. A Clearance is a certificate given by the Collector of the port, that a vessel has been entered and cleared according to law.
By the entry of a vessel is meant the lodgment of its papers in the custom-house, on its arrival at the port.
716. A Manifest is a detailed statement, or invoice, of a ship's cargo.
No goods, wares, or merchandise can be hrought into the United States by any vessel, unless the master has on board a full manifest, showing in detail the several items of the cargo, the place where it was shipped, the names of the consignees, etc.
717. Duties or Customs are taxes levied on imported goods.
The general object of such taxes is the support of government, but they are also designed sometimes to protect the manufacturing industry of a country against foreign competition.
718. A Tariff is a schedule showing the rates of duties fixed by law on all kinds of imported merchandise.
Duties are of two kinds, Specific and Ad Valorem.
719. A Specific Duty is a fixed sum imposed on articles according to then- weight or measure, but without regard to their value.
720. An Ad Valorem Duty is an import duty
assessed by a percentage of the value of the goods in the
country from which they are brought.
Before computing specific duties, certain deductions, or allowances, are made, called Tare, Leakage, Breakage, etc.
721. Tare is an allowance for the weight of the box, cask, bag, etc., that contains the merchandise.
722. Leakage is an allowance for waste of liquors imported in casks or barrels.
723. Breakage is an allowance for loss of liquors imported in bottles.
724. Gross Weight or Value is the weight or value of the goods before any allowance is made.
725. Net Weight or Value is the weight or value of the goods after all allowances have been deducted.
The source is "The Complete arithmetic, oral and written" by Daniel W. Fish ©1876
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
How to Rent a Farm
From Houghtaling's Handbook of Useful Information ©1887
In the rental of property, the greater risk is always on the landlord's side. He is putting his property into the possession and care of another, and that other is not unfrequently a person of doubtful utility. These rules and cautions may well be observed.
1. Trust to no verbal lease. Let it be in writing, signed and sealed. Its stipulations then become commands and can be enforced. Let it be signed in duplicate, so that each party may have an original.
2. Insert such covenants as to repairs, manner of use and in restraint of waste as the circumstances call for. As to particular stipulations, examin leases drawn by those who have had long experience in renting farms, and adopt such as meet your case.
3. There should be covenants asainst assigning and underletting.
4. If the tenant is of doubtful responsibility, make the rent payable in installments. A covenant that the crops shall remain the lessor's till the lessee's contracts with him have been fulfilled, is valid against the lessee's creditors. In the ordinary case of renting farms on shares, the courts will treat the crops as the joint property of lord and tenant, and thus protect the former's rights.
5. Every lease should contain stipulations for forfeiture and re-entry in case of non-payment of breach of any covenants.
6. To prevent a tenant's committing waste, the courts will grant an injunction.
7. Above all be careful in selecting your tenant. There is more in the man than there is in the bond.
In the rental of property, the greater risk is always on the landlord's side. He is putting his property into the possession and care of another, and that other is not unfrequently a person of doubtful utility. These rules and cautions may well be observed.
1. Trust to no verbal lease. Let it be in writing, signed and sealed. Its stipulations then become commands and can be enforced. Let it be signed in duplicate, so that each party may have an original.
2. Insert such covenants as to repairs, manner of use and in restraint of waste as the circumstances call for. As to particular stipulations, examin leases drawn by those who have had long experience in renting farms, and adopt such as meet your case.
3. There should be covenants asainst assigning and underletting.
4. If the tenant is of doubtful responsibility, make the rent payable in installments. A covenant that the crops shall remain the lessor's till the lessee's contracts with him have been fulfilled, is valid against the lessee's creditors. In the ordinary case of renting farms on shares, the courts will treat the crops as the joint property of lord and tenant, and thus protect the former's rights.
5. Every lease should contain stipulations for forfeiture and re-entry in case of non-payment of breach of any covenants.
6. To prevent a tenant's committing waste, the courts will grant an injunction.
7. Above all be careful in selecting your tenant. There is more in the man than there is in the bond.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Cooking for Business Omelets Part 2
from Cooking for profit: ©1893 What I find fun about this cookbook is not only the recipes but also the comments about cost. Which is very helpful imho when working on our historical novels.
Omelets:
87—Plain Omelet.
Two eggs and one teaspoonful of railk. Add a pin«h of salt, beat in a bowl enough to thoroughly mix but not make il too light, as if the omelet rises like a souffle it will go down agaiu, so much the worse.
Pour into a small frying pan, or omelet pan, in which is one Tablespoonful of the clear part of melted butter, and fry like fried eggs But when partly set run a knife point around to loosen it and begin to shake the omelet over to the further side of the pan until the thin further edge forced upward falls bick into the omele'.. When (he under side has a good color, and the middle is nearly set, roll the brown side uppermost, with a knife to help, and elide the omelet on to a hot dish. Serve immediately while it is light and soft.
88—Omelet with Parsley.
Mix a tablespoouful of minced parsley with the omelet mixture while beating it op. Make as directed in the preceding article.
89—Omelet with Onions and Parsley.
Mince two tablespoonfuls of onion and fry it in a little lard in a frying-pan with a plate inverted upon it. In five minutes take up the minced onion without grease and add it to the omelet mixture made ready with parsley in it; stir up and fry as directed in plain omelet.
90—Omelet With Ham.
Have ready on the table some grated or minced lean ham in a dish. Four a plain omelet of two eggs into the fryingpan and strew over the surface about a tablespoonful of the grated ham.
91-Omelet with Cheese.
Make in the same manner aa ham •>melet, with grated cheese instead of ham.
92—Omelet with Tomatoes.
Stew tomatoes down nearly dry, season with butter, pepper and salt. Inclose a spoonful in the middle of an omelet according to the preceeding examples.
Cost of omelets. Omelets are kept off the bill of fare more on account of the time and attention required to cook them properly than because of their cost whkh is only from 1/2c to Ic more than the eggs alone would be. This is speaking of hotel and family orders where the added seasoning is but about a tablespoonful, and not of omelets with asparagus, points or other rarities. Eggs vary in price from G cents per dozen in country places to 6O cents in the cities at midwinter.
Omelets:
87—Plain Omelet.
Two eggs and one teaspoonful of railk. Add a pin«h of salt, beat in a bowl enough to thoroughly mix but not make il too light, as if the omelet rises like a souffle it will go down agaiu, so much the worse.
Pour into a small frying pan, or omelet pan, in which is one Tablespoonful of the clear part of melted butter, and fry like fried eggs But when partly set run a knife point around to loosen it and begin to shake the omelet over to the further side of the pan until the thin further edge forced upward falls bick into the omele'.. When (he under side has a good color, and the middle is nearly set, roll the brown side uppermost, with a knife to help, and elide the omelet on to a hot dish. Serve immediately while it is light and soft.
88—Omelet with Parsley.
Mix a tablespoouful of minced parsley with the omelet mixture while beating it op. Make as directed in the preceding article.
89—Omelet with Onions and Parsley.
Mince two tablespoonfuls of onion and fry it in a little lard in a frying-pan with a plate inverted upon it. In five minutes take up the minced onion without grease and add it to the omelet mixture made ready with parsley in it; stir up and fry as directed in plain omelet.
90—Omelet With Ham.
Have ready on the table some grated or minced lean ham in a dish. Four a plain omelet of two eggs into the fryingpan and strew over the surface about a tablespoonful of the grated ham.
91-Omelet with Cheese.
Make in the same manner aa ham •>melet, with grated cheese instead of ham.
92—Omelet with Tomatoes.
Stew tomatoes down nearly dry, season with butter, pepper and salt. Inclose a spoonful in the middle of an omelet according to the preceeding examples.
Cost of omelets. Omelets are kept off the bill of fare more on account of the time and attention required to cook them properly than because of their cost whkh is only from 1/2c to Ic more than the eggs alone would be. This is speaking of hotel and family orders where the added seasoning is but about a tablespoonful, and not of omelets with asparagus, points or other rarities. Eggs vary in price from G cents per dozen in country places to 6O cents in the cities at midwinter.
Cooking for Profit 1893
In this post the author Jessup White head gives an example of a meal and the cost of the various items.
Dinner.
August 18.
Soup—Consomme paysanne (7 qts 42 cents.)
Fried sunfish, a la Margate (string of 30 panfish, 5 Ib 40 cents."
Potatoes stuffed.
Sliced cucumbers, potato salad, olives (20 cents.)
Boiled leg of mutton, caper sauce (4 Ibs 55 cents.)
Roast beef (loin 4 Ibs 52 cents.)
Chicken pot pie (5 fowls 125, with trimmings, 140 cents.)
Small fillecs of beef a la Creole (2 Ibs and sauce, 30 cents.)
Virginia grated corn pudding (25 cents.)
Lima beans 7, mashed turnips 4, browned carrots 5, tomatoes 12, pctatoe^ 15 (46 cents.)
Steamed cabinet pudding (36 orders, 50 cents.)
Sweet potato pie (5 pies 43 cents.)
Vanilla ice cream (3'^ qts 75 cents.)
Cocoanut macaroons (same as No. 457; doubled, 26 cents.)
Apple, peaches, nuts, crackers, cheese (53 cents.)
Milk, cream 66, coffee, tea, sugar, bread, butter 53 (irg cents.)
Total, $8 13; 54 persons; 15 cents a plate.
Dinner.
August 18.
Soup—Consomme paysanne (7 qts 42 cents.)
Fried sunfish, a la Margate (string of 30 panfish, 5 Ib 40 cents."
Potatoes stuffed.
Sliced cucumbers, potato salad, olives (20 cents.)
Boiled leg of mutton, caper sauce (4 Ibs 55 cents.)
Roast beef (loin 4 Ibs 52 cents.)
Chicken pot pie (5 fowls 125, with trimmings, 140 cents.)
Small fillecs of beef a la Creole (2 Ibs and sauce, 30 cents.)
Virginia grated corn pudding (25 cents.)
Lima beans 7, mashed turnips 4, browned carrots 5, tomatoes 12, pctatoe^ 15 (46 cents.)
Steamed cabinet pudding (36 orders, 50 cents.)
Sweet potato pie (5 pies 43 cents.)
Vanilla ice cream (3'^ qts 75 cents.)
Cocoanut macaroons (same as No. 457; doubled, 26 cents.)
Apple, peaches, nuts, crackers, cheese (53 cents.)
Milk, cream 66, coffee, tea, sugar, bread, butter 53 (irg cents.)
Total, $8 13; 54 persons; 15 cents a plate.
Friday, January 1, 2016
1898 Ivory Soap Post
Below is a copy of an 1898 Ad for Ivory Soap. I love the claim that "It Floats."
READY FOR BATTLE
An Ivory Soap bath gives a sensation of increased vitality; a longing for activity and for exercise of the faculties; it is a fitting preparation for any battle of life.
Every ingredient of Ivory Soap is sweet, clean and pure. No better materials go into the most expensive toilet soaps, and no soap is so pleasant to use; it has a rich creamy lather that is soothing to the skin as well as cleansing.
IT FLOATS
READY FOR BATTLE
An Ivory Soap bath gives a sensation of increased vitality; a longing for activity and for exercise of the faculties; it is a fitting preparation for any battle of life.
Every ingredient of Ivory Soap is sweet, clean and pure. No better materials go into the most expensive toilet soaps, and no soap is so pleasant to use; it has a rich creamy lather that is soothing to the skin as well as cleansing.
IT FLOATS
Friday, September 25, 2015
Bartering Exchanges
In Harper's Young People magazines there was a page devoted to "Exchanges" where an individual could post an item or items for trade for another item. Bartering or exchanges was a time honored way to do business. Below are some of the "exchanges' from this 1885 publication.
EXCHANGES.*
V nickels without" cents," a Spanish coin of 1776, and old U. S. coppers, for other rare coins. Fnnnle A. Gris Tt old, Buttle Creek, Mich.
Five advertising cards, for every mineral or curiositv. William Brigden, Jun., 210 Raymond St., Brooklyn,?}. Y.
A Baitlmorean printing-press and equipment (including 3 fonts of type), for a pair of Peek & Snyder*s Ice skates, S!js« 9}i or 10. J. C. Letts, 89 South Portland A v., Brooklyn, N. Y.
A magic lantern in good condition, for the best offer in roller skates. William Smith, 92 South Portland A v., Brooklyn, N. V.
Minerals, fosslls, and curiosities, for the same or for coins. C H. Solomon, 3iU \V. First St., Dayton, Ohio.
Some curiosities and postmarks, a Vnlekel without" cents," 2 old coppers, a basket made of a hazelnut, and some pretty cards, for the best offer of magic-lantern slides not more than 2\' inches in Width, li. H., 206 Broadway, Norwich, Conn.
An Acme card press and a rase, for 1 font of type. Albert Zerboue, 22:1 S. Water St., New Bedford, Masr.
Pretty colored advertising picture cards, for Indian relics (1S for a trood arrow-head), minerals, or curiosities. Frank B. Veusey, 1209 Taylor St., San Franatsco, Cal.
"Wide Awake for 1884-5 and a pair of B. & B. roller skates, size for a pair of all-clamp roller skates, size 9 or 9>tf, with or without bag. £. L. O'Counell, Oneida, N. Y.
Cards, stamps, postmarks, coins, tin tags, or monograms, for stamps not in my collection (Alsace and Lorraine, Angola. Antigua, and Argentine Republic preferred). Send list. W. W. Jackson, 835 W. 18th St., New York City.
A good magic lantern and 10 slides, 50 postmarks, an Indian arrow-head, and Exchanging to Win, for a good pair of all-clamp roller skates. Nelson, care of J. H. Sharewood, Box 411, Freehold, N. J.
Elements of Chemistry, nearly new. for stamps, curiosities, or coins. S. A. Nelson, Tompklnsrille, N. Y.
Three Hong-Kong stamps, for 2 from Azores or 8 from Portugal; 8 Sandwich Island stamps, for 2 from Newfoundland. Koger B. Friend, 971 West St., Oakland, Cal.
A new pair of 10-inch roller skates, in perfect condition, and the numbers of Youth's Companion for 1883 or 1884, for a printing-press and complete outfit. The press must be in good working order and the chase at least 2>J by 4 inches. Collector, Lock Box 57, Osceola, Iowa.
Two hundred mixed foreign stamps, 10 different l'. S. stamps, 5 different revenue stamps, and 5 advertising cards, for the best offer of U. S. or foreign Stamps, all different. No German of the issue of 1878 wanted. Clyde, 747 Custead Av., Cleveland, O.
A card press, for stamping names, a full font of type, and a can of ink, for a toy theatre or for magic - lantern slides in good condition. F. Sl. Stowcll, Box 40, NewtonvIMc, Mass.
A Scott's International stamp album with 425 rare stamps, for volumes of the Wheelman and Outing and The Wheelman, or books on ornithology; books, for the same. E. B. Smith, Warren, Worcester Co., Mass.
Postmarks, for the same. Alexander Graham, Jun., Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y.
A piece of satin-spar, copper, and iron ore. for arrow-heads. Philip Coltn, 651 Washington St., San Francisco, Cal.
One hundred foreign stamps, 5 fish fosslls from Charleston. South Carolina, a triangular Cape of Good Hope stamp, and 30 postmarks (18 of which are different), for the best offer in V nickels without the word " cents." B. Spcltmtn, 78 Clinton Av., Albany, N. Y.
A handsome scrap - book (slightly damaged), a few minerals, a specimen of cedar wood, some shells, a V nickel. 100 cards with any desired name, some scrap and advertising pictures, and a pair of nickel-plated ice skates {size 91, for the best, offer of a pair of roller skates. C. E. B., 384 Ninth Av., New York City.
A pair of roller skatest a set of boxing-gloves, and large collections of cotns, stamps, and minerals, for a prtnting-press complete Size of chase 4 by 5 inches or larger. E. F. Jordan, 4226 Walnut St., Phlladelphia, Penn.
A large Mexican sllver coin of 1834, an English coin of 1801, a French coin of 1854, and 2 old coins of 1810 and 1883, for U. S. pennies of 1836, M0. '41, '42, '45. and '50. F. T. Towne, caro of H. K. Towne, Stamford, Conn.
A V. S. stamp of 1881 and a 5-sen Japan of 187. Smith, Lock Box 18, Andover, Mass.
* Tlte publishers reserve to themselves the right of deciding whether an Exchange shall appear or not. They do not undertake any responsibitity with regard to transactions effected by means of this department of tlte paper, nor do they guarantee the responsibllity of correspondents or the accuracy of the descriptions of articles offered for exchange. To avoid any misunderstanding or disappointment, therefore, they advise Exchangers to write for particulars to the addresses given before sending the articles coiled for.
Goskell's How to Write for the Press, new and in good condition, cloth binding, for the best offer of bound books of adventure or travel. J. D. O'Neil, Box 55, West Elizabeth, Pcnn.
Ten foreign stamps, no 2 alike, for 100 well-mixed U. S. stamps. F. I. Grlswold, Battle Creek, .Midt.
Two varieties of Chinese nuts, for every perfect arrow-head - a pair of Chinese chopsticks, for every 5 arrow heads. Collector, Dayton, Ohio.
Books on anatomy, physiology, chemistry, history, phllosophy, geography, and text-books, for a pair of pet rabbits or pigeons of good breed. John Awhrey, Maple Grove, Ala.
A small stalactite from Spruce Run Cavern, Allegheny Mountains, Virginia, and barnacles and pebbles from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, for the best offer of Indian relics. A. H. Jennings, 903 Federal St., Lynchburg, Vs.
A pair of No. 9)4 club skates, lock on toe, Union Hardware Co. make, for Pitman's short-band book in good condition. W. G. Knight, Seneca Falls, X. Y.
One hundred stamps, 50 picture advertising cards, 25 postmarks, 15 tobacco tags, petrified wood, petrified charcoal, mica, Iron pyrites, and wood from Washington Territory, for a pair of Henlv or B. & B. roller skates to fit a No. 8 boot. J.W. Sargent, Centralis, Washington Territory.
Two volumes of St. Nicholas and 8 volumes of Wide Awake: any 3, for a pair of half-clamp skates; any 4, for a pair of all-clamp ; and the 5, for a pair of patent lever, 11-inch. Box 23, Lewes, Del.
Hematite, Lake Superior. Spanish, and English iron ore, advertising cards, and U. S. cents, for minerals, curiosities, or old U. S. cents and half-cents. It. M< M. Dodgers, 70 Miller St., Pittiburgh, Penn. A printing-press, chase Z)4 by \% inches, with 12 fonts of plain and fancy type, furniture, ink, cabinet, etc., for a photographtc outfit with or without chemicals. A. K. Cressinghsm, 188 18th St., Brooklyn, >. Y.
Two Australian papers, for the best offer of tobacco tugs. A. R. Lewis, care of W. U. Lewis, Marshall, Mich.
Rare stamps on sheets, for stamps not in my collection ; a genuine periodical stamp, for any stamp of iMi'j above 10-c. Warren Koser, Wellington, Ohio.
The 10 and the 3 c. unpaid letter stamp, for the 5; a stamp of Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, and Brazll, for a triangular Cape of Good Hope. John D. Smith, Andover, Mass.
Bread-fruit, poppy pods with seed from China, and first stripping of cork-tree from Spain, for Indian relics, petrifactions, shells, minerals, woods, nuts, and bulbs. N. L. Wilson, 237 Longwood Av., Koxbury, Mass.
Foreign postal cards, uncancelled and unwritten, for postal cards uncancelled, etc., not in my collection. Thomas Whitridge, 5 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md.
Sharks' teeth, Indian pottery,petrified clams, and starfish, for crystallized and polished minerals. Indian relics, and good curiosities. Box 155, Wilmington, Del.
A printing-press (chase 3# by 4)4) and Robinson Crusoe, for a pair of Peek & Snyder's nickel-plated Ice skates, 9)4. L. Walker, 251 13th St., S. Brooklyn, N. Y.
A 25-cent note, for a star-fish or Indian pipe. Must be of good size, and perfect. W. S. Header, New Brighton, Beaver Co., Penn.
A good violin and bow, for the best offer of a stamp album (Scott's International preferred). B. Terry, 922 Putnam Av., Brooklyn, N. V.
Fifty tin tags, 50 postmarks, and an eagle cent of 1858, for Indian relics, sea-curiosities, minerals, and rare stones. Dixon Kautz, Moweaqaa, IH.
Five postmarks, for every stamp not in my collection ; stamps, for stamps. Jackson Kemper Garrett, 521 Columbia St., Burlington, lows.
Two rare Chinese coins, for the 24-c. stamp of 1870; an Italian coin of 1886 and a Swiss coin of 1K50, for the 8-centime Belgian stamp of 1809. H. B. Foster, Lock Box Z, Andover, Mass.
A piece of a pllaster (1# by 2 inches) of black walnut from the captain's cabin in the Morning Star, for minerals, Indian relics, and other curiosities suitable for cabinet. A. F. Mitchell, Box 161, St, Johusbury, Vt.
Bare stamps, advertisement cards, postmarks, and copies of Youth's Companion, for good fosslls and trllobites. Lower Sllurian especially desired. II. S. tiane, 89 N. Broadway, Yonkers, N. Y.
A bound volume of the Museum, instructions for playing the fife, a steam-engine, and a mouth harp, for a waterbury watch in good order. Robert J. Kerley, Mlllcrton, Dutrhess Co., N. Y.
A 2-cent Sandwich lsbtnd stamp, a 5-cent Newfoundland stump, and a 20-cent German stamp, for a Cape of Good Hope stamp. Hal C. Rogers. Box 327, F.scanaba, Mich.
A 14, 15, 1G puzzle, 10 revenue stamps, 25 stamps, 15 foreign stamps, curiosities, etc., for the best offer of tin tobacco tags. Accepted offer answered. Willie Borland, I tnlay City, Lnpur Co., Mich.
A Japanese napkin, for 5 pieces of sllk, satin, or velvet, 2 by 3 inches. No duplicates or solled pieces. Myra A. Doremus, 11 South Elliott Place, Brooklyn,
A hand-inking printing-press fchase 4 by 0 inches), 3 fonts of type, a rubber roller, and a pair of Sc
inch club skates, for a self-inking printing-press (chase not less than 3X by BM inches) with or without type and in good condition. George L. Mallery. Continental Hotel, cor. of 20th St. and Broadway, New York City.
Three foreign stamps, for pieces of sllk, satin, plusb.velvet. or anything suitable for a crazy-qullt. A. R. H., 2210 Locust St., Philadelphia, Penn.
One hundred and twenty postmarks, for an Indian arrow-head. John A. Thompson, Box 316, YYestvllle, Conn.
Four good postmarks, for every first-class tin tobacco tag except Climax. Chief, Old Honesty, Horseshoe, or Star. P. McF. Bealer, 201 Jackson St., Atlanta, Ga.
Three different tin tags, for every K. of L. or Brown's Mule tag sent me. YT. B. Nj mtners, 194 Houston St., Atlanta, Go.
Galena, gypsum, sandstone, peacock - coal, starfish, coral, geodes, moss-agates, hornblende, pudding-stone, coke, moonstone, arglllite agates, buhrstoue, chlorite, copper ore, hematite, ltmestone, and mica, for minerals and curiosities. Carl Gray, Box 471, St. Johusbury, Vt.
Sllver ore, jasper, chalcedony, carnellan, black sand, petrified wood, garnet, all kinds of Oregon minerals, and curiosities, for Indian relics. Gny M. Powers, Shedd, Linn Co., Oregon.
Full directions for Kensington painting, paper flowers, and some modern music, for plush and brocaded scrap-pieces. No black or old pieces wanted. 11. Brown, 00 Reynold's Arcade, Rochester, X. Y,
Twcnty foreign stamps, for 1 from Austria, Italy. Baden, Azores, Barbados, Bolivia, Hamburg, and New Brunswick. Not less than 4 taken. A.M. K.% 1010 Clinton St., Philadelphia, Penn.
Volumes IV. and V. of Golden Days, 355 foreign and 50 domestic stamps, 8 German papers, and a paper in mourning for Garfield, for a pair of allclamp roller-skates. Kaymond extension preferred. Kdward K. Black, 167 K. 60th St., New York City.
A year's subscription to an amateur paper, for 18 different Department stamps. Frank Thompson, Letter,box, Station B, Jersey City, K. J.
Cards and tin tags, for stamps and stamp papers; 2 postmarks, for every stamp; stamps, for the same. J. C. Wallace, Carlisle, Penn.
Vol. I. of Golden Argosy (7 numbers missing) and 28 numbers of Vol..II., and 500 mixed U. S. revenue stamps, for rare postage stamps or coins. Arthur C. Smith, 428 ffllfilin Av., Scran ton, Penn.
Four picture cards, for every piece of sllk, satin, velvet, or plush in Irregular shapes, but none less than S by 3 inches. No black unless brocaded or figured. Cards new and clean; no duplicates. Mabel K. Ashley, Box 24, Norwood, St. Lawrence Co..
One hundred well-assorted stamps, largest size foot-ball with key, Tom. Brown's School-Days, your name printed on 50 cards, and a gold-pointed stylographic pen, for the best offer oi long type. Alexander Gorski, care of V. A. Meyer A Co., Box 3050, New York City.
A specimen of iron ore, for 10 foreign stamps from Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Danish West Indies, Dutch Indies, Denmark, Feejee Islands, and Egypt. C. D. Mansfield, MerriU P. 0., Powell Co., Kentucky.
A good collection of 550 foreign and U. S. stamps in a Scott's International album (7th edition), for a sllver watch in good running order. E. 8. Gray, 139 Lagrange St., Toledo, Ohio.
A water-color paint box containing Winsoi A Newton's paints, books, rare stamps, and numbers of Forest and Stream, for fishing-lines, flies, spoonbaits, hooks, or tackle-book. H. W. Althouse, Pottsvllle, Box 164, Penn.
A fine new telegraph key and sounder, brass, mounted on rosewood stand, never been in use, for a pair of No. 9)4 or 10 all-clamp roller skates. Vineyard preferred. Correspondence necessary. II. Lolie Prescott, 151 Pearl St., Kast Somerrllle, Mass.
A magic lantern in good working order, for a good set of chessmen wtthout board; 150 all-different postmarks, for the best offer of foreign stamps. Stephen T. Dalryntple, Menomonec, Dunn. Co., Wis.
Sixty papers (including Durblu's last stamp catalogue), phllatelic papers, dealers' price lists of coins and stamps, minerals, etc., for 20 perfect arrowheads and a perfect axe. P. F. Shields, Nashville, Tenn.
A pair of Acme nickel-plated all-clamp ice skates (size 9) and a pair of Plympton roller skates (slzet 6). for a pair of 8 or 8)4 nickel-plated all-clamp roller skates. Winslow preferred. Kdwin A. Corbet, Box 292, Morrlstown, N. J.
A teacher of penmanship of two years' experience in Columbus Buisness College, Columbus, Ohio, wlll send a series of 12 lessons by mall, for a pair of Fenton or Raymond club skates in good condition. H. K. Hall, Box 352, Lima, Ohio.
Ten different foreign stamps, for every stamp from Asia or Africa. J* B. Brown, Jun., 22 Frank St., Nowport, K. I.
A hand-inking printing-press complete, an electric battery, a sllver-plattng set, 5 complete stories, and other articles, for a self-inking press without type. Give size of chase and full particulars. J. Davidson, 328 K. 11th St., New York City.
EXCHANGES.*
V nickels without" cents," a Spanish coin of 1776, and old U. S. coppers, for other rare coins. Fnnnle A. Gris Tt old, Buttle Creek, Mich.
Five advertising cards, for every mineral or curiositv. William Brigden, Jun., 210 Raymond St., Brooklyn,?}. Y.
A Baitlmorean printing-press and equipment (including 3 fonts of type), for a pair of Peek & Snyder*s Ice skates, S!js« 9}i or 10. J. C. Letts, 89 South Portland A v., Brooklyn, N. Y.
A magic lantern in good condition, for the best offer in roller skates. William Smith, 92 South Portland A v., Brooklyn, N. V.
Minerals, fosslls, and curiosities, for the same or for coins. C H. Solomon, 3iU \V. First St., Dayton, Ohio.
Some curiosities and postmarks, a Vnlekel without" cents," 2 old coppers, a basket made of a hazelnut, and some pretty cards, for the best offer of magic-lantern slides not more than 2\' inches in Width, li. H., 206 Broadway, Norwich, Conn.
An Acme card press and a rase, for 1 font of type. Albert Zerboue, 22:1 S. Water St., New Bedford, Masr.
Pretty colored advertising picture cards, for Indian relics (1S for a trood arrow-head), minerals, or curiosities. Frank B. Veusey, 1209 Taylor St., San Franatsco, Cal.
"Wide Awake for 1884-5 and a pair of B. & B. roller skates, size for a pair of all-clamp roller skates, size 9 or 9>tf, with or without bag. £. L. O'Counell, Oneida, N. Y.
Cards, stamps, postmarks, coins, tin tags, or monograms, for stamps not in my collection (Alsace and Lorraine, Angola. Antigua, and Argentine Republic preferred). Send list. W. W. Jackson, 835 W. 18th St., New York City.
A good magic lantern and 10 slides, 50 postmarks, an Indian arrow-head, and Exchanging to Win, for a good pair of all-clamp roller skates. Nelson, care of J. H. Sharewood, Box 411, Freehold, N. J.
Elements of Chemistry, nearly new. for stamps, curiosities, or coins. S. A. Nelson, Tompklnsrille, N. Y.
Three Hong-Kong stamps, for 2 from Azores or 8 from Portugal; 8 Sandwich Island stamps, for 2 from Newfoundland. Koger B. Friend, 971 West St., Oakland, Cal.
A new pair of 10-inch roller skates, in perfect condition, and the numbers of Youth's Companion for 1883 or 1884, for a printing-press and complete outfit. The press must be in good working order and the chase at least 2>J by 4 inches. Collector, Lock Box 57, Osceola, Iowa.
Two hundred mixed foreign stamps, 10 different l'. S. stamps, 5 different revenue stamps, and 5 advertising cards, for the best offer of U. S. or foreign Stamps, all different. No German of the issue of 1878 wanted. Clyde, 747 Custead Av., Cleveland, O.
A card press, for stamping names, a full font of type, and a can of ink, for a toy theatre or for magic - lantern slides in good condition. F. Sl. Stowcll, Box 40, NewtonvIMc, Mass.
A Scott's International stamp album with 425 rare stamps, for volumes of the Wheelman and Outing and The Wheelman, or books on ornithology; books, for the same. E. B. Smith, Warren, Worcester Co., Mass.
Postmarks, for the same. Alexander Graham, Jun., Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y.
A piece of satin-spar, copper, and iron ore. for arrow-heads. Philip Coltn, 651 Washington St., San Francisco, Cal.
One hundred foreign stamps, 5 fish fosslls from Charleston. South Carolina, a triangular Cape of Good Hope stamp, and 30 postmarks (18 of which are different), for the best offer in V nickels without the word " cents." B. Spcltmtn, 78 Clinton Av., Albany, N. Y.
A handsome scrap - book (slightly damaged), a few minerals, a specimen of cedar wood, some shells, a V nickel. 100 cards with any desired name, some scrap and advertising pictures, and a pair of nickel-plated ice skates {size 91, for the best, offer of a pair of roller skates. C. E. B., 384 Ninth Av., New York City.
A pair of roller skatest a set of boxing-gloves, and large collections of cotns, stamps, and minerals, for a prtnting-press complete Size of chase 4 by 5 inches or larger. E. F. Jordan, 4226 Walnut St., Phlladelphia, Penn.
A large Mexican sllver coin of 1834, an English coin of 1801, a French coin of 1854, and 2 old coins of 1810 and 1883, for U. S. pennies of 1836, M0. '41, '42, '45. and '50. F. T. Towne, caro of H. K. Towne, Stamford, Conn.
A V. S. stamp of 1881 and a 5-sen Japan of 187. Smith, Lock Box 18, Andover, Mass.
* Tlte publishers reserve to themselves the right of deciding whether an Exchange shall appear or not. They do not undertake any responsibitity with regard to transactions effected by means of this department of tlte paper, nor do they guarantee the responsibllity of correspondents or the accuracy of the descriptions of articles offered for exchange. To avoid any misunderstanding or disappointment, therefore, they advise Exchangers to write for particulars to the addresses given before sending the articles coiled for.
Goskell's How to Write for the Press, new and in good condition, cloth binding, for the best offer of bound books of adventure or travel. J. D. O'Neil, Box 55, West Elizabeth, Pcnn.
Ten foreign stamps, no 2 alike, for 100 well-mixed U. S. stamps. F. I. Grlswold, Battle Creek, .Midt.
Two varieties of Chinese nuts, for every perfect arrow-head - a pair of Chinese chopsticks, for every 5 arrow heads. Collector, Dayton, Ohio.
Books on anatomy, physiology, chemistry, history, phllosophy, geography, and text-books, for a pair of pet rabbits or pigeons of good breed. John Awhrey, Maple Grove, Ala.
A small stalactite from Spruce Run Cavern, Allegheny Mountains, Virginia, and barnacles and pebbles from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, for the best offer of Indian relics. A. H. Jennings, 903 Federal St., Lynchburg, Vs.
A pair of No. 9)4 club skates, lock on toe, Union Hardware Co. make, for Pitman's short-band book in good condition. W. G. Knight, Seneca Falls, X. Y.
One hundred stamps, 50 picture advertising cards, 25 postmarks, 15 tobacco tags, petrified wood, petrified charcoal, mica, Iron pyrites, and wood from Washington Territory, for a pair of Henlv or B. & B. roller skates to fit a No. 8 boot. J.W. Sargent, Centralis, Washington Territory.
Two volumes of St. Nicholas and 8 volumes of Wide Awake: any 3, for a pair of half-clamp skates; any 4, for a pair of all-clamp ; and the 5, for a pair of patent lever, 11-inch. Box 23, Lewes, Del.
Hematite, Lake Superior. Spanish, and English iron ore, advertising cards, and U. S. cents, for minerals, curiosities, or old U. S. cents and half-cents. It. M< M. Dodgers, 70 Miller St., Pittiburgh, Penn. A printing-press, chase Z)4 by \% inches, with 12 fonts of plain and fancy type, furniture, ink, cabinet, etc., for a photographtc outfit with or without chemicals. A. K. Cressinghsm, 188 18th St., Brooklyn, >. Y.
Two Australian papers, for the best offer of tobacco tugs. A. R. Lewis, care of W. U. Lewis, Marshall, Mich.
Rare stamps on sheets, for stamps not in my collection ; a genuine periodical stamp, for any stamp of iMi'j above 10-c. Warren Koser, Wellington, Ohio.
The 10 and the 3 c. unpaid letter stamp, for the 5; a stamp of Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, and Brazll, for a triangular Cape of Good Hope. John D. Smith, Andover, Mass.
Bread-fruit, poppy pods with seed from China, and first stripping of cork-tree from Spain, for Indian relics, petrifactions, shells, minerals, woods, nuts, and bulbs. N. L. Wilson, 237 Longwood Av., Koxbury, Mass.
Foreign postal cards, uncancelled and unwritten, for postal cards uncancelled, etc., not in my collection. Thomas Whitridge, 5 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md.
Sharks' teeth, Indian pottery,petrified clams, and starfish, for crystallized and polished minerals. Indian relics, and good curiosities. Box 155, Wilmington, Del.
A printing-press (chase 3# by 4)4) and Robinson Crusoe, for a pair of Peek & Snyder's nickel-plated Ice skates, 9)4. L. Walker, 251 13th St., S. Brooklyn, N. Y.
A 25-cent note, for a star-fish or Indian pipe. Must be of good size, and perfect. W. S. Header, New Brighton, Beaver Co., Penn.
A good violin and bow, for the best offer of a stamp album (Scott's International preferred). B. Terry, 922 Putnam Av., Brooklyn, N. V.
Fifty tin tags, 50 postmarks, and an eagle cent of 1858, for Indian relics, sea-curiosities, minerals, and rare stones. Dixon Kautz, Moweaqaa, IH.
Five postmarks, for every stamp not in my collection ; stamps, for stamps. Jackson Kemper Garrett, 521 Columbia St., Burlington, lows.
Two rare Chinese coins, for the 24-c. stamp of 1870; an Italian coin of 1886 and a Swiss coin of 1K50, for the 8-centime Belgian stamp of 1809. H. B. Foster, Lock Box Z, Andover, Mass.
A piece of a pllaster (1# by 2 inches) of black walnut from the captain's cabin in the Morning Star, for minerals, Indian relics, and other curiosities suitable for cabinet. A. F. Mitchell, Box 161, St, Johusbury, Vt.
Bare stamps, advertisement cards, postmarks, and copies of Youth's Companion, for good fosslls and trllobites. Lower Sllurian especially desired. II. S. tiane, 89 N. Broadway, Yonkers, N. Y.
A bound volume of the Museum, instructions for playing the fife, a steam-engine, and a mouth harp, for a waterbury watch in good order. Robert J. Kerley, Mlllcrton, Dutrhess Co., N. Y.
A 2-cent Sandwich lsbtnd stamp, a 5-cent Newfoundland stump, and a 20-cent German stamp, for a Cape of Good Hope stamp. Hal C. Rogers. Box 327, F.scanaba, Mich.
A 14, 15, 1G puzzle, 10 revenue stamps, 25 stamps, 15 foreign stamps, curiosities, etc., for the best offer of tin tobacco tags. Accepted offer answered. Willie Borland, I tnlay City, Lnpur Co., Mich.
A Japanese napkin, for 5 pieces of sllk, satin, or velvet, 2 by 3 inches. No duplicates or solled pieces. Myra A. Doremus, 11 South Elliott Place, Brooklyn,
A hand-inking printing-press fchase 4 by 0 inches), 3 fonts of type, a rubber roller, and a pair of Sc
inch club skates, for a self-inking printing-press (chase not less than 3X by BM inches) with or without type and in good condition. George L. Mallery. Continental Hotel, cor. of 20th St. and Broadway, New York City.
Three foreign stamps, for pieces of sllk, satin, plusb.velvet. or anything suitable for a crazy-qullt. A. R. H., 2210 Locust St., Philadelphia, Penn.
One hundred and twenty postmarks, for an Indian arrow-head. John A. Thompson, Box 316, YYestvllle, Conn.
Four good postmarks, for every first-class tin tobacco tag except Climax. Chief, Old Honesty, Horseshoe, or Star. P. McF. Bealer, 201 Jackson St., Atlanta, Ga.
Three different tin tags, for every K. of L. or Brown's Mule tag sent me. YT. B. Nj mtners, 194 Houston St., Atlanta, Go.
Galena, gypsum, sandstone, peacock - coal, starfish, coral, geodes, moss-agates, hornblende, pudding-stone, coke, moonstone, arglllite agates, buhrstoue, chlorite, copper ore, hematite, ltmestone, and mica, for minerals and curiosities. Carl Gray, Box 471, St. Johusbury, Vt.
Sllver ore, jasper, chalcedony, carnellan, black sand, petrified wood, garnet, all kinds of Oregon minerals, and curiosities, for Indian relics. Gny M. Powers, Shedd, Linn Co., Oregon.
Full directions for Kensington painting, paper flowers, and some modern music, for plush and brocaded scrap-pieces. No black or old pieces wanted. 11. Brown, 00 Reynold's Arcade, Rochester, X. Y,
Twcnty foreign stamps, for 1 from Austria, Italy. Baden, Azores, Barbados, Bolivia, Hamburg, and New Brunswick. Not less than 4 taken. A.M. K.% 1010 Clinton St., Philadelphia, Penn.
Volumes IV. and V. of Golden Days, 355 foreign and 50 domestic stamps, 8 German papers, and a paper in mourning for Garfield, for a pair of allclamp roller-skates. Kaymond extension preferred. Kdward K. Black, 167 K. 60th St., New York City.
A year's subscription to an amateur paper, for 18 different Department stamps. Frank Thompson, Letter,box, Station B, Jersey City, K. J.
Cards and tin tags, for stamps and stamp papers; 2 postmarks, for every stamp; stamps, for the same. J. C. Wallace, Carlisle, Penn.
Vol. I. of Golden Argosy (7 numbers missing) and 28 numbers of Vol..II., and 500 mixed U. S. revenue stamps, for rare postage stamps or coins. Arthur C. Smith, 428 ffllfilin Av., Scran ton, Penn.
Four picture cards, for every piece of sllk, satin, velvet, or plush in Irregular shapes, but none less than S by 3 inches. No black unless brocaded or figured. Cards new and clean; no duplicates. Mabel K. Ashley, Box 24, Norwood, St. Lawrence Co..
One hundred well-assorted stamps, largest size foot-ball with key, Tom. Brown's School-Days, your name printed on 50 cards, and a gold-pointed stylographic pen, for the best offer oi long type. Alexander Gorski, care of V. A. Meyer A Co., Box 3050, New York City.
A specimen of iron ore, for 10 foreign stamps from Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Danish West Indies, Dutch Indies, Denmark, Feejee Islands, and Egypt. C. D. Mansfield, MerriU P. 0., Powell Co., Kentucky.
A good collection of 550 foreign and U. S. stamps in a Scott's International album (7th edition), for a sllver watch in good running order. E. 8. Gray, 139 Lagrange St., Toledo, Ohio.
A water-color paint box containing Winsoi A Newton's paints, books, rare stamps, and numbers of Forest and Stream, for fishing-lines, flies, spoonbaits, hooks, or tackle-book. H. W. Althouse, Pottsvllle, Box 164, Penn.
A fine new telegraph key and sounder, brass, mounted on rosewood stand, never been in use, for a pair of No. 9)4 or 10 all-clamp roller skates. Vineyard preferred. Correspondence necessary. II. Lolie Prescott, 151 Pearl St., Kast Somerrllle, Mass.
A magic lantern in good working order, for a good set of chessmen wtthout board; 150 all-different postmarks, for the best offer of foreign stamps. Stephen T. Dalryntple, Menomonec, Dunn. Co., Wis.
Sixty papers (including Durblu's last stamp catalogue), phllatelic papers, dealers' price lists of coins and stamps, minerals, etc., for 20 perfect arrowheads and a perfect axe. P. F. Shields, Nashville, Tenn.
A pair of Acme nickel-plated all-clamp ice skates (size 9) and a pair of Plympton roller skates (slzet 6). for a pair of 8 or 8)4 nickel-plated all-clamp roller skates. Winslow preferred. Kdwin A. Corbet, Box 292, Morrlstown, N. J.
A teacher of penmanship of two years' experience in Columbus Buisness College, Columbus, Ohio, wlll send a series of 12 lessons by mall, for a pair of Fenton or Raymond club skates in good condition. H. K. Hall, Box 352, Lima, Ohio.
Ten different foreign stamps, for every stamp from Asia or Africa. J* B. Brown, Jun., 22 Frank St., Nowport, K. I.
A hand-inking printing-press complete, an electric battery, a sllver-plattng set, 5 complete stories, and other articles, for a self-inking press without type. Give size of chase and full particulars. J. Davidson, 328 K. 11th St., New York City.
Monday, July 21, 2014
The turpentine and tar business.
One of my most visited posts is on the making of turpentine. So I thought I'd add a few more tidbits about this industry.
The turpentine and tar business.
The making of turpentine and tar is the almost sole business of the thinly settled population of the pine lands. They are generally poor and indolent; yet this business allords good profits even at the present low prices, and enormous profits were made when naval stores were tuore than double their present prices. Turpentine now sells at 81.80 the barrel at Wilmington, and it has sold for upwards of $4. Mr. Lazarus told me that he had paid to a poor white man, who worked singly and unassisted in making turpentine, 81000 lbr the fruits of his labor of one year. It is understood that a good hand can attend to 9000 trees, and can secure 200 barrels of turpentine in a year.
In commencing the operation on trees untouched, a receptacle (or “box”) is cut by the axe on one side of the tree, and about six inches above the ground, which is large enough to hold a quart of the fluid turpentine which exudes from the cut sap-wood, and which flows into this hollow from the upper part and sides. The flowing of the sap begins of course in the spring. At the end of a few days, (according to the time and state of the season,) the laborer visits all his trees, collects turpentine and puts it in barrels. He then cuts from each side of the tree a shallow groove, inclining downward to the box, through the bark and a little into the wood. Into these new cuts the turpentine exudes, and flows down them into the box. The tool by which this operation is performed is called a “shave.” It is a circular piece of iron like the eye of a weeding hoe, with the lower edge sharp, and which is attached to a shaft or handle, so as to cut its groove like a gouge, but by being pulled to, instead ol'being pushed from. the operator.
Every time the box is emptied of its turpentine, the “shaving” is extended upward, and thus gradually making the tree bare of bark and ofthe outer surface of the sap-wood as high sscan be conveniently reached, or 15 feet and upwards.' This shaving rises about two feet in a year, and thus it takes about seven years to finish one side of a tree. The side edges of the bored surface are carefully kept perpendicular and straight, and not quite to embrace the balt'ofthe trunk of the tree. Next, the opposite side is “boxed,” and treated in the same way, taking care to leave a strip of an inch or two of bark on each side between the old and the newer work. Without other cause ol'decay or destruction. the trees will live and yield well until the sides or, be shaved no higher. But the spreading ot'accidental fires selgom fails to kill the tree earlier. For the entire face of the cutting being encrusted with turpentine, and the wood below being converted to solid lightwood, no trees can be more inflammable ; and the fire burns so deeply in, as to kill the strips of living bark by heat, or to weaken the trunk so much that it yields to, and is prostrated by, the next storm. The trees, or parts that escape being burnt, are finally cut up into billets, and the tar extracted from them, by burning them slowly in a close kiln, made by covering the lightwood with earth in the mode well known in every pine country.
It is only the turpentine that retains its fluidity, and is collected in the box, that is considered firstrate. The part that sticks to and hardens above has lost its most valuable part, the oil or spirits of turpentine,) by evaporation, an when scraped off, which is the last part ofthe process, is sold at half the price of the fluid turpentine. Of course the expense of land-carriage is a suificient bar to the production of so heavy and low-priced products, where the distance is considerable.
The turpentine getters are careful every spring to rake away the leaves from the foot of every tree, and to burn the collected trash when it can be done slowly and stately. But they cannot always command the progress of the fires; and from that, or other less carelhlly made fires, great havock is olien mode among the boxed trees.
Where vicinity to market, or cheapness of carriage, permits this business to be in full operation, it cannot last long, as the long leaf pines will be destroyed and will not be renewed. The other kinds of pines are not worth working for this purpose.
Source: The Farmers' Register ©1840
The turpentine and tar business.
The making of turpentine and tar is the almost sole business of the thinly settled population of the pine lands. They are generally poor and indolent; yet this business allords good profits even at the present low prices, and enormous profits were made when naval stores were tuore than double their present prices. Turpentine now sells at 81.80 the barrel at Wilmington, and it has sold for upwards of $4. Mr. Lazarus told me that he had paid to a poor white man, who worked singly and unassisted in making turpentine, 81000 lbr the fruits of his labor of one year. It is understood that a good hand can attend to 9000 trees, and can secure 200 barrels of turpentine in a year.
In commencing the operation on trees untouched, a receptacle (or “box”) is cut by the axe on one side of the tree, and about six inches above the ground, which is large enough to hold a quart of the fluid turpentine which exudes from the cut sap-wood, and which flows into this hollow from the upper part and sides. The flowing of the sap begins of course in the spring. At the end of a few days, (according to the time and state of the season,) the laborer visits all his trees, collects turpentine and puts it in barrels. He then cuts from each side of the tree a shallow groove, inclining downward to the box, through the bark and a little into the wood. Into these new cuts the turpentine exudes, and flows down them into the box. The tool by which this operation is performed is called a “shave.” It is a circular piece of iron like the eye of a weeding hoe, with the lower edge sharp, and which is attached to a shaft or handle, so as to cut its groove like a gouge, but by being pulled to, instead ol'being pushed from. the operator.
Every time the box is emptied of its turpentine, the “shaving” is extended upward, and thus gradually making the tree bare of bark and ofthe outer surface of the sap-wood as high sscan be conveniently reached, or 15 feet and upwards.' This shaving rises about two feet in a year, and thus it takes about seven years to finish one side of a tree. The side edges of the bored surface are carefully kept perpendicular and straight, and not quite to embrace the balt'ofthe trunk of the tree. Next, the opposite side is “boxed,” and treated in the same way, taking care to leave a strip of an inch or two of bark on each side between the old and the newer work. Without other cause ol'decay or destruction. the trees will live and yield well until the sides or, be shaved no higher. But the spreading ot'accidental fires selgom fails to kill the tree earlier. For the entire face of the cutting being encrusted with turpentine, and the wood below being converted to solid lightwood, no trees can be more inflammable ; and the fire burns so deeply in, as to kill the strips of living bark by heat, or to weaken the trunk so much that it yields to, and is prostrated by, the next storm. The trees, or parts that escape being burnt, are finally cut up into billets, and the tar extracted from them, by burning them slowly in a close kiln, made by covering the lightwood with earth in the mode well known in every pine country.
It is only the turpentine that retains its fluidity, and is collected in the box, that is considered firstrate. The part that sticks to and hardens above has lost its most valuable part, the oil or spirits of turpentine,) by evaporation, an when scraped off, which is the last part ofthe process, is sold at half the price of the fluid turpentine. Of course the expense of land-carriage is a suificient bar to the production of so heavy and low-priced products, where the distance is considerable.
The turpentine getters are careful every spring to rake away the leaves from the foot of every tree, and to burn the collected trash when it can be done slowly and stately. But they cannot always command the progress of the fires; and from that, or other less carelhlly made fires, great havock is olien mode among the boxed trees.
Where vicinity to market, or cheapness of carriage, permits this business to be in full operation, it cannot last long, as the long leaf pines will be destroyed and will not be renewed. The other kinds of pines are not worth working for this purpose.
Source: The Farmers' Register ©1840
Friday, July 18, 2014
What an Employer is looking for...
Yesterday I tackled some information on the filing systems used during the 19th century. Today I thought these words about what an employer is looking for in a good employee written to the employee might be helpful as you choose a career for your characters.
POINT OF VIEW.
ROUND-ABOUT NOTES.
A Man's Usefulness in this world, whether in a subordinate position or otherwise, is very generally measured by his ability to adapt himself to circumstances and to be serviceable in whatever capacity he is working, whether the conditions are such as he is accustomed to or are entirely new. To put it in a rough way, his usefulness is measured by his ability to "catch on" The man who is content to seemingly perform the duties assigned him seldom excels in usefulness. On the other band, the man who actually performs all that is allotted to him. and who studies to increase his usefulness by doing certain other things that fall in his way, and which are necessary to be done by some one, even though they do not belong to him, very rapidly increases his measure of usefulness. It is hard to define the difference between a thoroughly useful helper and one who pretends to be useful and actually falls short, except only by the results of a period of trial. The one who pretends is very often so obtrusive in his methods as to came a false impression to prevail concerning his usefulness, and on the other hand, the modest young man whospends his time and strength in doing things instead of talking about them, sometimes fails of recognition because of the very quietness of his ways.
Every Business Man wants helpers who are actually useful. He wants men about him who really perform, not those who sperd their strength in talking about their performances. He requires the assistance of these who are ever alert to save bim work, ratter than the lip service of those who are perfectly .willing to neglect their duties whenever they fee the opportunity without committing an actual breach of contract, even though their shortcomings increase the cares of the principal in small things. Every business man and every manager of a department has enough of higher duties to perform to warrant every small responsibility being carried by a subordinate, and that, too, in a way to save constant watching and plodding, and yet ninety-nine out of every hundred managers, if they talk freely, will say that the things which wear them out in business are the neglected small duties of their assistants. Tbey will tell you that tbey are ever on the alert for fear something which belongs to some one else to perform will be lift undone, or else they are tired out by doing little things which their subordinates, by rights, should perform without their thought or supervision.
The Successful Business Man, and the leader in any enterprise, possesses the ability to do things, day by day, which he never did before, and to learn new trades from time to time, as made necessary by the shifting conditions by which he is surrounded, yet when it comes to the rank and file of his subordinates and assistants he will frequently encounter the assertion," I can't do that" (some new duty), "for I never learned it." Asa rule, the man who utters these words could not do so, meaning what be says, save only with a fair comprehension < f the requirements of the case in his mind. But to see the need of a thing, with the progressive man, is learning to do it. For the inefficient or unprogressive n an to see the need is, on the other hand, only an excuse for declaring that he never learned how to do it, and does not propose to try to learn now. It would be waste of space to present thoughts such as these for the consideration of the reader were it not for the facts, first, that every man is ambitious to succeed ; and, second, that in many cases those who do not succeed owe their failure very largely to standing in their own light in just such ways as above suggested. Source: The Office ©1891 (Not to be confused with the modern tv show.
POINT OF VIEW.
ROUND-ABOUT NOTES.
A Man's Usefulness in this world, whether in a subordinate position or otherwise, is very generally measured by his ability to adapt himself to circumstances and to be serviceable in whatever capacity he is working, whether the conditions are such as he is accustomed to or are entirely new. To put it in a rough way, his usefulness is measured by his ability to "catch on" The man who is content to seemingly perform the duties assigned him seldom excels in usefulness. On the other band, the man who actually performs all that is allotted to him. and who studies to increase his usefulness by doing certain other things that fall in his way, and which are necessary to be done by some one, even though they do not belong to him, very rapidly increases his measure of usefulness. It is hard to define the difference between a thoroughly useful helper and one who pretends to be useful and actually falls short, except only by the results of a period of trial. The one who pretends is very often so obtrusive in his methods as to came a false impression to prevail concerning his usefulness, and on the other hand, the modest young man whospends his time and strength in doing things instead of talking about them, sometimes fails of recognition because of the very quietness of his ways.
Every Business Man wants helpers who are actually useful. He wants men about him who really perform, not those who sperd their strength in talking about their performances. He requires the assistance of these who are ever alert to save bim work, ratter than the lip service of those who are perfectly .willing to neglect their duties whenever they fee the opportunity without committing an actual breach of contract, even though their shortcomings increase the cares of the principal in small things. Every business man and every manager of a department has enough of higher duties to perform to warrant every small responsibility being carried by a subordinate, and that, too, in a way to save constant watching and plodding, and yet ninety-nine out of every hundred managers, if they talk freely, will say that the things which wear them out in business are the neglected small duties of their assistants. Tbey will tell you that tbey are ever on the alert for fear something which belongs to some one else to perform will be lift undone, or else they are tired out by doing little things which their subordinates, by rights, should perform without their thought or supervision.
The Successful Business Man, and the leader in any enterprise, possesses the ability to do things, day by day, which he never did before, and to learn new trades from time to time, as made necessary by the shifting conditions by which he is surrounded, yet when it comes to the rank and file of his subordinates and assistants he will frequently encounter the assertion," I can't do that" (some new duty), "for I never learned it." Asa rule, the man who utters these words could not do so, meaning what be says, save only with a fair comprehension < f the requirements of the case in his mind. But to see the need of a thing, with the progressive man, is learning to do it. For the inefficient or unprogressive n an to see the need is, on the other hand, only an excuse for declaring that he never learned how to do it, and does not propose to try to learn now. It would be waste of space to present thoughts such as these for the consideration of the reader were it not for the facts, first, that every man is ambitious to succeed ; and, second, that in many cases those who do not succeed owe their failure very largely to standing in their own light in just such ways as above suggested. Source: The Office ©1891 (Not to be confused with the modern tv show.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Filing Systems
Below are a couple of examples of various filing systems for different types of businesses. If your historical characters work in an office or a newspaper this information might be helpful.
HOW lNQUlRlES ARE FILED.
Mr. Haskins, in charge of the mail-order department of Wm. Wrigley, Jr., 8.: Co., Chicago, outlines this firm’s methods as follows :
“The inquiries are entered upon blue cards, containin the name, address and source; then we are able at any time to determine by this system what mediums are producing the best results, and can spend our money most advantageously. In replying to an original inquiry, we send one of our catalogues, together with an accompanying letter. All orders are entered subsequently upon this card, so that after the receipt of a letter the card system becomes the sole source of information and the letters are gradually discarded. We make it an object to have each of our customers send us the names of neighbors and friends, and names obtained from other sources than those coming from direct advertising are entered upon white cards. We arrange our cards alphabetically under States, towns and names within each town.
“ In regard to this card system, we wish to Sat that we think it is one of the. greatest things ever gotten up. We are annually saving hundreds of dollars by discarding from our lists duplicate names which are automatically detected by the card system, and which would result in the loss of catalogues, postage and time if an other method were emplo ed. We can handle one hundred thousan dollars’ worth of business with the card system with as much ease, accuracy and attention to details as we can one hundred dollars’ worth. and think we get three times the result from the same effort and same amount of correspondence and advertising that we could without the system.”
Mr. C. A. Bent, of Geo. P. Bent Piano Manufacturing Co., Chicago, has the following to say about methods and filing systems :
“ We use the card system and numeric expansive filing system for tabulating and rendering effective all information about prospective customers and inquirers. \Ve have rimarily a county file, in which are placed all etters relative to prospective sales arranged by counties, so if our traveling man is going through a certain district of the country, he can run through this file and regulate his visits and conduct by the matter which it contains. As soon as one of these prospectives becomes a customer, the letter receives a number, and becomes an integral part of our numeric system, finding its place in numeric order under the State in the larger series of cabinets. Regarding the adaptability of this filing system by numbers, we have found it most satisfactory— we can not speak in high enough terms of it. \Ve find it adequate for all demands, and we have a very heavy correspondence. The capacity of our system is about two hundred thousand letters. We use the card system, keeping all correspondence with our customers and accounts in our ledgers, by the same number, found in the card index.”
A large Chicago concern which deals with advertisers throws the following light on its methods and office system :
“ Our territory is systematically divided, and a portion assigned to each of our solicitors, who is made responsible for his field. The inquiries, as they are received, are tabulated in a card system operated numerically in connection with an expansive filing system. This method we have employed for about two years. At that time we discarded making copies of our correspondence in the old method,and adopted the idea of making carbon copies of our letters, which enables us to file the letter and answer in one compartment. \Ve consider that this manner of handling our corresprmdence is as great an improvement in this office as is the emplo ment of typewriting machines over the o (1 method of writing letters. The Correspond
ence in this cabinet and the tabulated record of inquiries in the card system work in harmony, and are arranged both by territory and under the date in which they should receive attention. Thus, an inquiry is first tabulated on the card system, then the correspondence is arranged in the expansive file, and subsequent letters are so placed that our solicitors are kept informed at all times of our operations with each customer, and are enabled by this excellent method to interview the advertiser at just the right time to secure the best results.”
Source: Marketing Communications ©1898
Record-Filing—The Vertical System
By a record-filing system is meant the indexing of papers or other records (not necessarily letters but frequently so) that do not have to be transcribed but may be filed away in the original form.
The vertical system is the one most generally used in filing correspondence.
As business letters come in various sizes, forms, and thicknesses of letter paper, with not a few postal cards scattered in, it is necessary to have a means of conveniently holding and handling them. For accomplishing this purpose the folder is employed. A folder is a sheet of heavy manila paper made with one fold and measuring when folded about 12" wide by 9J" high. A folder of this kind holds from 50 to 100 letters, depending on the thickness of the sheets, etc. The back sheet and front sheet of the folders are nearly equal in height, though the back sheet should project slightly above the front sheet for convenience in handling.
One of the best forms of folders now used is that termed "half cut" in lefts and rights. This tab is printed with the words "Name" and "Number," as a folder generally is devoted to a certain firm or individual, and this space provides for entering the name thereon. On the second line of the tab may be written the date of the oldest letter and the date of the latest when the folder has become filled.
When folders are placed in the vertical file-drawer they are just high enough to allow the extension on the guides to project above them. As with the card-system so with the vertical system, the folders must always be filed behind (not in front) the guides. There is no limit to the number of folders which may be filed behind a single guide. Separate folders may be assigned to different firms and individuals or to different towns if the filing is by location instead of alphabetically.
Source: Style-Book of Business English, designed for use in Business Courses ©1811
HOW lNQUlRlES ARE FILED.
Mr. Haskins, in charge of the mail-order department of Wm. Wrigley, Jr., 8.: Co., Chicago, outlines this firm’s methods as follows :
“The inquiries are entered upon blue cards, containin the name, address and source; then we are able at any time to determine by this system what mediums are producing the best results, and can spend our money most advantageously. In replying to an original inquiry, we send one of our catalogues, together with an accompanying letter. All orders are entered subsequently upon this card, so that after the receipt of a letter the card system becomes the sole source of information and the letters are gradually discarded. We make it an object to have each of our customers send us the names of neighbors and friends, and names obtained from other sources than those coming from direct advertising are entered upon white cards. We arrange our cards alphabetically under States, towns and names within each town.
“ In regard to this card system, we wish to Sat that we think it is one of the. greatest things ever gotten up. We are annually saving hundreds of dollars by discarding from our lists duplicate names which are automatically detected by the card system, and which would result in the loss of catalogues, postage and time if an other method were emplo ed. We can handle one hundred thousan dollars’ worth of business with the card system with as much ease, accuracy and attention to details as we can one hundred dollars’ worth. and think we get three times the result from the same effort and same amount of correspondence and advertising that we could without the system.”
Mr. C. A. Bent, of Geo. P. Bent Piano Manufacturing Co., Chicago, has the following to say about methods and filing systems :
“ We use the card system and numeric expansive filing system for tabulating and rendering effective all information about prospective customers and inquirers. \Ve have rimarily a county file, in which are placed all etters relative to prospective sales arranged by counties, so if our traveling man is going through a certain district of the country, he can run through this file and regulate his visits and conduct by the matter which it contains. As soon as one of these prospectives becomes a customer, the letter receives a number, and becomes an integral part of our numeric system, finding its place in numeric order under the State in the larger series of cabinets. Regarding the adaptability of this filing system by numbers, we have found it most satisfactory— we can not speak in high enough terms of it. \Ve find it adequate for all demands, and we have a very heavy correspondence. The capacity of our system is about two hundred thousand letters. We use the card system, keeping all correspondence with our customers and accounts in our ledgers, by the same number, found in the card index.”
A large Chicago concern which deals with advertisers throws the following light on its methods and office system :
“ Our territory is systematically divided, and a portion assigned to each of our solicitors, who is made responsible for his field. The inquiries, as they are received, are tabulated in a card system operated numerically in connection with an expansive filing system. This method we have employed for about two years. At that time we discarded making copies of our correspondence in the old method,and adopted the idea of making carbon copies of our letters, which enables us to file the letter and answer in one compartment. \Ve consider that this manner of handling our corresprmdence is as great an improvement in this office as is the emplo ment of typewriting machines over the o (1 method of writing letters. The Correspond
ence in this cabinet and the tabulated record of inquiries in the card system work in harmony, and are arranged both by territory and under the date in which they should receive attention. Thus, an inquiry is first tabulated on the card system, then the correspondence is arranged in the expansive file, and subsequent letters are so placed that our solicitors are kept informed at all times of our operations with each customer, and are enabled by this excellent method to interview the advertiser at just the right time to secure the best results.”
Source: Marketing Communications ©1898
Record-Filing—The Vertical System
By a record-filing system is meant the indexing of papers or other records (not necessarily letters but frequently so) that do not have to be transcribed but may be filed away in the original form.
The vertical system is the one most generally used in filing correspondence.
As business letters come in various sizes, forms, and thicknesses of letter paper, with not a few postal cards scattered in, it is necessary to have a means of conveniently holding and handling them. For accomplishing this purpose the folder is employed. A folder is a sheet of heavy manila paper made with one fold and measuring when folded about 12" wide by 9J" high. A folder of this kind holds from 50 to 100 letters, depending on the thickness of the sheets, etc. The back sheet and front sheet of the folders are nearly equal in height, though the back sheet should project slightly above the front sheet for convenience in handling.
One of the best forms of folders now used is that termed "half cut" in lefts and rights. This tab is printed with the words "Name" and "Number," as a folder generally is devoted to a certain firm or individual, and this space provides for entering the name thereon. On the second line of the tab may be written the date of the oldest letter and the date of the latest when the folder has become filled.
When folders are placed in the vertical file-drawer they are just high enough to allow the extension on the guides to project above them. As with the card-system so with the vertical system, the folders must always be filed behind (not in front) the guides. There is no limit to the number of folders which may be filed behind a single guide. Separate folders may be assigned to different firms and individuals or to different towns if the filing is by location instead of alphabetically.
Source: Style-Book of Business English, designed for use in Business Courses ©1811
Monday, May 12, 2014
Lemonade
I was wondering how far north lemons made it and how early in the 19th century could you find them when I came across these fun recipes for or using lemonade. Note the dates of some of the sources. I did find an article written in 1801 comparing the use of crystalized lemon vs. real lemon juice.
In my research I did come across a note regarding the import of lemons from Spain and Madrid. Lemons and importing them had been going on before the 19th century.
LEMONADE
white sugar 1lb.
tartaric acid 1/4 oz.
essence of lemon 30 drops
water 3 quarts
Mix
Source: The Cyclopedia of Practical Receipts ©1841
LEMONADE. To prepare lemonade a day before it is wanted for use, pare two dozen lemons as thin as possible. Put eight of the rinds into three quarts of hot water, not boiling, and cover it over for three or four hours. Rub some fine loaf sugar on the lemons to attract the essence, and put it into a china bowl, into which the juice of the lemons is to be squeezed. Add a pound and a half of fine sugar, then put the water to the above, and three quarts of boiling milk. Pour the mixture through a jelly bag, till it is perfectly clear.—Another way. Pare a quantity of lemons, and pour some hot water on the peels. While infusing, boil some sugar and water to a good syrup, with the white of an egg whipt up. When it boils, pour a little cold water into it. Set it on again, and when it boils take off the pan, and let it stand by to settle. If there be any scum, take it off, and pour it clear from the sediment, to the water in which the peels were infused, and the lemon juice. Stir and taste it, and add as much more water as shall be necessary to make a very rich lemonade. Wet a jelly bag, and squeeze it dry; then strain the liquor, and it will be very fine.—To make a lemonade which has the appearance of jelly, pare two Seville oranges and six lemons very thin, and steep them four hours in a quart of hot water. Boil a pound and a quarter of loaf sugar in three pints of water, aud skim it clean. Add the two liquors to the juice of six China oranges, and twelve lemons; stir the whole well, and run it through a jelly bag till it is ouite clear. Then add a little orange water, if approved, and more sugar if necessary. Let it be well corked, and it will keep.--Lemonade may be prepared in a minute, by pounding a quarter of an ounce of citric or crystalised lemon acid, with a few drops of quintessence of lemon peel, and mixing it by degrees with a pint of clarified syrup or capillaries.
Source: The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary ©1822
LEMONADE.
Three lemons to a pint of water, makes strong lemonade ; sweeten to your taste.
This is the best beverage for parties, cool, refreshing, pleasant and salubrious.
Source: Good Housekeeper ©1839
LEMONADE ICED. Make a quart of rich lemonade, whip the whites of six fresh eggs to a strong froth—mix them well with the lemonade, and freeze it. The juice of morello cherries, or of currants mixed with water and sugar, and prepared in the same way, make very delicate ices.
Source: The Virginia Housewife ©1838
In my research I did come across a note regarding the import of lemons from Spain and Madrid. Lemons and importing them had been going on before the 19th century.
LEMONADE
white sugar 1lb.
tartaric acid 1/4 oz.
essence of lemon 30 drops
water 3 quarts
Mix
Source: The Cyclopedia of Practical Receipts ©1841
LEMONADE. To prepare lemonade a day before it is wanted for use, pare two dozen lemons as thin as possible. Put eight of the rinds into three quarts of hot water, not boiling, and cover it over for three or four hours. Rub some fine loaf sugar on the lemons to attract the essence, and put it into a china bowl, into which the juice of the lemons is to be squeezed. Add a pound and a half of fine sugar, then put the water to the above, and three quarts of boiling milk. Pour the mixture through a jelly bag, till it is perfectly clear.—Another way. Pare a quantity of lemons, and pour some hot water on the peels. While infusing, boil some sugar and water to a good syrup, with the white of an egg whipt up. When it boils, pour a little cold water into it. Set it on again, and when it boils take off the pan, and let it stand by to settle. If there be any scum, take it off, and pour it clear from the sediment, to the water in which the peels were infused, and the lemon juice. Stir and taste it, and add as much more water as shall be necessary to make a very rich lemonade. Wet a jelly bag, and squeeze it dry; then strain the liquor, and it will be very fine.—To make a lemonade which has the appearance of jelly, pare two Seville oranges and six lemons very thin, and steep them four hours in a quart of hot water. Boil a pound and a quarter of loaf sugar in three pints of water, aud skim it clean. Add the two liquors to the juice of six China oranges, and twelve lemons; stir the whole well, and run it through a jelly bag till it is ouite clear. Then add a little orange water, if approved, and more sugar if necessary. Let it be well corked, and it will keep.--Lemonade may be prepared in a minute, by pounding a quarter of an ounce of citric or crystalised lemon acid, with a few drops of quintessence of lemon peel, and mixing it by degrees with a pint of clarified syrup or capillaries.
Source: The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary ©1822
LEMONADE.
Three lemons to a pint of water, makes strong lemonade ; sweeten to your taste.
This is the best beverage for parties, cool, refreshing, pleasant and salubrious.
Source: Good Housekeeper ©1839
LEMONADE ICED. Make a quart of rich lemonade, whip the whites of six fresh eggs to a strong froth—mix them well with the lemonade, and freeze it. The juice of morello cherries, or of currants mixed with water and sugar, and prepared in the same way, make very delicate ices.
Source: The Virginia Housewife ©1838
Monday, January 6, 2014
Typewriter Ribbons
Something we don't think about much these days are typewriter ribbons. While my husband was in college and seminary, I changed many a typewriter ribbons as I typed out his papers for school. Today we run out of ink or toner depending on the type of printer we have for our computers.
Below is an article on typewriter ribbons.
TYPEWRITER RIBBONS.
Perhaps no part of the typewriting machine's equipment has given greater perplexity to the promoters than the ribbon. To obtain one that would not clog the type or smirch the paper, and from which the ink would not evaporate when exposed to the air, was a difficulty with which operators had to contend, and which inventors tried hard to remedy. It is only within the last few years that ribbons have been made which appear to satisfy the general demand. While ribbons have been required since the time of the modern typewriter's introduction, it is in the last ten years that the business of making them has reached its greatest proportions. Four years ago, it was said that this kind of ribbon-making was engaged in by at least forty manufacturers in the United States, and their output was estimated to be not less than 600,000 ribbons annually. To-day, says the New York Sun, the annual production is probably more than twice as large as it was then, and makers declare that they are kept very busy filling their orders. The thousands of American typewriters in use abroad are practically all supplied with American ribbons, and their exportation constitutes an important branch of the business by itself.
Ribbons are made in almost every conceivable colour and variety, and with copying and non-copying ink. Their length and width depend upon the requirements of the machine for which they are intended. The average length is eight yards, although a few are made as long as eighteen yards. Some ribbons write in one colour, and show an entirely different colour when the writing is copied in a press. A ribbon which writes black may copy blue or green, making the record much more clear on certain kinds of paper than it would be if made in black. The head of the ribbon department of a large typewriter house on Broadway recently gave some facts concerning the extent of this business, and the skill and care required for its prosecution.
In New York, according to the manager referred to, there are probably five hundred places where typewriter ribbons are sold, while in all the cities of the Union there are many thousands. Some of the dealers handle eight or ten different styles, and the amount of their monthly receipts is often very large. The different makes of ribbons in the market number from fifty to seventy-five, and most of them are manufactured in the Eastern States. The number of ribbons used in a year ranges from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000. There is good reason to suppose that there are between 300,000 and 350,000 ribbon-using typewriters in operation in the world, but, of course, some of the machines are not employed actively. Probably onethird of the ribbons made are exported.
Only those connected with the business can understand ■how much care and expert ness are necessary in turning out ribbons which will give good satisfaction. It is an easy matter to succeed in making a good ribbon now and then, or perhaps several dozen good ones; but every single ribbon must be perfect, otherwise complaints will be made, and the manufacturer will suffer in consequence. The effect produced by one poor ribbon might mean the loss of several customers who might be misled as to that particular brand.
One of the chief aims of the manufacturers is to produce a ribbon that shall leave a permanent impression on the paper. Ink which has lampblack as a base is always
Sermanent; it cannot be extracted by acids, and will not ide by exposure to light. The ribbons in most common use are the black copying purple, and purple copying, and a record made by any one of them may be regarded as absolutely lasting. Many of the best ribbons have selvedged edges, which prevents their ravelling and curling when in use. They are nearly uniform in thickness, though some ribbons are made of very thin texture, for use when a large number of copies is desired.—Textile Mercury.
Source: Pitman's Journal of Commercial Education, Volume 58 ©1899
Below is an article on typewriter ribbons.
TYPEWRITER RIBBONS.
Perhaps no part of the typewriting machine's equipment has given greater perplexity to the promoters than the ribbon. To obtain one that would not clog the type or smirch the paper, and from which the ink would not evaporate when exposed to the air, was a difficulty with which operators had to contend, and which inventors tried hard to remedy. It is only within the last few years that ribbons have been made which appear to satisfy the general demand. While ribbons have been required since the time of the modern typewriter's introduction, it is in the last ten years that the business of making them has reached its greatest proportions. Four years ago, it was said that this kind of ribbon-making was engaged in by at least forty manufacturers in the United States, and their output was estimated to be not less than 600,000 ribbons annually. To-day, says the New York Sun, the annual production is probably more than twice as large as it was then, and makers declare that they are kept very busy filling their orders. The thousands of American typewriters in use abroad are practically all supplied with American ribbons, and their exportation constitutes an important branch of the business by itself.
Ribbons are made in almost every conceivable colour and variety, and with copying and non-copying ink. Their length and width depend upon the requirements of the machine for which they are intended. The average length is eight yards, although a few are made as long as eighteen yards. Some ribbons write in one colour, and show an entirely different colour when the writing is copied in a press. A ribbon which writes black may copy blue or green, making the record much more clear on certain kinds of paper than it would be if made in black. The head of the ribbon department of a large typewriter house on Broadway recently gave some facts concerning the extent of this business, and the skill and care required for its prosecution.
In New York, according to the manager referred to, there are probably five hundred places where typewriter ribbons are sold, while in all the cities of the Union there are many thousands. Some of the dealers handle eight or ten different styles, and the amount of their monthly receipts is often very large. The different makes of ribbons in the market number from fifty to seventy-five, and most of them are manufactured in the Eastern States. The number of ribbons used in a year ranges from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000. There is good reason to suppose that there are between 300,000 and 350,000 ribbon-using typewriters in operation in the world, but, of course, some of the machines are not employed actively. Probably onethird of the ribbons made are exported.
Only those connected with the business can understand ■how much care and expert ness are necessary in turning out ribbons which will give good satisfaction. It is an easy matter to succeed in making a good ribbon now and then, or perhaps several dozen good ones; but every single ribbon must be perfect, otherwise complaints will be made, and the manufacturer will suffer in consequence. The effect produced by one poor ribbon might mean the loss of several customers who might be misled as to that particular brand.
One of the chief aims of the manufacturers is to produce a ribbon that shall leave a permanent impression on the paper. Ink which has lampblack as a base is always
Sermanent; it cannot be extracted by acids, and will not ide by exposure to light. The ribbons in most common use are the black copying purple, and purple copying, and a record made by any one of them may be regarded as absolutely lasting. Many of the best ribbons have selvedged edges, which prevents their ravelling and curling when in use. They are nearly uniform in thickness, though some ribbons are made of very thin texture, for use when a large number of copies is desired.—Textile Mercury.
Source: Pitman's Journal of Commercial Education, Volume 58 ©1899
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