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HARDWOOD RECORD 



a new price list which is about 42 y^ per cent 

 higher than the 1904 list. If there is any com- 

 bination or agreement we have not been advised. 

 We think the advance is cnused by the scarcity 

 of timber and the scramble to get it between 

 the handle makers, the rim men, the spoke men, 

 the wagon makers, the sucker rod men and 

 others. It might be a good plan to reorganize 

 the grading of handles, but it should be done 

 by the handle makers themselves, as they know 

 what constitutes good timber, while the buyer 

 does not, as a general thing. They will fre- 

 quently take an all white handle for first quality 

 and reject a really good piece of timber on 

 account of a little red wood. Another thing the 

 maker knows is the proportion of good handles 

 he can get out of timber, and he is the best 

 judge of the cost and therefore should be the 

 grader and price maker. There are other con- 

 siderations besides quality of timber that go to 

 make values on handles, such as shape, size, 

 style of finish, etc. If you can organize an as- 

 sociation such as other branches of the industry 

 have, it might be a good thing, but if you or- 

 ganize one like the one that has gone through 

 the mill and come out .'i;i;9,000,000 behind, you 

 would break all the handles and the makers, 

 too. Yours truly, 



EEES BKOS. MiNUFACTUKING COMPANY. 



Chicago Heights^ III., Aug. 17. — Editor 

 Hardwood Record : Your circular letter with 

 copy of editorial received. With reference to 

 starting a movement for a handle association, 

 will say that we would not be interested in 

 this, as" prior to a year or so we were members 

 of an association, and the results were far from 

 satisfactory to us. However, we should be very 

 glad to have you send us any information on 

 this line that you may have, and would also like 

 to have a copy of your paper. Very truly yours, 

 IlARTWELL Brothers. 



Gbeenfield, Mass., Aug. 17. — Editor Hard- 

 wood Record : Yours at hand. We believe in 

 the association and meeting together of manu- 

 facturers in the same line and think the move- 

 ment you suggest would be helpful to the trade. 

 Yours truly, 

 KnoG Manufacturing Companv. 



Malden, Mo., Aug. 17. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Your circular letter received, and we 

 think the step should be taken in regard to per- 

 fecting a handle manufacturers' association. 

 Hope the meeting will be called some time in 

 September. We will endeavor to have a repre- 

 sentative present, and think the movement a 

 good one ; also that all the handle people will 

 think the same except those that the "trust" 

 own. Please find enclosed .$2 for a year's sub- 

 scription to the Record. Thanking you for the 

 active part you are taking, we remain, 



Yours respectfully. 

 United States Cooperage and Handle Com- 



PANl". 



Galien, Mich., Aug. 16. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : In relation lo the formation of a 

 handle makers' association, we are pleased to 

 endorse the movement and will endeavor to at- 

 tend a meeting in Chicago for that purpose if 

 advised of the date. Yours truly. 



Wolverine Handle Factory. 



Farsiland, Ind., Aug. IC. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : In my opinion the handle manufac- 

 turers should be in closer touch than at present. 

 The grading of handles in our line is very pe- 

 culiar and hard to get on a basis of equality, 

 as hardly any two men see the same lot of 

 handles alike. Considering the difiiculty in buy- 

 ing timber and the wages paid, we should have 

 a better price to be able to compete with other 

 manufacturers using ash timber. Y'ours truly. 



Ash & Mills. 



Warren, Ark., Aug. 17. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Noting your editorial in the Hard- 

 wood Record of August 10, in regard to the 

 handle industry, wish to put ourselves on record 

 as being in favor of your suggestions. We be- 

 lieve there should be a uniform system of grad- 

 ing and inspection. A system put into effect 

 twenty-five years or more ago is not applicable 

 to present conditions. If a reform in grading 

 can be made we feel sure the question of price 

 will soon be solved. We hope you will keep 

 these questions before your readers until such 

 time as the handle manufacturers "wake up" 

 and organize. You. may count on our support. 

 Yours truly, 

 Warren Vehicle Stock Company. 



Cookeville, Tenn., Aug. 19. — Editor Hard- 

 wood Record : We are in receipt of your letter 

 of recent date, also of reprint of editorial which 

 meets with our views on this subject, 

 and we extend our hearty cooperation in bring- 

 ing about an organization of this kind. If 

 every manufacturer of handles, especially hick- 

 ory handles, could be made to realize the impor- 

 tance of such an association — which we think 

 no doubt they will — there would be no trouble 

 in getting them together in this matter, as no 



business industry without organization can suc- 

 ceed. But unless all the manufacturers, both 

 large and small, will endorse and cooperate in 

 this movement, we are of the opinion that it 

 will do no good. Under existing circumstances 

 there are several radical changes that are neces- 

 sary to be made in this business, which cannot 

 be done by one or half a dozen manufacturers, 

 but all must come together in one association, 

 where we can discuss and exchange views ou 

 these matters and agree upon something definite 

 to meet present conditions. Times change and 

 circumstances change with the times ; what 

 suited in this business twenty-five years ago, 

 or even ten years ago, does not suit conditions 

 of today, yet we are hanging fire and dragging 

 along in the old paths ijecause of no power to 

 change. We think all the manufacturers now 

 see this and the time is ripe to meet and bring 

 about the necessary changes to meet existing 

 circumstances. The writer has been engaged in 

 the manufacture of hickory handles for twenty- 

 seven years and has seen it in all its ups and 

 downs, but thinks this is the greatest down he 

 lias ever struck. While the demand is good the 

 price is not in touch with the increased price 

 in timber and labor, the cost of production is 

 loo high for the prices obtained for handles. I 

 think all will agree on this — hickory timber is 

 fast disappearing and growing scarce owing to 

 the heavy demand for this class of timber, and 

 the great draw on it by the handle, spoke, rim, 

 wagon stock and other' hickory users; the price 

 has more than doubled iu the last few years. 

 We deem it foolish and unbusinesslike to be 

 working up this timber with little or no profit 

 to the manufacturer w'hen a fair profit could be 

 realized by an honest organized effort on the 

 l)art of all the manufacturers. We see no 

 other way this can be brought about except by 

 a friendly association and understanding of all 

 the manufacturers in this line. We do not 

 believe in trusts and would not belong to one, 

 yet we do believe in hearty coiiperation, friendly 

 feeling, association and proper understanding 

 with all manufacturers in the same line of 

 business. As requested, this expresses our views 

 in the matter, and if we can be of further serv- 

 ice to you along this line, command us. Hoping 

 you will meet with success, we remain, 

 Yours very truly, 

 Gregory-Maxwell Handle Cojipany. 



Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 19. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Y'our circular letter of August 10 at 

 hand, re handle industry. We note same care- 

 fully and would like to ask you what handle 

 manufacturing company is making the effort to 

 organize a handle association, that brought about 

 this matter with you. Tlie reason we would like 

 to know is that the hickory handle manufactur- 

 ers had an association for some three or four 

 years, but it finally dwindled away to nothing, 

 and one of the greatest reasons that it did not 

 hold out was the fact that the members of it 

 would not carry out their obligations, and one 

 of the principal ones was the grading of the 

 handles according to uniform grade, that was 

 established by the association. We would be 

 very glad indeed to have a renresentative at the 

 meeting that you speak of and assist in bringing 

 about the conditions that are so essential today 

 to our welfare. Y'ou are correct when you say 

 that the price of handles today is not in keep- 

 ing with the price of lumber, and that the same 

 rule for grading today has been in use for 

 twenty years. This point of grading or classify- 

 ing handles is a very important matter, and it 

 is one that the writer has been hammering at 

 for a long time. It is also the way tliat our 

 largest competitors cut prices, selling handles 

 according to the uniform list and discount, but 

 brand handles as No. 2 and invoice them that, 

 but furnish No. 1 goods. Of course the broom 

 liandles, shovel handles and some others would 

 not interest us, as we are engaged in the manu- 

 facture of hickory handles exclusively. We 

 would be very glad to hear from you again, and 

 if you will keep us posted as to the progress 

 made, would give some assistance in this line. 

 Yours truly. 

 Consolidated Handle Company. 



Kaleyville, Ala.. Aug. 17. — Editor Hard- 

 wood Record : Replying to your circular letter 

 in reference to a handle manufacturers' associa- 

 tion, we are satisfied that it would be an advan- 

 tage. We are only running a small plant, but 

 should you take any further steps in the matter 

 we woiild like to be kept informed, and if the 

 expense is not too heavy would probabl.v be will- 

 ing to take part in it." We suppose we have a 

 fairly good run of timber here, but it is getting 

 bard to get good timber at reasonable prices. 

 Wages have nearly douljled and farmers want 

 more for their hauling, so that the cost of pro- 

 duction has gone up. Any further information 

 will be appreciated, and we will try to recipro- 

 cate it. Thanking you. Very truly. 



Lakeman Manufacturing Company. 



BuFFTON. O.. Aug. 20. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Replying to your circular letter in 

 reference to organizing a handle manuf.acturers' 

 association, beg to say that in our opinion such 

 au organization would" bo a benefit to the makers. 



The present prices paid by the "handle trust," 

 which practically controls the industry, are be- 

 low the prices of lumber, not considering the 

 amount of extra work attached to making the 

 handles. There are, however, many liandle fac- 

 tories that are not equipped to saw lumber, and 

 the result is that they will manufacture logs 

 into handles that would net much more money 

 were tiiey made into lumber. I note that you 

 expect lo call a meeting in Chicago some time 

 during September. Now we are not going to 

 dictate to you where to hold it, but it seems that 

 a place more centrally located in the handle 

 manutai'turing field would bring a Ijetter attend- 

 ance to the meeting — Cincinnati. Indianapolis or 

 Kort Wayne, as most of the handle factories are 

 in (.)hio, Indiana and Kentucky, with quite a 

 number in Arkansas and Missouri. 

 Very truly yours, 

 The Bluffton Hardwood Company. 



I'uxico, Mo., Aug. 19. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : We are in receipt of your favor of 

 recent date and note contents. The present con- 

 dition of the handle industry is very unsatisfac- 

 tory, and is almost the only industry of any 

 magnitude that is without some kind of organi- 

 zation. As a consequence it is a scramble for 

 timber at high prices, and a scramble for the 

 market. Prices are cut so low that in many 

 cases coming under the writer's personal knowl- 

 edge handles have been sold for less than the 

 cost of production. Another matter of vital im- 

 portance to the industry is the matter of grad- 

 ing. We believe the present grading rules are 

 bad and do not meet the conditions that prevail 

 today. The writer will surely be glad to see 

 the business placed on a better basis than exists 

 today, and hope you may be able to accomplish 

 something in the way you suggest, and at the 

 same time not Infringe in any way upon the 

 laws. Will be pleased to have further informa- 

 tion on the subject as you may have it to give 

 out. Yours very truly. 



FuLKERSON Brothers Handle Company. 



Milford. N. H., Aug. 20. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record ; Would be glad to know more of the 

 subject under consideration and also to receive 

 sample copy of the Record. Yours truly 



W. E. I'EIRCE & Co. 



TiMPSON, Tex., Aug. 20. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Referring to yours attached, we 



think that this is the thing that should be done, 

 and would like to see steps taken to that end. 



Yours truly, Timpson Handle Company. 



Charleston, Mo., Aug. 17. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : In reply to your favor of recent date, 

 will say that we will be glad to assist in any 

 way we can in the formation of an association 

 which would better the interests of the handle 

 manufacturers, all parties alike, as far as prac- 

 ticable. We realize the fact that handle manu- 

 facturers are not getting the benefit of prices, 

 as otlier industries are, and we trust that there 

 may be an alliance formed that will bring the 

 manufacturers of handles closer together. We 

 will gladly furnish you all the information and 

 assistance we can. Trusting that you may suc- 

 ceed in the undertaking, we are. 

 Respectfully yours, 

 .T. W. PuT-XAM Manufacturing Company. 



Somerset, Ky., Aug. 21. — Editor Hardwood 

 Record : Your favor at hand and noted. We 

 are not now in the handle business and have 

 not been in it for the past two or three years, 

 as we found ash in this section of Kentucky too 

 scattering and brach for farming tool handles. 

 Our experience in the handle business, however, 

 leads us to think that it would be rather hard 

 to form a combination that would slick. There 

 is no doubt it would be a good thing for the 

 manufacturers of handles to do so, as they could 

 then get the grading rules where they should be, 

 and also hold the price of the handles at a point 

 where there would be a fair margin of profit all 

 the time. The great trouble, however, is that 

 the amount of capital necessary to go into the 

 handle business is so small ($3,000) that wher- 

 ever a man starts there are others outside who 

 see so much money in the business that they 

 will get into it, which then makes a lot of 

 poorly turned stock for the market which has 

 to be sold at a sacrifice; it also makes an un- 

 necessarily high price for the timber by the com- 

 petition in buying. We have found all these 

 things to be facts in twenty years' experience 

 iu the business. Respectfully, 



I. R. Longswokth Co.mpany. 



Ada, O., Aug. 17. — Editor Hardwood Record: 

 We have your very kind favor and have noted 

 same witii much interest, and are quite sure 

 that your decision to line up the handle manu- 

 facturers is a step in the right direction, and 

 one which we are quite certain will prove to be 

 of mutual advantage. We are quite willing to 

 lielp vou in any manner we can. I'rices of han- 

 dles are not at all in proportion to prices of 

 timber and timber supply. The rules of grad- 

 ing should be radically changed, as they are now 

 the same as for the last twenty-five years, and 



