T H E C U B A R E T I E W 



shape in collars is so much a matter of individual taste, and the range of patterns so wide 

 that it would be difficult to ascribe more popularity to one type than another. One t\pe 

 of soft collar has, however, lately become a ready seller in this market. The makers 

 claim for it that it possesses the appearance of a starched collar with none of the at- 

 tendant discomforts of a stiff collar in a tropical climate. Made in one piece, it is ironed 

 while damp and requires no starching. The collar appears to fulfill what is claimed for it, 

 and but for its really high price would readily absorb a large portion of the trade.' 

 Following this type of collar are to be found a large number of imitations, which, owing 

 to their similarity and reduced price, sell largely. 



Motor Vehicles 



Six leading American cars find the larg- 

 est sale in Cuba. American makes com- 

 prise 95 per cent, of the total sales, and 

 their relative popularity runs in much the 

 same order as in the United States. 

 European passenger cars are being im- 

 ported only on special order. No electric 

 passenger cars have been sold. The per- 

 centage of closed cars sold is reported to 

 be increasing, though sales do not exceed 

 5 per cent, of the total. Closed-car 

 purchasers prefer the type which has a 

 partition separating the chauffeur from the 

 rear seats. 



Special equipment on cars is much fa- 

 vored by Cuban purchasers. Bright colors 

 are very popular, with maroon and blue 

 shades preferred. Wire wheels have the 

 largest demand, but disk wheels are in- 

 creasing in popularity. The battery system 

 of ignition is becoming more popular, hav- 

 ing given satisfactory results; at the pres- 

 ent time either battery or magneto is ac- 

 ceptable. Left-hand drive is preferred. 

 Service given by the local representative 

 has much to do with sales. 



American trucks, like passenger cars, 

 predominate in the Cuban market. Pres- 

 ent price quotations, especially in heavy 

 trucks, do not indicate normal prices, ow- 

 ing to heavy sacrifices made by dealers to 

 clear off large stocks still on hand since 

 the financial crisis beginning late in 1920. 

 Approximately two-thirds of the trucks in 

 use in Havana are of less than 2 tons 

 capacity. Light trucks are finding more 

 active market at the present time. Initial 

 cost and operating cost are now being more 

 carefully considered. The preference is for 

 solid tires, even on light and medium weight 

 trucks, although sales of pneumatic tires 

 are increasing. 



Only about 5 to 10 per cent, of the 

 trucks sold have dump bodies, although one 



dealer reports that nearly 40 per cent, of 

 his sales are of this t>'pe. The Benz, Fiat 

 and Renault have the largest sale from 

 European makes on the market, but their 

 competition is not serious. (Assistant 

 Trade Commissioner Howard H. Tewks- 

 bury, Habana.) 



Boots and Shoes 



American manufactured shoes continue 

 to be popular in Cuba. There is a steady 

 though relatively small demand for ladies' 

 turned shoes. The importations of boots 

 and shoes from the United States have 

 recovered from the slack period of 1921- 

 22. Owing to unfavorable financial situa- 

 tion the importations from .Spain have not 

 been as important in quantity as formerly, 

 and there is an opportunity for American 

 manufacturers to supply this deficit as well 

 as the demand created by the present low 

 production of Cuban factories. 



The season for manufacturing white 

 shoes extends from January to June, and 

 the Cuban factories have just closed a 

 successful season, but report a very notice- 

 able falling off in orders for colored foot- 

 wear to be delivered in November. During 

 the winter season there is a large demand 

 for women's black shoes. For men the 

 principal shoes manufactured in Cuba are 

 types suitable for laborers. Although Cu- 

 ban manufacturers have factories equipped 

 to make turned shoes of good quality, at 

 the present time high-grade men's shoes 

 are produced only by a few custom shoe- 

 makers. During the period from January 

 1 to July 31, 1923, there was manufac- 

 tured in the principal shoe factories in 

 Habana and Matanzas 776,458 pairs of 

 shoes, comprising 242.160 pairs of men's, 

 385,848 pairs of women's, and 148.450 

 pairs of children's.— Co/«/«frc<? Reports. 



