MISCELLANEOUS METAL MANUFACTURES.

The subject matter of this and the following pamphlet embraces a variety of commodities designated in paragraph 167 of the act of 1913 as articles or wares not specially provided for in this section." Certain kinds of machinery dutiable under this paragraph, like most forms of textile machinery and internal combustion engines, have already been discussed in one of the publications on Tariff Information Surveys dealing with the general subject "Machinery." Most dutiable machinery, aside from steam engines, comes within the scope of paragraph 167 as "articles or wares not specially provided for." Special provision was made in paragraph 165 for machine tools and embroidering and lace-making machines whose manufactures have at times been subject to some foreign competition, as well as steam engines, steam locomotives, and printing presses, the domestic market for which is not at present threatened by any appreciable competition from abroad. Many machines not subjected to foreign competition, like cash registers, typewriters, and shoe machinery, are admitted free of duty under paragraph 441.2 Agricultural implements and machinery, including gins and sugar machinery, are also admitted free under paragraph 391.3

In addition to the machinery referred to there is a large class of articles coming under the general head of electrical apparatus and supplies. These articles include machines for the generation of electric power, the means of transporting this electric energy from power plants to places where energy is utilized and the various appliances for the utilization of electricity. These electrical apparatus and supplies are discussed in pamphlet entitled "Miscellaneous II.”

Besides machinery and appliances for the transfer and utilization of electrical power there is a great variety of metal manufactures not specially provided for in the act of 1913 and earlier acts and therefore governed by a general paragraph, such as 167 of the act of 1913. In some cases articles of a given class partially covered by this paragraph are governed in part by other paragraphs. Thus in the case of upholsterers' nails and thumb tacks, furniture nails composed in part of metal and in part of leather would be dutiable under paragraph 360 rather than under paragraph 167, because leather is the component material of chief value. Draftsmen's instruments are dutiable under paragraph 167 as "articles or wares not specially provided for * * * if composed wholly or in chief value of iron, steel," etc. If, however, they are "specially imported in good faith for the use and by order of any society or institution, incorporated or established for religious, philospohical, educational, scientific, or literary purposes," they are admitted free under paragraph 563.

1 See C-29.

76612-21-c-30

2 See F. L.-3.

Ibid.

9

The articles treated in this pamphlet form only an insignificant fraction of the total number coming within the scope of paragraph 167. They are articles, however, which have been imported to an appreciable extent and whose manufactures in this country have been subject to more or less foreign competition.

Articles coming under the general head of "Miscellaneous manufactures" are discussed in two pamphlets, one called "Miscellaneous I," embracing locks, upholsterer's nails and thumb tacks, tinware. sheet metal, stampings, silver and plated tableware, small tools, draftsmen's instruments, surgical and dental instruments and appliances, and church goods; the other, "Miscellaneous II," covering electrical apparatus supplies.

LOCKS.

SUMMARY,

Locks vary greatly in character and value. famous the world over for quality.

American locks are

In the manufacture of locks, machinery has in the main supplanted hand labor. Individual parts are punched, stamped, or drop-forged. In some of the finishing processes, however, hand labor is still a considerable factor.

Domestic production is ample for supplying home consumption. Imports are not separately reported by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, but are probably negligible. Domestic exports, on the other hand, are large and increasing. In 1913 (fiscal year) they were valued at $1,639,936; in 1919 (calendar year), at $4,145,325; and in 1920, to $6,387,214.

American manufacturers are practically free from foreign competition in the domestic market. It is claimed, however, that exported locks are often supplanted abroad by cheaper products modeled after those produced in this country. Notwithstanding this competition, American locks continue to be exported in large and increasing quantities.

Locks vary greatly in kind and value and are exceptionally adapted, when rates are considered, to the imposition of ad valorem duties.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

ACT OF 1913.

Paragraph 167. Articles or wares not specially provided for in this section; * * * if composed wholly or in chief value of iron, steel, lead, copper, brass, nickel, pewter, zinc, aluminum, or other metal, but not plated with gold or silver, and whether partly or wholly manufactured, 20 per cent ad valorem.

DESCRIPTION.

The lock is a contrivance for securely fastening a door, drawer, lid, or other moving part by means of an inclosed bolt which is shot back and forth by a key or other device to engage with some form of staple, plate, or box. Key locks may be divided into two general classes-warded locks and tumbler or lever locks. The former are those with fixed wards or ridges within the lock which prevent turning of the key unless its grooves or perforations coincide with the wards of the lock. Tumbler or lever locks are those with movable levers or pins within the lock which must be moved to a certain position before the bolt can slide.

Locks may be divided into five groups based upon their nature and the manner in which they are used: (1) Builder's locks which become parts of the construction of buildings of all kinds, particularly doors; (2) cabinet locks which are used in the manufacture of furniture; (3) trunk locks which are employed for securing trunks; (4) bank locks which go into the building of banks and safes; and (5) padlocks.

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.

The capital invested in the manufacture of locks and builders' hardware in 1913 was about $30,000,000, and the number of employees was about 15,000. The Federal census for 1914 shows that there were 51 establishments engaged in the manufacture of locks with an invested capital of $13,961,316, and the value of their yearly output was $9,271,000.

Materials. The more common materials used in the manufacture of locks are iron, steel, copper, and brass.

Equipment. In the manufacture of locks hand labor has been largely superseded by dies and drop forgings. Automatic machinery

is used to a great extent.

Method of Production.-Locks are made by automatic machinery by which the individual parts are punched, stamped, or drop-forged. Organization.-There are many large manufacturers who make the major portion of the locks produced in the United States.

Geographical distribution.-Plants manufacturing locks are located in several different states. They are established in New England, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and even in California. The lock industry, however, centers in Connecticut.

History of the industry.-Probably the earliest locks were of Chinese origin. Up to the end of the eighteenth century, warded locks were considered safe and were generally used. The tumbler or lever lock was an advance upon the warded lock, in which the levers are raised or released by the action of an appropriate key. The best known lock up to 1851 was that of Jeremiah Chubb, which was originally patented in England in 1818. It was used extensively for many years in Great Britain, especially in the form developed in

1856.

The early lock industry in America followed mainly European and especially British models. The chief point of difference established was the extensive use of cast iron for locks and lock cases, as against wrought iron in Europe. With improved processes for working sheet metal, there was developed in the United States, toward the end of the nineteenth century, a type of lock made of cold rolled steel. These locks soon acquired a reputation and a field of usefulness. The Parantoptic lock invented by Newell of Day & Newell was widely used for some time, and up to 1850 was considered absolutely safe. The pin-tumbler or cylinder lock, first brought out about 1860, invented by Linus Yale, jr., was the first lock to employ a small flat key. Mr. Yale developed the dial or combination lock. The time lock was added to the combination lock for the protection of bank and safe-deposit vaults. This form of lock has been developed to a high degree of perfection. It came into practical use about 1875, and even to-day such use is mainly confined to the United States and Canada, although a few American time locks are found in some foreign countries, especially England. Constant improvements in locks and in methods of manufacture rather than the evolution of new principles have been characteristic of the industry. Domestic production and consumption --Domestic production is evidently sufficient to supply the domestic consumption. Lock manufacturing is a widely diversified industry. To a remarkable. degree American inventiveness has contributed to the great variety

of metal products. American locks are famous the world over for originality, and, in their higher grades, for quality and the security they provide.

Domestic exports. Of the exports of locks a considerable portion goes to Canada. Locks are also exported to South America and Australia. For European markets American products are being increasingly supplanted by the competition of European makers, who have copied American models. Markets in foreign countries have been secured and held largely through distinctiveness, superior grades, and relatively high degree of safety offered. Exports of locks were first listed separately in 1913 when their value was $1,639,936. Exports decreased to $1,063,912 in 1915. Since that year exports have steadily increased. They aggregated $4,145,325 in the calendar year 1919, and $6,387,214 in 1920. In 1913 the major quantity of exports went to North American destinations, principally Canada; the next largest amount to Europe. There was a decrease in exports to Europe, from $536,571 in 1914 to $272,960 in 1918. North American exports decreased from $661,837 in 1913 to $284,772 in 1915. In 1920 they totaled $768,254. Exports to South America increased from $91,826 in 1915 to $595,319 in 1918. This was the largest proportional increase.

FOREIGN PRODUCTION.

Locks are manufactured in Great Britain, Germany, and France.

IMPORTS.

Imports are not separately reported by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce and are probably negligible in amount.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Locks have not been specially provided for in tariff acts. They have been included in basket clauses covering articles or wares manufactured of metal.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS.

American manufacturers of locks are practically free from foreign competition in the United States. The domestic market for locks is supplied almost exclusively from domestic sources. When, however, the American manufacturer has entered foreign countries he has occasionally found himself in competition with a product so much cheaper then his own that he could not effectively compete with it. At times the foreign manufacturer has taken the American product as a model and supplied the market with a similar one sold at a lower price. The effective hold of the American manufacturer in the foreign market depends on products which are especially American as distinguished from articles more generally produced and more common in type and design.1

In some stages of manufacture labor cost is an important item and wage rates in the United States are higher than in Europe. In 1913, according to testimony before the Ways and Means Committee, brass grinding and brass polishing were performed by boys and girls in brass foundries at Birmingham, England, at wages ranging from 50 to 75 cents a day, while the same class of work was performed in

1 Tariff Hearing, Ways and Means Committee, 1913, p. 2144.