Dutch East Indies, Australia, China and Bolivia. Tinplate mills are for the most part located in the great iron and steel producing region of the country, extending from Pennsylvania westward to Illinois Pennsylvania produces about one-half of the tinplate of the country. The great bulk of the tinplate of the world is produced in the United States and Great Britain. In 1910 the production of tinplate in the United States was 444,933 long tons; in 1916, about 1,139,386 long tons; and in 1919, 1,074,235 long tons. In some cases tinware is manufactured directly from steel sheets and afterwards coated with tin. In the manufacture of certain milk churns this coating of the receptacles is frequent. Equipment. Much of the equipment used in the manufacture of tinware consists of automatic machinery. Geographical distribution and organization. The manufacture of tinware is widely distributed in the United States. The leading States are New York, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. The industry shows no tendency toward centralization or monopolization. In 1914 there were 294 establishments distributed among 19 States and with a capital represented by a large number of different and competing interests. Sixty-two establishments with an output valued at $14,362,697 were located in New York State. Production in that State in 1914 was considerably over one-sixth of the total for the United States. History of the industry. With the development of the preservation of fruits, meats, vegetables, and other articles, the manufacture of tinware has grown rapidly during recent years. The value of the products of the tinware industry in 1914 was approximately double that of the year 1904. Domestic production and consumption. The value of the output of tinware in 1914 was $81,930,880. This output shows a marked increase over that of the year 1904 when it amounted to $41,893,000. The manufacture of tinware is intimately related to the production of tinplate. About two-thirds of the tinplate manufactured in this country is consumed in coast regions. Some tinplate, such as milk churns and cans is manufactured from steel sheets (called "black plate") and is afterwards coated with tin by immersion in a bath of molten tin. Consumption of tinware in the United States is practically equal to that of production. Exports exceed imports, but the percentage of tinware imported and exported as tinware (not as containers of other articles) form a small fraction of the country's production. Domestic exports.-Exports were not listed separately until the year 1918 when they amounted in value to $530,571. Exports in 1919 and 1920 were valued at $863,447 and $877,179, respectively. These exports are negligible in comparison with domestic production. Tinware, however, is exported in much larger quantities than these figures indicate, as receptacles for fruits, fish products, packinghouse products, and the like. These classes of goods are produced for specialized uses and the industries utilize tinware in marketing their products. Tinware, therefore, is usually exported in the form of containers of products of other industries and not as tinware. IMPORTS. The imports of tinware are not separately listed in the reports of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Such imports are negligible. The imports for consumption under the caption of "Tin, all other manufactures of" amounted in 1920 to $86,784. * TARIFF HISTORY. In the act of 1890 there was the following provision: * * Provided, That on and after July 1, 1891, manufactures of which tin, tinplates, terneplates, taggers tin, or either of them, are component materials of chief value. and all other articles, vessels or wares manufactured, stamped or drawn from sheet iron or sheet steel, such material being the component of chief value, and coated wholly or in part with tin or lead or a mixture of which these metals, or either of them is a component part, shall pay a duty of 55 per cent ad valorem. * * In subsequent acts articles of tin were included in the basket clause covering manufactured articles and wares of metal. In the said act of 1890, however, there was a provision that "no article not specially provided in this act, wholly or partly manufactured from tinplate, terneplate * * * or of which such tinplate, terneplate, * shall be the material of chief value, shall pay a lower rate of duty than that imposed on the tinplate, terneplate, * * * from which it is made, or of which it shall be the component thereof of chief value." A similar provision was included in subsequent acts and is contained in paragraph 115 of the act of 1913. COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS. As there are, practically speaking, no imports of tinware, there is no problem at present with reference to foreign competition. The manufacture of tinware is a highly specialized industry and generally serves directly other industries making use of articles requiring special make and definite specifications. As a result the industry is usually located in the immediate vicinity of concerns making use of its products. Tinware not being a standardized article, like tin plate does not move in international trade to any large extent as a ware of commerce. TARIFF CONSIDERATIONS. At present there is no problem with reference to foreign competition. Neither is there any problem with respect to tariff classification. The grouping of tinware under the general head of "manufactures, articles or wares of metal" is sufficient under present conditions. Tinware not elsewhere specified-Production in United States. 1 This classification includes tin pails, buckets, cans, boxes, household and cooking utensils, cabinet, and other tinware. It does not cover the manufacture of tin cans and other containers by establishments engaged in canning and preserving. NOTE. Before 1904 manufactures of tinware were included under "tinware, copperware, and sheetiron ware." |