Consular Reports Volume 301-303; Commerce, Manufactures, Etc (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...that large orders will result. Another use now made of the sewing machine is for the manufacture of a cheap leather shoe, which is gradually becoming popular among the natives. With a machine the Chinese shoemaker can do the work far easier and in considerably less time than by hand, and an increase in the demand for this purpose is confidently predicted. It is roughly estimated that the sales of the embroidery attachment, which has attained a marked degree of popularity among the Chinese, have reached 5,000 in the last three years, and as their usefulness is demonstrated in the interior, where they are being introduced as rapidly as possible, it is reasonable to assume that a constantly growing market will result. SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN MACHINES. While the retail price of the American sewing machine is from 25 to 40 per cent more than that of the German make on this market, the Chinese evidently recognize the superiority of the former, for they are willing to pay the difference in order to secure the more satisfactory and durable article. This condition is, however, largely the result of American educational methods as applied to business, for when the Singer Sewing Machine Company iirst introduced their machines in China the natives would buy only the cheaper grades. Gradually they have been worked up to the idea that it is economy to purchase the more expensive machine, so that now the treadle or foot machine is being substituted for the cheaper hand machine and is giving excellent satisfaction. Attached hereto is a price list of the.Singer Sewing Machine Company, but within a few months, in order to increase business among the natives, whose purchasing power must be taken into consideration, it is the intention to make a material reduction in the price...