Document V3v1Rxbr5RE36NQXOoEJBz83p
the matter in a speech made sev were found to have an agreement- variably attempt to show hoj
eral months ago in Chicago in fiich he cited the case of a Wash- to fix prices and wages to keep out- much better it is for the com,
./gton store that had announced of-state lumber manufacturers munity to have "stabilized" con.
Photo-S
price cuts on all merchandise ex cept items on which prices were
from shipping Dprrooddulicrftcs wtiLMitth-ViinI"
atnhde_
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fixed by manufact_u___r_e__r__s_ ._ He* J.V. vc-lr1itLil-" cized such manufacturers for fail ure to permit the lowering of prices of price-fixed products. One trade
journal, in discussing the speech, pointed out that manufacturers .t.hI-e*ir own interest had best make it plain as soon _a_s__p_o_s_s_i_b_leGtlhaiavet
by the agreement. Attempts of
u_us_neioon- rfs
and employers spray guns for
to limit painting
the on
housing projects, and a myriad of
other costly restrictions on other
labor-saving devices in the build
ing field have played a large part
imn aprkriectinfgorhoamgerseartigmhtanoyutpoefopthlee,
Tcy and unemployment. (Any kind) Hh e outstanding character
of competition is, of course,
throat1
competition
to
the
cut manu
2
isstic common to all 2 in. x in. slide projectors now on
facturer, dealer, or labor leader the market is the inordinately
who is trying to "stabilize" prices high price charged for a device
or wage rates.) Only consumers requiring little machine work
am_a_frfa_ee_nc1slMtiukinpegppostoheinedtirtoof*pvotaicekkwee- tbot--ho-n---eo--mkssatatttaeenrssd*
and cheaply made metal or castings.
from sheet Even the
be fre
ua an da
"fair trade" was forced on them A milk drivers' union in Chicago by small retailers, or the discon- demanded a contract which would
sacrifice themselves """
for
what
is best
objective
lenses
used
on
be
tent with price-maintenance poli cies might become serious.
Resale pricemaintenanceor "fair trade" is not the only technique in wide use for keeping prices high. For many years there have bbeeeenn cases where unions have- --bee- n-
increase the percentage rate of their commission as the number of quarts sold became larger, with the idea of making milk sold iin stores more expensive, and so endvc_evoyluiu.vi er^rinesg--ttwnheeithddmeemmoraaennjddobffsoofrrorhhwooamge-
projectors of the types tested
held out to be the common good. There are some signs, how'ever,. that the man who is footing the)
are of moderate cost to manufacture, since they require cor-
bills is getting a little restive. rection for only a narrow angle;
Whether he will get sufficiently the satisfactory performance of
hiorisurittcaoptnleagdirneals^ytstmthoeahnpi--sra-ic-nl-oed-c---fsa-iexl-ennarestwotsrosps,apa'peneadTk
the Petzval lens of the Spencer projector is proof that even
fo: no im is wi
sh
responsible for the same sort of on drivers. (The store milk-deliv-
anastigmatic correction is not
action. One instance in recent months is that of a West Coast CIO fishermen's local which frank ly set out to "stabilize" prices of fish by requiring dealers in certain California communities to sign price contracts or be picketed. An AF of L fishermen's union on the East Coast put on a selling strike
)eep prices high. An AF of L lumber union and a West Coast organization of lumber concerns
ery drivers now' average $143 a week; 52 receive $8400 to $13,000 a year.) And left-wing labor groups constantly press demands that milk, -which they hold to be a vitally necessary food for lowincome families, should be sold at lower prices!
The proponents of all of these devices for maintaining or increas ing prices have ingenious argu
ments for their position; they in-
at meetings of the various organi zations to w7hich he belongs re mains to be seen. One thing is certain: if consumers once under stand the actual effect on their
pocketbooks of these price-fixing practices conducted under govern mental approval and with the aid of state and federal laws and regu lations, they can and will secure a long-overdue change in policy on the part of both government and industry.
necessary. (The condensing lenses are not even of optical glass, and are inexpensive to make). Prices of from about $40 to over $70 for the less undesirable projectors are relatively even higher than today's very high prices for cameras, There seems to be no reason why a 300-watt projector should sell at a price materially higher than that of a 100-watt model,
in in a
si ir si tl n w v sc ti
Abridged Cumulative Index
furniture (Ultra Gloss)M!...o...n...t.h....a..n.FdebP.a,g7e household (Ethyl)t........................ Apr., 30 paint brush (Prestorer)f.............. Feb., 30
ing, commercial mail-ordMero!.n..t..h....aJnudneP,ag1e2
since the only important dif ferences are the bulb (about
Previous 1947 Issues
swlalvteerrlet.s..s..,.....h......a......n......d.....t...................................................................J.1uM--n-a-e-y,, 33"87 Cleanser, household (Miner's)t......... Mar., 38 Cooker (Dogmaster)!......................June, 11-12
Radio, high fidelity, reprint................May, 33*1 Radio equipment, surplus...................June, 3
Radio items, cause of high cost.. June, 37-38 Radio receiver for the deafened!. .. .Jan.. 26
$2 at retail more for the 300watt than for the 100-watt),
Consumers'Research Bulietiins
Corrections, emendatlonst-Jan., 22; Mar., 21; May, 28; June, 18
Dishwashing compound!......................May, 37 Disinfectant, pine oilt........................... May, 38
Radio-phonograph combination!. . .Jan., 25 Radio-phonographs, high-priced,
plans for tests...................................... Feb., 26 Radios, table-models and radio-
the larger housing of the 300watt model, and perhaps the
Automobile compasses..........M....o..n...t.h....a. JnudneP.ag2e6 Automobiles, battery chargers!.. Jan.. 12-15
Editorial.................................each issue, page 2
Fans, electrict............................................ Apr., 9 Fire extinguishers!. .Jan., 18-21; May, 22-26
phonographs, etc............Feb., 3; Mar., 13!; Apr., 23-25!; May, 8-14!
record noise, new eliminator!----Apr., 4 Razor blades!...Apr., 18; June. 17-18
addition of a small piece of heat-absorbing glass worth a
extra equipment charges............. Mar.. 25 Fluorescent
1947!.......................................June, 27-32, 39
lamps............Jan., 3; Feb., 5-7; May, 15-18
Records, phonograph, wear!.........May, 29-31
few cents.
*47, similar to '46.............................. Mar.. 3 pjarcokdsutc.t..i.o..n.....................................June, 13-14
difficulties................Mar., 4, 37; May, 4
Fountain pens!................................ Feb., 17-18 Frozen food utility carriers!.........May, 19-21 Furniture polish (Cellowax)t...............Apr., 30
Gardening, soli management -- I.June. 15-16
Sewers, cleaning.....................................June, 24 Shampoo, hair!...................................May, 4, 37
Projectors which will handle
VyiSoapt...................................... May, 38; June, 38
Soaps, laundry!.............................................Jan..15-17
in.
x
Zl/i
in.,
or
2J4
in.
x
station wagons, popularityt..........Apr., 3 steamf..........................................Mar.. 11-13
taxes.......................................................Mar., 4 Tucker Torpedof........................... Apr., 8-9
Gasket cement (Form-A-Gasket)t. .Mar., 38
Heaters, electric!.......... Jan.,5-8; Apr., 19-23 Heating equipment, domestic,
Socks, men's!...................................... Jan., 9-11 Sprays, lead and arsenical.....................May. 3
234 in. and smaller slides are
nowStep-stools, kitchen!........................... Apr., 5-7
Sunlamps!...................................................... Mar.,28-33
appearing
on
the
market.
used, sales............................................ Jan.. 4 Wlllys 1947 6-cyllndert................ Apr., 7-8
Batteries, storage, care........Jan., 4; Mar., 37 Beater, electric (Whirlbeater)t...........Mar., 37
post-war status!........................... Mar., 22-25 automatic controls!................ Apr., 13-16 clinker prevention.................... Apr., 10-11
Ice crushers!...................................... June, 9-10
Table stoves, electric!................................. Apr.,16-18 Such projectors, if satisfactory,
Tire and tube, newt ..........................Feb., 12 automatic (Cimfleid)E .. .. Juni *6
will permit users of cameras
Bicycles, foldlngt.......................................May, 4 Blankets, comforter, electrict........ Feb., 8-11
JKuiliclienge..x.g..te.r..ra.m.c..st..o.w.r..s.i.!t...h....l..a..m.....p..s...!.............................F..JeJ,ubun.n,ee1,,955-2--664
Toasters, automatic!........
Anr n it
Tooth enamel, damage........ ' *.. .PIj*Une" 3
which take No. 120 or B2 roll
Cameras, folding hand,
and stereot...................................... Feb., 14-15 foreign, production.................. Jan., 29-30 motion picture, surplus.............. Feb., 29 "pictures in one minute**...........May, 14 shutters, repair service................... Mar., 4
CancSe.pre,..e.s.d.k...Gi.n..,r..a.w.o..a.h.y..is.c..t.t.o....h...e..l.p....a..v...o..i.d...J*u.--.n-A-e-p, r2.~,3~-32-44
Mattresses, innerspring!..................June, 7-8 Vacuum cleaners!.............................. Mar., 5-10
Motion pictures!..................................each issue Vaitpaomriiznesrs and bottle warmers!.... May, 5-7
Motor oils, winter!.......................................Jan.,24-2V5itamins................................ Feb., 4; Mar., 3, 4
Oouil-.ffiu*.i+t.; ........................-j s
m----o--tor (P. vortuMuo;tio. ..n. ......i..t..!....iMMaayy,l 2"7-i2M8 Oils, transmission, changing............ June, 39 Phonograph pickups!........................... Jan., 23
Washing machinest-----Feb., 15; Mar., 14-21 Water heater, electrict..........................May, 18 Water repellent, conditioner!. . .June, 25-26
film to project slides made with Ansco Color roll film and at a cost somewhat less than for Kodachrome. (See Table I.)
Cleaner, floor (Bruce)!..............
1"-
Phonograph records!........................each issue Photographic developing and print-
!indicates that listings of names or brands
The requirements of a good
are included.
projector are:
20 CONSUMERS' RESEARCH BULLETIN JULY,
ei c<
_ j n /
1947