The manufacture of brushes in the United States—Continued. Compound brushes: Preparation of bristles. Preparation of backs or handles. Hand-drawn, veneered,.or.two-piece brushes. Handmade, trepanned, solid-back brushes. Cement-set brushes. Rubber-cushion brushes. Pitch-set brushes. Page. 34 34 34 35 35 35 36 36 36 37 Comparative statement of domestic production for the census years 1849, 1859, 1869, 1909, and 1914.. 47 47 General imports of brushes into the United States by countries.. Comparison of imports, revenue, and rates of duty for representative years under each of the tariff laws of 1894, 1897, 1909, and 1913....... 50 Wholesale prices of bristles and brushes.. 51 Rates of duty and tariff description under tariff acts of 1883, 1890, 1894, 1897, 1909, and 1913. 53 Tariff legislation affecting brushes. Review of tariff laws.. 53 53 Abstract of Treasury and court decisions relating to brushes. BRISTLES AND BRUSHES. BRISTLES. SUMMARY. In Uses.-Bristle is obtained from the backs and sides of hogs and requires several years of growth to become sufficiently strong and stiff. It is the most satisfactory material for the manufacture of paint and toilet brushes and is little used for any other purpose. feríor grades are in demand as stuffing for mattresses and for upholstery. As the value of bristle for toilet brushes is proportionate to its stiffness, the heavy or follicle end is preferred. For paint brushes the uncut bristle is used because the split end, called the "flag," lifts the paint more readily. Substitutes. No material has been found which combines the characteristics of stiffness, durability, and resiliency as does bristle. Horsehair, split quills, tampico, and other fibers are mixed with or used in place of bristle, but with inferior results. Countries of greatest production.—-The best bristle is obtained from hogs which thrive in cold countries. The finest quality comes from northern Russia and Siberia. China ranks first in the quantity of bristle exported, but as the quality is not equal to that of the Russian product, it is second in value. These two countries furnish the larger portion of the world's supply. Small amounts are obtained from India, France, and Rumania. Statistics of production in foreign countries are not available. Revenue. The duty on prepared bristles has always been specific. Since 1894 there has been but one change in the rate, a reduction from 7 cents per pound to 7 cents under the tariff act of 1913. As the annual imports of bristles varied but slightly during this period, the amount of revenue derived yearly was almost constant, averaging about $250,000. The imports showed a marked increase for 1917 and the revenue was over $300,000. Suggestions of manufacturers as to tariff classification.-Brush manufacturers seek the removal of the duty on bristles or at least a reduction. They justify their position on the following grounds: 1. Foreign manufacturers pay no duty on bristles besides having the advantage of cheap labor. The free importation of bristles would put the American manufacturers on a more equal basis with their competitors. 2. Bristles vary greatly in value. The specific duty ranges from 3 to 45 per cent of the value of the bristle. Cheap bristles are imported in larger quantities than the more expensive. 3. Bristles are not an American product, therefore the removal of the duty would not injure an American industry. 4. Revenue derived from bristle imports is relatively insignificant, therefore the loss to the Government would be slight. Those interested in the bristle-dressing industry argue that the removal of the duty on bristles would so slightly affect the cost of each brush that there would result no benefit to the consumer or the brush factory employee; but, on the other hand, it would work great hardship on the bristle dresser. 1913 tariff paragraphs: "337. Bristles, sorted, bunched, or prepared, 7 cents per pound.' "432. Bristles, crude, not sorted, bunched, or prepared. Free." Description and uses.-Bristle is the stiff, coarse hair of the swine. The strongest and best grows along the spine and commands a higher price than the softer "side" bristle. The quality is very variable, depending upon the season, the climate, and the breed and maturity of the hog. Even the bristles procured from a single hog at one time will not be uniform in quality. As the use of bristle is practically limited to the manufacture of brushes, it is graded according to its serviceability for this purpose. Color is often a factor in determining price, but stiffness, resiliency, and length are requisite for success in brush making. The color varies from white to black with intermediate shades of gray and sometimes bronze. White bristle is usually more costly because of the greater demand, but it is not necessarily superior in quality. Stiffness and resiliency make bristle peculiarly valuable for paint brushes, the one insuring durability, the other rapid and accurate response to the touch of the workman. Because of its structure, bristle is better adapted than any other material to paint-brush manufacture. It is heaviest at the follicle end, tapering slightly toward the opposite end, called the "flag" because of tiny splits or divisions. This tapering causes the bristles, when properly inserted in the brush, to cling together and thereby to apply the paint without streaking. The flag ends make the brush more absorbent; it holds the paint on the brush, and it causes an even flow of the liquid to be distributed. For these reasons bristles in paint brushes are uncut and different lengths are used to insure the presence of flag ends when the longer bristles have worn down. Russian bristle has a more decided flag than any other, and because of the heavy body, continues to split with use. Varieties of bristle average different lengths; the Russian ranges from 3 to 7 inches, the French from 2 to 43 inches, and the Chinese from 2 to 7 inches. A further characteristic which renders bristle invaluable as a paintdistributing medium is its "life," a quality dependent on its cellular formation containing natural oils which give it an affinity for paint. Bristle is equally the material of prime importance in the toiletbrush industry, though its efficacy in this line does not depend upon the same characteristics. Stiffness, flexibility, and elasticity are as necessary in the toilet brush as in the paint brush, but the flag end is worthless. Long bristle is desirable because the stiffness increases in proportion to the length. The heavy butt end, however, is the choice part and cheaper grades of brushes are made from the tapering portion between this and the soft end. When the manufacturers receive the bristle it is in bunches from 2 to 12 inches in diameter, tied around with twine or bark, and sometimes wrapped in paper bearing the brand. These bunches come packed in cases or casks containing an assortment of many grades and lengths. Kinds.-Commercially, bristle admits of a varied classification. It is listed according to the locality from which it comes, as "Tientsin," "Hankow," "Calcutta." "Calcutta." These groupings are subdivided to designate particular characteristics, such as color, length, quality. Substitutes. There is no perfect substitute for bristle. Other materials, especially horsehair, tampico, and split quills, are sometimes used in place of bristle, but they cheapen the quality of the brush, lessen its effectiveness and durability. The characteristics which render bristle the most satisfactory material for brushes are not combined in any one substitute. Hair obtained from the manes and tails of horses and from cows' tails is most frequently used as an adulterant in paint brushes. Some is imported, but much is obtained in this country, chiefly in Texas, and it is considerably cheaper than bristle. A horsehair paint brush is inferior for several reasons: It has no flag ends, so does not lift the paint easily; it does not taper; and it has not the life and elasticity which make the bristle paint brush a perfect tool. The 64912-21-N4— -2 |