Review of Crockery and Glass Business in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1882 - 1883

CINCINNATI REPORTS.

CINCINNATI, Feb. 12, 1883.

The potteries in this city have been doing very little business since Christmas, and most of them report trade decidedly dull. The outlook for the spring seems about as bright as usual, the ominous prediction of one of our oldest and richest potters to the contrary notwithstanding.

The sales from the stores during the past month have been going quietly on, and January and February will show as successful months as those two generally are.

Col. Sidney D. Maxwell, superintendent of the Chamber of Commerce, is engaged upon his annual report, which will contain among other things a correct review of the crockery and glass business in Cincinnati for the year last past. He states that the business in crockery, china, and glassware shows an increase over that of the preceding year. Our potters have been kept busy and have turned out a large quantity of goods, which have been sold at low prices and on small margins. The decorated ware which has been produced has been excellent. A new pottery known as the Matt Morgan Pottery has been started, and a few experienced artists, including Mr. Morgan, have sought to lay the foundation of a manufactory where all the better grades of pottery may be produced after the best models and by skilled hands. The demand for the better class of goods has increased, and the wares in which art is combined with utility find the readiest sale. During the year there has been a general tendency to lower prices, especially in fancy goods.

The production of glassware in this city has increased over that of any previous year, although the furnaces have not been running to their full capacity all the time. Prices have been fully 10 per cent lower on such goods as are manufactured here. Wages have been about 10 per cent higher, while raw materials have been somewhat cheaper. Competition has been active, and our manufacturers have felt the effects of foreign production.

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