Show 3 j V VS GERMAN TOY MAKERS SAD S 4 European War Has Dealt Deal t J Heavy r Blow T at Thriving v ng Industry I EXPORTS r ARE STO STOPPED PED Huge Losses Sustained Sustain 1 by t Cessation Cessation- of Shipments Shipment to United States i Berne Switzerland Sept 23 Per 3 Per Perhaps I taps haps no single industry in Germany has lias suffered much so 80 from the tho war as that of ot toy In the tho last peace eRce year Germanys Germany's toy trade trado aggregated marks marks marks- or of which more marc than 2 was export and md the tho larger part to America Since Sinco t the war this figure has dropped nearly near near- r ly two to What is worse still i for tor the tile G German manufacturers is the 6 fact tact that other countries have taken tIP up tip this Industry and the Germans w will 11 find it er very hard to recover their lost markets Moro More than any other branch of or industry industry indus Indus- try tn the German Germah toy trade sent its products throughout tho the world Its first development d was after aCter the Prussian Franco war but It was not until twenty five years ago that its 1 exports first assumed very Arery large dl- dl t mansions Before the tho war not less than persons were employed in to toy making mostly In Saxon Saxony around Nuremberg It was largely larSel a home thou thou-I in industry industry in- in It and furnished work for tor thousands thousands thou thou- sands of women and children In 1913 the toy exports to the tho United I States amounted to nearly fl but since then owing owinS to the tho British blockade tho the volume of ot trade has sunk I to perhaps less than on one fourth of or this sum um The neutral states Holland Denmark Denmar Sweden and Norway have havo bought ht more to toys s but bul their Increased ed trade has failed to make up the losses losses' o or of the trans Atlantic business Aus Aus- Hungary tria-Hungary too iras has taken more toys and th lh the home tra trade e has haM been much better bet bet- lr ter nut But In In spite of or all this the total shrinkage Sc In the annual turnover or Is estimated at between GO CO and 70 iO percent per cent Haw Material Scarce The shortage horta e of ot raw materials too has caused the toy manufacturers enormous normous convenience and the enormous enor enor- rise in prices has haJ Injured their theirs s I trade still more The war Avar has caused 1 i the loss los of business connections abroad which have existed for Cor man many years ears Foreign customers have been looking for now new sources o of supply and lind foreign manufacturers have havo been d to togo togo too go o out after atter the German trade In the United States Slates in England and France and Switzerland new to toy industries have been started aided greatly b by tho the increased increase prices which the German manufacturers have ha been forced to demand de de- de mand t is la said t that at 1500 kinds of or German toys aro are now being mado made In England and are arc being sold at lt the same prices as ns the original articles In France the trade Is being pushed rapidly and andone andone one factor factory alone has already made over a a. million dollars worth of ot dolls A French rench bank has been specially organized organized organ organ- I ed to promote the tho interests interest's o of the tho toy trade The Japanese competition too I is greatly feared especially In the I American market I Various projects are under consideration consideration consider consider- atlon In Germany to improve e the situation situation situation sit sit- of or what is after aCter all alla a season Industry for holiday times It Is proposed to establish a doll day a anew now new gift da day when every child shall be given a doll St. St John tho the day June 24 24 is 15 suggested Bug as a suitable suitable suit sult- I able date It Is lg thought that this might not only onh greatly help the tho to toy industry but It might also be bo used to promote the Interests of ot various ju- ju associations through the manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers manu manu- devoting a 0 portion of ot their receipts receipt to such charities But the main point is to do something to aid this vcr very hardly affected branch of or German industry and provide for tor the theman man many thousands of ot families d dependent pendent from it |