September 18, 1914.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

617

GERMANY’S MARKETS.

in.

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND APPARATUS*

The following statement shows, for a recent year,
the value of dynamos, electro-motors and other elec-
trical machinery exported from Germany, Austria-
Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to all destina-
tions :—

From Germany (1912) :—Dynamos, electro-motors,
transformers, &c.: Weighing under 100 kilogs., £433,000;
over 100 kilogs. and under 500 kilogs., £608,000; over
500 kilogs., £1,480,000—£2,521,000.

From Austria-Hungary (1913):—Dynamos and
electro-motors (except motors for automobiles) whether
or not permanently combined with mechanism or
apparatus ; transformers (rotary or ’ static converters):
Weighing under 500 kilogs , £27,300; over 500 kilogs.
and under 3,000 kilogs., £20,700; over 3,000 kilogs.,
£14,000—£62,000.

From United Kingdom (1913).—Electrical machinery
of all kinds, £2,269,000. The principal markets for
German dynamos, &c. are Argentina, Russia, Italy,
Japan, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, and the United
Kingdom—the bulk of the trade being in the heavier
kinds of machinery. The principal markets for
Austrian-made dynamos, &c., are Italy, Roumania,
Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece.

The aggregate value of our exports of electrical
machinery to markets where there is competition with
German and Austrian manufactures therefore amounted
to £1,336,100, compared with a combined German and
Austrian total for exports of dynamos, electro-motors,
transformers, &c., of £2,583,000. There seems, there-
fore, to be ample scope for the development of British
trade with these countries in this class of goods.

The principal markets for German metallic filament
lamps are the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia,
Spain, Argentine, Brazil, and other South American
countries, China, and Japan. Carbon filament Nernst,
&c. lamps go mainly to the United Kingdom, Italy,
Russia, and Brazil. The principal over-sea markets
for Austrian-made glow and other electric lamps in
1913 were Italy, European Russia, United Kingdom,
Roumania, United States, and Norway. In competitive
markets aggregate exports amounted to £128,900 as
compared with the combined German and Austrian
exports to those markets amounting to £2,081,800.

The value of electrical appliances for illumination,
transmission of power, electrolysis; series resistances
and shunt resistances, &c., and parts thereof, exported
from Germany to all destinations in 1912 was £2,082,000.
The aggregate value of the British exports to competi-
tive markets amounted to £607,500, while the aggregate
value of German and Austrian exports of the special
kinds referred to amounted to £1,482,700. As the
British figure probably covers a larger number of articles
than the detailed figures for Germany and Austria-
Hungary, the possible openings for British trade in
these classes of goods would appear to be somewhat
better than is indicated by the actual figures given.

South African Trade.

German electrical firms have been particularly active
in South Africa during the last few years. The electri-
fication of the Rand has led to large importations of
electrical machinery and appliances, which for the most
part have been obtained in Germany, and the adoption of
water-power for this scheme has considerably developed
the use of electrical power in other directions. The
efficient organisation of German firms in the market
has secured for them a large share of the general trade,
a regular supply of material from German sources
having up to the present been assured by the fact that
original plant installations were largely of German
origin, while in many cases German engineers have been
in charge of large centrals. Dealing with this subject
in his last annual report recently received, H.M. Trade
Commissioner gives the following table of imports of
electrical goods, showing what an immense demand for
this line has existed in South Africa during recent
years:—

1908	.................	478,359

1909	.................	631,865

1910	............... 1,428,888

1911	................. 1,030,627

1912	............... 917,186

1913	.................	983,624

Of the total value of the above imports for the last six
years, Germany enjoyed no less than 44*9 per cent, of
the trade. The Commissioner adds that latterly trouble
with some of the foreign-made plant has occurred to an
alarming extent, and that the faults are due not only to
an over-rating by the makers of the capacities of the
various machines, but, in some cases, to bad design and
manufacture.

H.M. Trade Commissioner recently prepared a special
report on the subject of electrical machinery on the
Rand. He thinks the reason why foreign manufacturers
have been more successful than British firms in the
trade in electrical machinery and accessories is not far
to seek. The former, as a rule, carry good stocks, and
mines are consequently not kept waiting for deliveries.
Moreover, they employ as local managers and engineers
men thoroughly equipped both with commercial and
technical experience, the result being that their repre-

* We have already drawn attention to the bulletins
issued by the Board of Trade with the object of assisting
British manufacturers and traders to secure trade with
British and foreign countries, formerly in the hands of
their German and Austrian or Hungarian competitors. In
this and the following articles we give some brief extracts
from certain of these bulletins, which are to be obtained, it
may be added, from the Commercial Intelligence Branch,
73, Basinghall-street, E.C.

sentatives are able to place full details of their offers
before buyers, without reference to their principals
oversea. If it could be said that the material supplied
by foreign firms was bad, this would account for lower
prices consistently quoted. But, except in a few
specific cases, the plant is good, and is said to be equal
in quality to that of British make, although perhaps
lighter in non-essential parts. This ability to under-
quote must be due to the reduction of work costs,
effected by an increased output, or to better shop
organisation.

The majority of mines have now placed all their large
orders, therefore the extensions of existing plants, or
the opening up of new mines, will afford the only
opportunities to manufacturers of heavy machinery to
quote for some time to come. It must be remembered,
moreover, that the mining authorities will be disposed,
if their previous plants have worked satisfactorily, to
place orders for such extensions with the makers of the
original plants. It is most unfortunate that British
firms neglected the great opportunities which this
market afforded until the majority of the large orders
had passed into foreign hands.

The Commissioner is informed that in some cases
machines of too small capacity have been installed with
dissatisfaction to users, but the principal fault with
electric motors and switchgear is non-attention to small
details in the manufacture of terminals, bearings,
lubricating apparatus or brush gear. Many examples
have been brought to light of motors having been
designed by people who could not have had much
experience of the actual operation of such plant under
continuous heavy-load conditions. With regard to
switchgear, it is stated that makers frequently rate
their switches too high, or design them merely to take
the ordinary full load of the motor. Under normal
conditions, switches and circuit-breakers do not have to
carry more than this normal current, but on overloads
of short circuits they have to carry very much heavier
currents, and frequently destroy themselves in so doing.
Another point is that, in switchgear for small currents
mechanical strength is neglected, and the current-
carrying capacity is the only consideration. It is
obvious that whatever current a switch has to carry, it
must be sufficiently strong mechanically to take the
roughest handling of unskilled men.

In large power stations for municipalities and mines
the type of “ prime mover ” generally gaining ground is
the steam turbine, directly coupled to a polyphase
generator. For smaller plants, the vertical high-speed
steam engine, directly coupled to a three-phase generator,
or, in some cases, to a continuous-current generator, is
generally adopted. There is no doubt that three-phase
electrical plant is the class almost universally used for
mining purposes. There will be a continued demand,
but in a smaller degree than in past years, for the
following:—

(1)	Three-phase Motors, Generators, and Accessories,
for surface and underground requirements.

“ Competition by German and American firms is so
keen in this market that the British manufacturer
has not obtained his proper share of the trade.
Plants of this description are at present supplied
approximately in the following proportions:—
Germany 70 per cent., United Kingdom 20 per cent.,
and United States 10 per cent. British firms now
appear to be competing more successfully than before.
Bare copper conductors and insulated cables are
largely supplied by British makers, probably 75 per
cent, of the total. The supply of lamps is practically
all in the hands of German manufacturers.”

(2)	Electric Winding Engines for surface use and
underground for multi-stage haulage.

“ Electric winders are rapidly coming into general
use, but this system has not yet entirely superseded
steam winding. In about 80 per cent, of plants
already erected, the electrical portion of the work is
of German manufacture, the remainder being of
British make. As regards the supply of the
mechanical portion of the hoists (drums, indicator
guards, &c.), the reverse is the case, about 70 per cent,
being British and 30 per cent, foreign. It may be
generally stated that British winders are of heavier
and stouter build than those of foreign make, and
that British electrical gear is giving greater satis-
faction than German. The contracts made by the
Eckstein Rand Mines Group with the Rand Mines
Power Supply Company necessitated the electrifica-
tion of the whole of the winding plant, and practically
every one of the winders is now equipped with its
electrical gear. Owing, however, to the difficulty of
obtaining the requisite power from the supply
companies, many of these winders are still steam-
driven, and will not 'be converted into electric-driven
machines for many months to come.

(3)	Electrically-driven Pumps for underground use
and for pumping against considerable heads.

“ There is a steady increase in the demand for
high-lift pumps. Multi-stage centrifugal pumps have
been adopted by a number of mines, and Continental
makers have secured almost all the orders placed by
mines for this type.

“ For surface work, centrifugal pumps (of non-
mul ti-stage type) practically monopolise the market,
and are at present mostly of British manufacture.

“ Competition in centrifugal pumps generally is
severe.

“ Reciprocating pumps, for underground work, are
about equally divided between America and Great
Britain, though a few orders go to the Continent.”

(4)	Electrically-driven Air-compressors.—It is some-
times proposed to adapt these for erection underground,
in order to bring them nearer the rock drills which they
are principally required to operate.

“ Existing plant is divided amongst British,
German, and American manufacturers, in the propor-

tions of about 30 per cent., 60 per cent., and 10 per
cent, respectively. America’s share is mostly made
up of small varieties of work. Compressors made by
German firms have a great vogue in South Africa, as
the makers’ attention to detail is said to be productive
of economy and efficiency.

“ Practically all compressors are electrically driven,
and the speed being thus more or less constant,
efficient devices to meet changes of load are of the
greatest importance. In the ‘piston’ type of com-
pressor, attention to valve-design has brought the
Germans to the front, and British firms who have
secured orders are said to be licensees of German
patents.

“Small rotary (turbine) compressors are not yet
firmly established, but the Rand Mine Power Supply
Company’s air-compressor stations are equipped,
through the Victoria Falls Power Company, with
large Continental compressors of this type. Orders
for low - pressure compressors have been placed
with British firms, but their value and number is
comparatively trifling.”

(5)	An Electric Rock Prill of absolutely reliable and
simple construction would be greatly appreciated, but
nothing of this type has yet proved practical.

Electric Haulage.—Before passing from the electrical
section to mining plant, it might be well to refer to the
subject of electric haulage.

“ Surface Railways.—Electric locomotives of high
tractive power are being abandoned, as the working
cost of this form of traction is said to be prohibitive.
In all instances, these electric locomotives are of
German manufacture. Electric locomotives for surface
work are being replaced by steam locomotives.

“ Mines’ requirements in the matter of steam
locomotives are met to a considerable extent by the
purchase of engines abandoned by the South African
Railway Administration, on account of the loads now
hauled on their lines being beyond the capacity of
these engines. New steam locomotives required are
invariably of British manufacture.”

“ Underground Railways.—For the few underground
railroads projected, electric traction is being installed.
The locomotives will be comparatively small, and in
all probability of German or American origin.

“ Rails.—Regarding heavy section rails, generally
used for surface and shaft track, about 60 per cent,
are German, but lately American makers have been
doing an increasing amount of business. During the
last year this must have amounted to 40 per cent, of
the total. British trade in this matter cannot be
regarded as satisfactory.

“ Cars.—Large capacity ore cars were, until lately,
all of German make, but now British makers are
getting a very good share of the business at lower
prices than German makers are willing to accept.”

Australia and New Zealand.

According to H.M. Trade Commissioner in Australia,
in electrical machinery (dynamos and starting and
regulating apparatus) the effects of both American and
German competition are felt—chiefly the former. The
British percentage shows a decline in the three years
reviewed (1910 to 1912), but it is most marked in the
trade in dynamos over 200-horse power and in starting
and regulating machinery. The imports under these
two subdivisions combined are far less in value, how-
ever, than the imports of dynamos of lower horse-
power, in which the United Kingdom has about half of
the trade. H.M. Trade Commissioner, writing to the
Board of Trade within the last few months, stated that
in conversation with the general manager of the
Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation of
Balmain, Sydney—a private company supplying light
and power to five local suburbs—he was informed that
the company had recently called for tenders for a
2,000 kw. turbine generator. In this connection the
Allgemeine Electricitats Gesellschaft, Berlin, were the
successful tenderers. His informant stated that in
order to get their turbines on the market here this
German company sent out to their agents (the
Australian Metal Company) five turbines with instruc-
tions to sell them under cost—the price tendered to the
Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation was
£7,575, afterwards increased to £8,400—so to all intents
and purposes the goods were “ dumped.” He adds that
the Germans have practically captured all the trade in
Western Australia. At almost any cost they are
determined to get a larger share of the trade.

The manager of one firm stated that the present
difference in price between the German and British
cables is over 20 per cent. If he could get British
cables at competitive prices, he says his sales would be
over £1,000 monthly.

The development of electrical enterprises in New
Zealand has made rapid strides during the last few
years. Vast supplies of water power readily available
for the generation of electricity are in existence, some
of which the Government have already surveyed with
the intention of utilising them in the near future. In
view of these possibilities German firms have been
strenuous in their endeavours to secure contracts for
the installation of plant, &c., which would make a
regular supply of materials from German sources
practically certain. As a French consular report
recently pointed out, manufacturers should bear in
mind, particularly when it is hoped to secure contracts
put up to tender, that representation in the market is a
vital necessity. Another important question in connec-
tion with this class of trade was referred to by H.M.
Trade Commissioner in New Zealand in a recent report.
He points out that the British manufacturer, especially
of machinery, has one great asset in the intrinsic merit
of the goods he sells. But to sell goods and not be
willing to take any responsibility for their quality after
they have left the works may seem sound business, but
it may at times also be interpreted to mean lack of