PeteM:

Thanks for properly rephrasing my question. I know tube makers were a proud lot, but was it assumed that since a similar tube produced at a similar time passed proof that all the non-proofed tubes possibly could pass proof also? Then again the end user probably just wanted a tool. Do you think that if the end user had been made aware of the aspect of proofing and that the tube maker was actually the one who applied the type of steel stamp, that they might have purchased a higher grade? Or I guess it was just simple economics.

But it was definitely all about the Benjamins when it comes to the Export/Import Commission Houses and Agents. I've searched and searched for a list of import houses as I think info may be found surrounding the Export/Import Commission Houses of New York. Some sources give around 400 houses in New York circa 1900 and others give 600 as per a reference below. From what I understand about it there were 2 options for importing a product: Export/Import Commission House and Agent. The latter was sort of a cash & delayed carry with the imported products pre-paid. I think the Export/Import Commission House has a physical location in the country of origin of the product. Here's some info on Export/Import Commission Houses:

”We have spoken from the American point of view and have generally referred to New York City as the type of a market center; but it should not be supposed that export commission houses are not found in other countries. In fact, London is the real home of the world’s commission houses. Here are found five times as many as in New York City. All the bit continental market cities, such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, are each as well supplied as is New York City, which has about six hundred export commission houses.

There is little in the ‘modus operandi’ of the export commission house that is difficult to understand. They do business only with foreign houses whom they know, and, as a rule, ship goods subject to draft attached to documents or against confirmed credits. In some cases where the export house is also an import house, the exchange of commodities permits the commission firm to arrange the financial settlement in a different manner.

The advantages and disadvantages, both to the buyer and seller, offered by this method of distributing goods may be briefly stated. The advantages to the foreign customer in dealing through a commission house may be summed up as follows: (1) He can forward all orders under one cover instead of dealing with a large number of separate manufacturing concerns; (2) he receives his shipments on one bill of lading; (3) his payments are to one person and not to many; (4) a foreign firm may get longer credit extensions from a commission house, that is, the exporter being acquainted with the trade and having a wider connection among foreign banks, would not hesitate to grant longer term drafts….” from http://books.google.com/books?id=cHwpAAA...ew+york&lr=

Possibly an Export/Import Commission list may be found in the "Exporters’ Encyclopaedia" and this 1921 version is one of the few that I've found that can be viewed: http://books.google.com/books?id=NKFrBJ1...s+encyclopaedia I haven't taken the time to download it but it may have some interesting info.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse