Re: [Harp-L] The price of harmonicas

Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx> · Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:10:43 -0400

On Aug 29, 2008, at 11:23 PM, David Payne wrote:
It's not just you, but the real cost of harmonicas hasn't changed  
all that much. what has changed is the value of the American  
dollar. Time is right for Kratt to start making harps again in New  
Jersey.
  Dave
  ______________
Dave Payne Sr.
  www.elkriverharmonicas.com

When they did the Mr. Roger's Neighborhood episode on harmonicas,  
they (Rogers & McFeeley) went to a plant on the east coast. The piano  
& harmonica was dubbed in later at WQED in Pittsburgh. Whether it was  
Kratt or not, I don't know. The machinery was so antiquated that I  
don't believe it had even a couple years useful life left in it. And  
that was back in 76? I don't think that that machinery has gotten any  
better.
As for prices, back when I made $41,936.04 per year, a diatonic was  
$18.90. When I made $12,425.49, they were $5.60, and when I made only  
$3,681.62, they cost only $1.66. So, if you're really good with  
figures, you can see that the prices actually haven't changed ...at  
least percentage wise...at least not for me.
BUT, if a diatonic NOW costs $28.37, I should be making $62,889.06.  
Well, I don't, I make half that much. But then I am retired and  
that's the way the cookie crumbles. I can hardly complain when they  
are actually paying me NOT to come to work. How cool is THAT?
As for the rise in the cost of metals, materials are the deminimus  
part of the cost equation. Real estate values (for Germany),  
utilities, transportation, warehousing, distribution, labor,  
advertising, etc. are all high in Europe. Everyone says that the  
falling dollar is a bad thing for the U.S. Well it is...in a way, BUT  
the inflation in Europe is oppressive and those poor folks can hardly  
afford the day to day expenses.
I would buy an American made harmonica ..IF.. they could do it. But  
looking at the auto industry as an example, American industry misses  
the boat. They have NEVER built a car that I wanted. So I am forced  
to buy third choices. No, I don't think an American made harmonica  
could be competitive.
smo-joe 