Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎14v] (28/252)

Number in
Table of
Statistics.
29
4 Report on trade of Persia.
Machinery, Implements, &c.
For agricultural machinery, implements, &c., there is positively
no demand. Reaping machines, even scythes, are unknown, and
would be unsuitable for the small irregular patches in which
irrigated land has to be worked. Ploughs, harrows, sickles,
shovels, picks, and hoes in use in the agricultural districts are all
of primitive Eastern type.
Industries seem fated to disaster in Persia, and ventures in
sugar, yarns, gas, matches, and pottery, have stopped work. The
mint imported new machinery from Belgium a couple of years
ago. Electric lighting machinery has been imported recently to
Teheran and Tabriz. Some drying furnaces for cocoons have
been imported to Resht. In smaller articles stocking knitting
machines sell well, and sewing machines are reported to be sought
after.
Matches.
Austrian matches in round boxes still have the largest sale in
Persia, being imported vid Trebizond, and generally used in
North-Western and Central Persia, including Teheran, Ispahan,
and Hamadan. Russian safety matches find an increasing market
in Tabriz, Teheran and Khorassan. The Russian Customs allow a
refund of excise of Rs 2 50 per case of 1,000 boxes on export to
Persia. Swedish safety matches imported via the Gulf, in cases of
50 gross, which are divided into two for mule transport, find markets
as far north as Ispahan and Teheran. The case of 25 gross in
Shiraz, March 1903, was quoted krs. 120 to krs. 130 (555. 6d.),
Mercery and Hardware.
The multifarious wares which fall under this class are mostly
imported from Russia and Austria. Enamelled iron ware is
chiefly of Russian origin, and in Khorassan was reported better
than the ware imported from India. This ware is not greatly
sought after by the peasants, who prefer earthenware. The
demand in Teheran and some of the large towns for ironmongery
of the class of plain (rim, not mortise) locks, hinges, bolts, and
door and window fastenings suitable for double doors and
windows with very light frames is increasing.
A great many of the articles under this heading are imported
in small lots by traders returning from Russia, India, or Europe,
and prices are reported to be very capricious.
Cutlery,
British knives, pen-knives, scissors, &c., have a high reputation,
but are undersold by cheap German and Austrian goods. The
market for table cutlery is limited, as these articles are not used
in Persian houses.
Note .—It is difficult to dec 'de precisely what articles are com*
prised in the totals given in the Statistics under the headings of
Mercery and Hardware^ Glassware^ FurnUure t Pottery and
Manufactures of Metals.
Metals.
Brass and copper are largely imported in sheets, the biggest
market being Ispahan, supplied from Bushire Prices (Teheran
November 1903), of copper sheets 80 inches by 50 inches,
weighing 4^ to 7 Tabriz mans, krs. 17 to krs. 20, cash, per
Tabriz man (about 6s. 8^.). Ditto weighing 18 to 20 Tabriz mans,