Page:Vincent's systems of cutting all kinds of tailor-made garments.djvu/273

 WATERPROOFING CLOTH. Dissolve one ounce of white wax in a quart of spirits of turpentine. Immerse the cloth in this and hang to dry.

ANOTHER METHOD :—Apply a solution of isinglass, alum and soap of equal quantities by means of a brush. When dry, brush it against the grain on the wrong side, and then go over with a brush dipped in water.

ANOTHER PLAN:—Dissolve half-pound of alum in two quarts of boiling water; add two gallons of cold water, soak the cloth in this for 24 hours. Take it out, and let it drain dry; then dissolve one pound of sugar of lead in two quarts of boiling water* and add two gallons of cold water, and immerse the cloth in this for six hours, ring it out gently, and let it dry in the shade.

WHAT TO CHARGE. The problem of price is one that often gives considerable anxiety to the Tailor's mind, and as it is one that vitally affects his success or failure, I venture to offer a few words of advice on the subject.

It must be assumed that the Tailor is in business to make a profit—the larger in reason the better, but whilst he is desirous of increasing his profits, he is also ambitious to increase his trade, so that his price should compare favourably with those of his competitors. A knowledge of what they are doing and how they are doing it, becomes an important help to his business, for in comparing prices, style and finish must be taken into account, as well as the actual sum charged.

ESTIMATING THE COST. The usual plan followed is for the Tailor to carefully calculate the cost of the article he is selling, on some such lines as

and then to total this up, and add on from 25 to 50 per cent, profit. The smallest profit on which a ready-money business can be conducted profitably is 25 per cent., by which we mean that a fourth of the amount received for the goods is profit.