F. M. HOFFHEINS, Chemicds Division, Office of Domestic Commerce, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, 0. C,
C H E M I C A L specialties ale productfi formulated from individual chemicals and designed to meet a particular need or requirement. Soap, synthetic detergents, paints, glue, gelatin, and polishes are examples of chemical specialties. The field of chemical specialties covers so many items that recent trends in only a few of the most important groups are discussed here. Chemical specialties for the most part are purchased by individual consumers, although many are widely used by industry. Because they are mainly consumer items, their demand is largely dependent on consunier income. Manufacturers of chemical specialties are among the major users of industrial chemicals. Several chemical specialties have become better k n o w to the household consumer through extensive advertising during the postwar years. Synthetic detergents, weed killers, aerosol pest-control agents, and other aerosol products, including deodorants and protective coatings, have been notable examples, The 1947 Census of Manufactures provided the first official data on most chemical specialties since 1939, and it furnished the only government statistics on many others. Monthly data on paints, glue, and gelatin compiled by the Bureau of the Census and quarterly data on sales of soap arid synthetic detergents by the Association of American Soap
:&
SOAP, GLYCERIN; cleaning, polishing, and related products ts
a
production workers
z9,1z9
* *
;
1939
0
*
1947
$81 042
value of products shipped
establishments &,456
e
money figurer in lhnusondr 01 dollars
wager, lot01
PAINTS, VARNISHES; inorganto pigments, whiting, and fillers
51.m860
*
production workers
*
wages,
@
41,822
1121.936
total
a
: value of products shipped
$1,131.602
@
: @,
INSECTICIDES AND FUNGlClDES establishments
TOILET PREPARATIONS
I
166
* *
; * 8 8
*
wages, toto1
establishments
718
production workers wages, total
136,391
@
$73,068
: value of products
*
*
shipped
Source: Census of Manuln,
