pags 6
daily nebraskan
monday, January 28, 1980
Rising prices alter picture for photography . . .
By Mary Fastenau
The picture of the photography industry has changed
because of the rising cost of silver used in the production
of film and the paper used to print photos.
For example, Eastman Kodak will increase its prices 30
to 50 percent beginning Jan. 26.
These increases were based on silver at $35 an ounce,
although the price has reached a peak of $49.50, accord
ing to Ralph Harman, owner of Harman's Camera Center,
244 N. 13th St. In 1978, silver prices were stable at about
$5.80 an ounce, he said.
Harman said price increases are greater for black and
white film than for color because there is a higher silver
content in black and white film.
Word of .the price increase caused some people to buy
extra supplies. Harman said one customer borrowed $400
from the bank to buy photography supplies before the
prices rose.
Never-ending problem
Rising' costs are part of a "never-ending problem" for
photography classes at UNL, a journalism photography
professor said.
George Tuck said the basic supply kit for the introduc
tory photography class was $52 at the beginning of the
semester, but he estimated the price might rise to.
$75. Fortunately, he added, most of the students from
this semester already have purchased their supplies.
Tuck said he fears the price increases may make it
difficult to maintain quality in the class.
"The effects, as to quality, remain to be seen," he said.
"However, with prices going up, it will make it difficult to
convince a student to make that third or fourth print."
There has been experimentation with photographic
processes that don't contain silver, Tuck said, but the
quality in these experiments has been poor.
Tuck said it is impossible to predict what will happen
to the price of photography supplies because the7 silver
market is tied to the gold market, which in turn is con
nected to the world situation.
More conservative
If the price of silver goes down, the manager of Max
Miller Cameras Inc., 1434 O St., said she thought Eastman
Kodak also would decrease their prices. ,
Until that happens, however, Marilyn Sudbeck said
people will probably be more conservative.
One way to be more conservative is to recover as much
of the silver as possible from the photographic process.
This is done through silver recovery devices, t hese devices .
are back-ordered for a year, she noted. ;
Silver recovery is "just part and parcel" of the photo
graphic process used in making X-rays, according to Bob
Connelly, chief X-ray technician at Lincoln General Hos
pital.; -j-- '' '
He said the national recovery rate for the process is
about 52 percent. One pound of the reclaimed silver is
usually equal to the price of 11 ounces of silver on the
regular market, Connelly said.
the fluctuations of the market, however, have caused '.
all refineries to close so no one can sell the reclaimed
silver. .
X-ray costs
The erratic market has caused the price of some X-ray
photography supplies to increase as much as 107 percent.
No matter the size of increase, however, people must have
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X-rays, he noted.
"It is just like buying gasoline," he said. "You have to
have it.M .
There is not question of the need for X-rays, but the
price increases of black and white film might cause ama
teur photographers to question their necessity, according
to the manager of Rainbow Color Lab, 237 S. 70th St.
Bill Krejci said the price increases might "be the end"
of black and white photography, except for commercial
use.
At this point, he said he is uncertain about how to
handle the price increases. There is "really a competitive
world" in labs that process film, he said. Because of that
competition, Krejci said he will watch the big companies
to see what they do and then follow a similar course.
A "wait and see" attitude also was the attitude of the
owner of The Picture Man, 1 630 Q St.
Bob Olsen said film is only a small part of his operating
cost, but it; combined with other rising costs has lett him
uncertain about what to do.
"General inflation is what is really hurting us" he said,
noting the increased prices in handling, postage and mini
mum wage.
.Those in the photography business are not smiling
about the price increases, but at this point there is nothing
for them to do but "grin and bear it."
. . . give jewelers Midas touch
By Mary Fastenau
If King Midas were watching today's world gold'
market, he might reconsider forfeiting his golden touch.
After all, a 13-year-old solid gold daughter weighing.
100 pounds would bring $665.50 an ounce on the.
London market, making the darling worth $1,064,800.,
The king would have to realize, however, that the girl's
monetary value is based on the world's economic and
politicial situation.
For example, the price of gold closely follows oil
prices, a trend which has been noticeable for the last 30 to
40 years, according to Don Hamann, chief executive
officer for Sartor Hamann Jewelry, 1 150 0 St.
Hamann, president of the Retail Jewelers of America,
said rising gold prices are caused by oil-rich nations who
are flooding the gold market with their money. He said
people in these countries fear a Communist takeover and
think if they invest in the gold market, invading forces
would not be able to confiscate all their wealth.
s Amount is stable
Hamann said it is impossible to manipulate the gold
market because the amount of gold in the world is stable.
This stability is the reason "everyone hangs their hat on
gold," he said. ; '
To illustrate the metal's stability , Hamann said all the
world's gold would cover a football field a yard deep.
The increased visibility of the metal caused by the
erratic market has increased the desire to own something
made of gold, he said. Because the "average man" is not
able to invest in the gold futures market, he is purchasing
, gold in the form of jewelry; and .coins, Hamann said.;
Problem may arise because certain items may be priced
out of the market, he said. For example, a couple used to
be able to buy two wedding bands for around $100.
Today one band may cost $300 to $400.
Daily price change
In some places, Hamann said, jewelers are using a "no
price system" where the price is calculated daily and over
head costs are added.
Loren Lickei, manager of Brodkey's Jewelry in the
Centrum , said the store has not changed prices since its
opening before Christmas, but an" increase may xccur this
week. The store serves primarily college students, he said.
Business also is good for firms which buy gold. I
Leo Korsaks, jeweler and watchmaker at City . Clock
Co., 210 Gateway North, said a "tremendous amount" of
people have been trying to sell old gold and silver.
, .
Old gold differs
He explained that the prices for "oil" gold are not the
same as those quoted in the world market. Korsaks said
the gold brought in will sell for $300 to $350 an ounce
and a lot of people fail to understand the discrepancy in
price.
Korsaks said the rise in gold prices also has increased
the amount of jewelry brought in for repair.
Jewelry repair also is on the increase at Midwest Manu.
facturing Jewelers in the Sharp Building, according to
Carey Cook, business partner.
Cook said much repair work is from college-age people
who bring in items of sentimental value.
Most of the people interested in selling gold are much
older than college age, making the situation reminiscent of
the 1930s Depression, he said.
Selling their teeth
The price of the used gold is determined by the
condition of the item and how many times it has been re
paired. A jeweler must also be careful because most
jewelry manufactured before 1920 is marked "solid gold,"
no matter wha't its karat content is, Cook explained.
Items brought in for sale vary from rings to gold-filled
teeth.
Kim Elder, manager of Triple E Co. Jewelers in the
Terminal Building, said a buyer must be careful. because
some gold may be an unusual karat rating, such as 22.
Gold coins are also popular items to buy and sell, said
the manager of Centennial Coins, Stamps and Antiquities,
, 1320 q st. ' ;'rr.
! " Bill Williams explained that business "goes iwiiiT When
the gold market goes up. He said, however, the market
doesn't affect coins as much as other items because coins
have value other than that of the metal content.
Armed guards
Hamann said a coin shop in Omaha posted armed
, guards outside and limited customers to three at a time.
Dentists also are affected by the gold market, accord
ing to Dr. Eugene Merchant, associate dean for academic
and student affairs at the dental college. - ,
Merchant explained that dentists do not use pure gold,
but rather an alloy which contains platinum, silver and
gold. The price of the alloy often exceeds the gold price
because manufacturing costs must be absorbed
One year ago the metal contained in a crown cost
between $35 and $40, Today the price has risen to
between $135 and M 40
Shock
absorber.
Take stock in America.
Buy US. Savings Bonds.
0&
II III C 17. Wlto
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YGMlilLA
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Volunteer Showcase
Jan. 28 Nebr. Union Main Lounge
Jan. 29 Nebr. East Union
10am-2pm
Sponsor) by Campus Activities & Program
