resentatives working with them. In other instances the important
engineering firms bid on entire undertakings by obtaining special
prices from the branch houses handling electrical equipment.
The general importers also hold agencies for complete lines of elec-
trical equipment as well as specialized lines, but they are not in a
pcsition to undertake the actual construction of power houses or
factories. Tenders are submitted only for the electric installation,
which is usually carried out by factory representatives attached to the
firm.
Manufacturers’ agents are important as sales agents for firms
specializing in the manufacture of domestic appliances, flash lights
and batteries, storage batteries, and electric tools. They do not
carry stock and usually have special knowledge of the electrical
trade. Orders are secured on an indent basis only. .
As the distribution of automotive accessories, flash lights and
small domestic appliances is in the hands of Chinese retailers, there
has been a tendency on the part of the more important firms to obtain
direct connections with American manufacturers for these particular
items. The majority of Chinese importers sell through their own
retail shops, although in some instances they have connections
throughout the Netherland East Indies.
GENERAL ENGINEERING FIRMS
Much of the electrical installation work is done by six important
firms located in the Netherland East Indies, five of which are general
engineering firms that will undertake the complete erection of a sugar
factory or a power house or sell a single motor, while the other firm
is the largest exclusive electrical engineering firm in the territory.
The firms referred to above, together with their branches are as
follows:
GENERAL ENGINEERING FIRMS
Lindeteves Stokvis: Head office, Amsterdam; branches: Semarang (head office
‘or Netherland East Indies), Surabaya, Batavia, Medan, Padang, Palembang,
Bandoeng, Soekaboemi, Djocja, Tegal, Makassar.
Carl Schlieper: Head office, Ramschied, Germany; branches: Batavia (head
office for Netherland East Indies), Bandoeng, Semarang, Tegal, Djocja, Sura-
kata, Surabaya, Makassar, Medan, Padang, Palembang, Pontianak.
Ruhaak & Co.: Head office, The Hague; branches: Surabaya, Djocja, Tegal.
Batavia.
Becker & Co.: Branches: Surabaya, Batavia, Pasoercean.
Geveke & Co. Surabava.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Amsterdamsch Kantoor voo Indische Zakon (A. K. I. Z.): Head office, Amster-
dam: branches. Batavia. Surabava.
All of the general engineering firms mentioned buy from branch
houses of electrical-equipment manufacturers in addition to holding
agencies of their own. Lindeteves Stokvis and Carl Schlieper control
about 75 per cent of the machinery trade of the territory; and although
the percentage of the electrical-equipment trade controlled by them
is not as large, they undoubtedly secure an important share of the
total business as a result of their large organization and connections.
The other firms mentioned, while not as outstanding as the first
two, are important and are capable of undertaking larce electrical
contracts.