Description of Industries and Summary of Findings

INDUSTRY 3861, PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in
manufacturing: (1) photographic apparatus, equipment, parts, attachments,
and accessories, such as still and motion picture camera and projection
apparatus; photocopy and microfilm equipment; blueprinting and diazotype
(white printing) apparatus and equipment; and other photographic equipment;
and (2) sensitized film, paper, cloth, and plates, and prepared
photographic chemicals for use therewith. Establishments primarily engaged
in manufacturing photographic paper stock (unsensitized), and paper mats,
mounts, easels, and folders for photographic use, are classified in major
group 26; those manufacturing photographic lenses are classified in
industry 3827; those manufacturing photographic glass are classified in
major group 32; those manufacturing chemicals for technical purposes, not
specifically prepared and packaged for use in photography, are classified
in major group 28; and those manufacturing photographic flash, flood,
enlarger, and projection lamp bulbs are classified in industry 3641.

The 1992 definition of this industry is the same as that used in the 1987
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SIC number and title
also are the same.

In the 1992 Census of Manufactures, Industry 3861, Photographic Equipment
and Supplies, had employment of 77.5 thousand. The employment figure was 12
percent below the 88.0 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were California, Illinois,
Massachusetts, and New York. This represents a shift from 1987 when New
York, Massachusetts, Colorado, and New Jersey were the leading States.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $22.1 billion.

Establishments in virtually all industries ship secondary products as well
as products primary to the industry in which they are classified and have
some miscellaneous receipts, such as resales and contract receipts.
Industry 3861 shipped $18.4 billion of photographic equipment and supplies
considered primary to the industry, $1.9 billion of secondary products, and
had $1.8 billion of miscellaneous receipts, resales, and contract work.
Thus, the ratio of primary products to the total of both secondary and
primary products shipped by establishments in this industry was 90 percent
(specialization ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio was 93 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 98 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio also was 98 percent.

The products primary to industry 3861, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $18.9 billion. For
further explanation of specialization and coverage ratios, see file MC92F5B
and the appendixes.

The total cost of materials, services, and fuels and energy used by
establishments classified in the photographic equipment and supplies
industry amounted to $7.1 billion. Data on specific materials consumed
appear in file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 15 employees
were excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were obtained from
administrative records of other agencies or developed from industry
averages. These establishments accounted for 7 percent of the total value
of shipments.