The Trades of East London (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...often profit by it), but is the result of certain conditions found in this group of trades. It is not, as would seem to be sometimes supposed, something almost arranged by a malignant and grasping association of middlemen, but the accompaniment and normal outcome of a method of production which very small capitalists, whose own skill and that of whose workers is excessively specialized, to a great extent create. But although the practice of hawking is common, and although it may become a still graver source of disorganization than it is at present, reducing a larger body of workers in this trade to a position that is more analogous to that of the seller of penny novelties in the streets than to that of members of a skilled industry, its prevalence must not be exaggerated. It is true that articles of nearly every description are now hawked, sometimes of fair quality made by men who know their trade, but as a rule it is poor albeit often very showy work that is sold under these poor conditions. Makers of any standing, even small men, never sell in this way, but work, as has been said, either for order, or for their own stock if orders temporarily fail. Independent W0rkers.--Fourthly, the cabinet-makers working alone must be mentioned. They do not compose a large class, and make as a rule the smaller articles that can be easily manipulated by the solitary worker. Most will employ others when orders are plentiful. There are some excellent workmen in this as in other branches working alone, who depend for their livelihood entirely on orders, whereas others as habitually sell "on the haw." The largest proportion of independent workers however in the furniture trades is found among the turners, carvers, fret-cutters, and sawyers....