Cost of living in German towns

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 866449027

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-93831

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Cost of living in German towns

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Stat. Off.

Year of publication:: 1908

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (LXI, 548 Seiten)

Collection:: Economics Books

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SOLINGEN. 430 The statistics of the Imperial Occupation Census of 1895 for the two principal occupations in Solingen and the surrounding district, show at once the general character of the organisation at that date : — Occupation. Tool, Scythe, and Knife Smiths . Scissor, Knife, and Tool Grinders. Number of Separate Undertakings. Number of Persons Engaged. Average Number of Persons per undertaking. 3,866 1,924 10,364 3,216 26 1*6 This obviously means that the factory system had very little hold in 1895, so far as these two branches were concerned. But already the process had set in which was to turn the smiths, working hitherto in their own homes with hand-labour, into factory workers using machinery, a process which is to-day almost complete. The grinders, however, after being threatened apparently with the same fate as the smiths, have yet succeeded in maintaining to a large extent the old conditions of independence. The manufacture of swords has now become almost solely a factory industry, but its importance is steadily diminishing. The sword hardeners are a small and select body of men, who jealously guard the secrets of their craft. It is said that the calling is confined to a few families, and that outsiders are never admitted. The earnings are high. The manufacture of razors is also steadily becoming a factory industry in spite of strong resistance. For the other branches of the cutlery manufacture domestic industry is predominant in all processes except the smithing of table-knives and forks, the cutting out (from sheet steel) of pen-knife blades, the smithing of the better kinds of scissors, and the casting of scissors of inferior qualities. These are all processes in which machinery can be profitably used, whereas in the other processes handwork (often assisted with small machines) is still the best, partly, it is said, because with hand-labour small modifications of the form of the goods can be more readily made. There is a very elaborate division of labour ; from 12 to 16 workmen are employed in different processes for the production of a pocket-knife, and eight or nine for scissors of good quality ; and in all there are between 40 and 50 separate occupations in the Solingen industry. The most important and numerous, as also the best paid, class of workmen are the grinders, who may be divided into the grinders of swords, of knives (about 1,000 in number, including apprentices), of scissors (about 900), and of razors (about 350). A certain number of these have gone into the factory system entirely, but the large majority remain independent. The grinder sometimes works alone, and sometimes has subordinate workmen and apprentices ; in either case he may work in his own dwelling, or in a workshop which he hires entirely or in part (sharing the workshop then with others like himself). These workshops are erected by factory owners or private speculators ; in some cases 50 to 100 grinders may work side by side in the same workshop ; the rent paid for each “stand” (“ Arbeits-stelle,” i.e., place in such a shop) ranges from 2s. to 65. per week, according to the size of the grindstone, the equipment of the work shop, and the nature of the motive power supplied, which is now generally electricity. Cases occur in which independent grinders carry on their work in the workshop of a manufacturer who has room to spare, even when they are not working for him. The grinder may work for several manufacturers, or only for one ; but even when this one is also the person from whom he rents his work shop, the two relations are absolutely distinct. The men buy their own stones, which cost from 6&. to as many pounds according to the size and quality, and in the case of the larger stones two or three have a joint use. The local taxation authorities assume that rent and cost of material absorb from a fifth to a third of a grinder’s gross earnings, and deductions are made accordingly before the amount of taxable income is fixed ; thus 20 per cent, is allowed in the case of. razor and corkscrew grinders, 25 per cent, in the case of scissors, fork, and pocket-knife grinders, and 33 J per cent, in the case of sword and scabbard grinders.

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