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  workshop, ­
  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  workshop, ­
  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.