BERLIN. 
9 
In the pianoforte industry cabinet makers as a rule earn from 405. to 
44s. 10(7. ; soundboard (“ belly ”) makers 33s. to 40s., regulators and stringers 
35s. to 40s., and note and keyboard makers 33s. to 36s. In one important 
manufactory wages have increased as follows since 1900 :— 
1900. 1905. 
s. d. s. d. 
Cabinet makers ... ... 40 9 ... 44 10 
Regulators and stringers 40 0 ... 46 4 
Soundboard makers ... 37 10 ... 38 0 
Tuners ... ... ... 47 6 ... 55 0 
Labourers ... ... 23 5 ... 26 9 
An instructive comparison covering a longer period is also possible in two 
branches of the wood industry. Herr Heinrich Freese, the owner of a large 
Venetian blind and wood paving manufactory, has for many years kept com 
parative returns of the wages paid to ail classes of his employees, and the 
following figures are taken from his books :— 
Weekly Earnings (piecework without overtime). 
Year. 
1888 
1890 
1892 
1894 
1896 
1898 
1900 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
Hours ! 
of 
Labour R1 - -, 
Per day. Makerg< Joiners. 
9" 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
s. d. 
26 5 
28 8 
28 7 
27 2 
29 5 
31 3 
31 3 
31 9 
34 11 
37 1 
37 0 
s. 
22 
25 
27 
27 
29 
30 
32 
31 
33 
35 
36 
d. 
3 
10 
2 
4 
6 
5 
3 
6 
10 
5 
8 
Blind 
Fitters. 
Painters. 
Painters 
(rough 
work). 
S. 
25 
28 
28 
26 
d. 
9 
2 
3 
4 
28 5 
29 9 
30 10 
31 8 
32 11 
31 11 
35 8 
s. d. 
35 2 
34 11 
33 0 
31 4 
33 2 
30 0 
37 11 
35 9 
39 6 
42 1 
44 11 
s. 
22 
21 9 
21 
20 
23 10 
19 10 
22 0 
20 1 
20 4 
27 11 
26 11 
Circular ! 
Sawmen Metal Sewers 
and Workers, (females). 
Planers. 
S. d. 
23 4 
24 11 
24 3 
27 0 
27 6 
30 2 
28 10 
30 4 
33 7 
35 9 
33 3 
s. d. 
28 4 
30 7 
25 3 
24 11 
24 7 
24 10 
29 8 
29 
31 
27 
30 
s. d. 
11 0 
14 6 
13 0 
11 1 
12 8 
11 6 
12 5 
12 10 
13 1 
13 8 
14 8 
In the following comparative table referring to workmen of the same 
employer lost time and overtime are included, yet (in Herr Freese’s opinion) 
without prejudice to the relative value of the figures :— 
Wood-paving Department. 
(Time Wages for a working day of 9 hours duration). 
1892 
1894 
1896 
1898 
1900 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
Year. 
Foremen. 
S. d. 
25 10 
30 5 
31 11 
24 10 
26 2 
28 3 
29 10 
30 6 
30 6 
Paviors 
(skilled). 
S. d. 
19 6 
24 4 
19 2 
21 6 
23 0 
23 9 
24 11 
23 9 
25 8 
Paviors 
(assistants). 
s. d. 
18 4 
19 3 
17 9 
18 4 
19 9 
20 9 
21 10 
20 2 
22 4 
Labourers. 
S. d. 
19 2 
21 0 
18 6 
19 3 
20 4 
20 & 
21 0 
24 0 
27 4 
In the beer brewing industry the Tvages of brewers and coopers are 32s., 
and of bottlers 20s. Qd. to 22s. 6d. ; draymen receive commission on the beer 
delivered, which is chiefly paid by the customer. The custom of the " free- 
drink ” or 11 house drink,” a perquisite of so much beer per day, still continues ; 
brewers as a rule are allowed 3^ quarts, and artisans half that quantity, though 
there is a tendency to restrict beer drinking on the premises, and in several 
breweries cold coffee is given instead in summer, while the workmen at another 
large brewery have the right to exchange their free beer tickets for money at the 
rate of about Id. per pint, or for food obtainable at the canteen. The custom of 
the “free drink” is, however, menaced, for the Imperial Insurance Board 
discourages it owing to the many accidents which are traceable to its abuse, and 
only the settlement of the question whether the old perquisite shall be abolished 
B 
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