Effect of Machinery on Wages

"One of the most bold attempts to cheapen the process of potting manufacture was made some two years ago, and is even now in course of perfecting, by Mr George Wall of Manchester. 

A machine for the manufacture of flat-ware has been invented, and nearly brought to perfection by that gentleman. Charles James Mason, Esq. of Fenton, was the first to introduce it to the Staffordshire Potteries, but the spirited opposition of the operatives, together with some defects in the machine itself, caused Mr Mason to abandon it after a few weeks trial. 

The machine is so constructed as to be made to work either by steam or hand power. In its first and most rude form it was capable of producing by the power of one man and a boy as much ware as is now produced by six adult operatives. 

But there was one great defect in nearly all the ware thus manufactured. Independent of the want of polishing, hair-cracks almost invariably made their appearance in the backs of the ware after firing. This defect has not, as yet, been overcome; and it is a question of much doubt whether it ever will be overcome. 

Some of the most practical men of the trade believe that no mechanical appliance can ever remedy the evil alluded to. The ductility of clay requires something more than a fixed immovable tool to fashion the ware. Human touch and skill are required to avoid the suppression or compression of air which doubtless produces the hair-cracks in Wall's machine-made ware, a defect which nothing but volition and skilled manipulation can remedy. 

. . . Mechanical appliances may increase perhaps to an enormous extent the production of potting goods, but they would not increase the consumption ; the result of which would be increased competition among the employers, to the injury of all, and a sorrowful depression in the social and domestic condition of the employed. Let it be hoped that such a calamity will never be sought by potting manufacturers, on the one hand ; and, at the same time, never tolerated by the operatives on the other." 

— "The Art and History of the Potting Business," a booklet published by the Potters' Printing Society, Hanley, 1846, and written by William Evans, the Trades-Union leader of that day.

" Mr Ackrill then proceeded to read the masters' statements. ... It was also argued that the American operatives did not resist the application of machinery, as did the English workmen. Hence articles must be produced at a moderate cost in order to sell largely " (p. 4). 

" Mr Shaw, manufacturer, said in times past the workpeople threw great difficulties in the way of the adoption of machinery, and asked the witness [a manufacturer] if in America he found the workmen threw any difficulties in the way of the employers' use of machinery ? — 

Witness : Quite the contrary. Mr Shaw : Have you met with any opposition to the use of machinery on the part of the workpeople in this neighbourhood ? — 

Witness : Yes, I have in some cases, where they threw every obstacle they could in the way. 

Mr Eardley [a workman] : Was it not because you have introduced women to do the men's work ? — 

Witness : No, it is not so. 

Mr Eardley : Have you not done so ? — 

Witness : Yes, we have had to do so, being compelled thereto. 

Mr Shaw remarked that it was employing women to do what they could do. 

The Umpire : Then the operatives object to the women, and not so much to the machinery. 

Mr Eardley : Do the women get sufficient wages to support a man and his family ? — 

Witness : Certainly not, because they do not work as a man would do " (p. 5). " 

Mr Shaw : Notwithstanding the outlay on the machinery, you still lose by its introduction ? — 

Witness [a manufacturer] : It is no advantage. 

Umpire : It seems curious that the tables are turning in a few minutes, for only a few minutes ago you said it was an advantage to have machinery, and now you say it is not. — 

Witness : It is an advantage so far as the comfort of the workpeople, but not the masters. 

Mr Shaw : So far as I am concerned, the introduction of machinery is a direct profit to the workmen, and a decided loss to the masters" (p. 10). — 

Report of Arbitration, on an appeal of employers for a reduction in wages, before The Potteries' Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr J. E. Davies, January 1877.

" He then referred to the benefits conferred on the workmen by the introduction of improved machinery, including the jolly, all of which involved a large expense, and for the repair and maintenance of which, the deductions (7½ per cent.) made from workmen barely paid the outlay" — 

Evidence of Mr Finder, manufacturer, before Lord Hatherton Arbitration, 1879.

"The mechanical appliances that I have referred to are of a simple and inexpensive character. 

First, there is what is called a 'jolly' or 'monkey.' Instead of the platemaker holding the tool in his hands, the profile, or tool, is fixed upon the lever, and the man, by pulling a handle, brings the tool upon the bat of clay out of which he has to make the plate. 

The other contrivance which has contributed to the undoing of the flat-presser as a wage-earner is called the steam-spreader, or batter-out. This makes the bats of clay out of which the workman makes his plates, instead of his having to beat them out himself. 
The man has, however, in most cases, to pay for attendance upon this mechanical batter-out, and so it is not a complete saving of all cost in the preparation of his bats. The general charge for the use of this contrivance has taken the shape of 3s. in the £ off the workman's gross earnings, which often means 4s. 6d. in the £ off his own wages. 

This heavy charge is made, although the putting down of a steam-batter only costs the manufacturer a few pounds, and the total cost of it is in several months repaid to him by the charge upon the earnings of the hapless flat-presser." — 

Mr Wm. Owen's opening speech for the Operatives, Report of General Arbitration of 1891 (p. 12).

"DRIVEN OUT BY WOMEN"

"Before I leave the flat-pressing branch altogether, let me say that cheapened production in this department is not limited to the decreased prices [consequent upon the use of machinery] that I have quoted. Through the introduction of this awfully mis-named apparatus called the 'jolly,' women now make, at some manufactories, the smaller-sized plates. 

I could, but will not, dwell upon the unwomanly character of this work — it is neither good for the living female nor the future offspring — but will merely point out that the cost of producing plates is on the average still further reduced through the cheap labour of the women. 

All this women-labour in this department has been introduced since 1872 " (Ibid. p. 13).

"Of course, these labour-saving appliances act in this way ; they do at a cheaper rate that which was previously paid for as manual labour at a higher rate, and if they had not done so they would not have been introduced at all. 

Therefore, it is by reason of these things, which are merely mechanical, that the men complain so bitterly that they have lost the plums — that is to say, the easy and light work by which they made their wages with less trouble, because of the labour-saving machines leaving them the more delicate work that could not be done by the machines, and which has still to be done by manual labour. 

... I regret to say that the introduction of labour-saving appliances has come too late to allow the manufacturers to share the profit with the men." — 

Speech by Mr H. T. Boddam, barrister-at-law, in opening the case for the Manufacturers, Arbitration of May 1891 (P- 50).

"The manufacturers also introduced labour-saving appliances, and, as a last resort they appealed to the men to help them to keep their trade by asking such of them who could afford, by a little more careful application and perhaps a little harder work, to assist them by some slight reduction in wages, and it was in consequence of that that notices were issued 

... to those persons who, they submit, are in a position, by a little more industry and care, to get the same wages as they have got before, even though prices are reduced by the labour-saving appliances which were introduced with this idea. What I mean is this — (we said) : ' When the labour-saving appliances are introduced, if we alter your prices we shall not really lower your wages if you work right up to the collar"  (Ibid. p. 51).

"With regard to cup-makers and saucer-makers, they are gradually being driven out of the market by women labour, and if they don't care to take our terms we can supply their places with women and apprentices. We do not wish to do so. 

We think, if the workman will put himself to the collar, he can make so much with the assistance of the labour-saving appliances, with a 10 per cent, reduction, that he will be able to continue to earn an average wage. We believe if they choose to work a little harder they can make wages almost exactly the same as they obtain to-day. 

If, however, they prefer the luxury of ease to added industry, well, of course, we say they must take the consequences, because we are not in a position to give them any luxurious prices at the present time" (Ibid. p. 51).

"They are working up to the collar pretty well now. . . . There is a great deal of misapprehension as to what working potters can do. There is one thing they can do — they can put on a spurt occasionally, but if you will take into account all the conditions of the lives of the potters, you will readily see that they cannot be on the spurt always. 

How is it possible for the flat-presser, who has to make 45 per cent, more plates, to stand over his machine and work at full strain until he becomes part of the machine itself? Is he going to get further into the collar?" — 

Reply for the Operatives (Ibid. p. 70)

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