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161
The number of registered workshops and workplaces has
diminished each year from 2,059 in 1908 to 1950 in 1912. The
number of factories has steadily increased from 828 in 1908 to
1,016 in 1912. Factories may be defined for practical purposes as
premises using mechanical power ; they are under the supervision
of the Home Office. The increased number of factories and the
conversion of workshops into factories are due to the more general
use of electricity for trade purposes. Small electric motors can be
hung to ceiling joists, bracketted to walls, or placed in corners or
under benches, economising space in a manner impossible in the
case of steam, compressed air or water power. The introduction
of the smallest electric motor (e.g., of one-eighth horse power)
converts the premises into a factory.
The following paragraphs indicate the workshops, workplaces
and factories on the registers, and show the large variety of manufacturing
processes which are carried on in Finsbury.
Workshops and Workplaces.—Clocks and watches, 132;
jewellery, 116; cabinet making and polishing, 77; tailoring and
clothing, 68; engraving, embossing and chasing, 60; stabling,
58; leather and leather goods and trunks, 56 ; provisions, bacon,
grocery, food preparation, 44; building trades, 43 ; furriers and
skin dressers, 42; cycles and motors, 39; hats and caps, 39;
underclothing, shirts, skirts, blouses, aprons, 36; boots and
shoes, 35; forwarding goods, 34; drugs, chemicals, perfumery
and sundries, 33 ; gold and silver workers and refiners, 32 ; fancy
goods and toys, 30; millinery, 30; picture frames, mouldings and
mounts, 30; iron and metal workers, 29; glassware and glass
work, 26; mantles and costumes, 25 ; engineers and machinists,
23; farriers and smiths, 23 ; box-making, 22 ; paper and cardboard,
22; feather work, 21 ; ironmongery and hardware, 21 ;
stationery and sundries, 20; stick making and mounting, 20; ink,
paint, oil, gum, colours and dyes, 19; laundries, 19; packing
cases, 19; ties and neckwear, 19; barometers and thermometers,
18; gilding and plating, 18; woollen, linen and cotton goods, 18;
artificial flowers and plants, 17 ; rag and paper waste, 17 ; shop