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29
As early as 1891, mercurial poisoning had become uncommon; although to-day
stray cases are met with in this country; the hygienic improvements introduced
have almost made the disease one of historic interest only. There are now no underground
rooms in the Holborn area used for these purposes. The rooms which are
used are adequately lighted and ventilated and periodically cleansed and limewashed.
Adequate washing accommodation is provided; the hours which young
persons may work are limited; the trade, except for master men, is now followed
almost entirely by English workers whose standard of education and living is
considerably higher than that of those employed in the earlier days. Food is very
rarely eaten in the workroom as either a mess room is provided, or the workers go
out to one of the many eating houses to be found in the vicinity. Competition has
practically driven out the smaller employer, and has completely eliminated the
domestic or semi-domestic workshops.
Thermometers and barometers are now more extensively used than at any
previous period, although the mercurial barometer has largely given place to the
aneroid.
I am informed by a large firm of Holborn manufacturers that the number of
persons employed is much larger than it used to be, and for this reason: during
the War, the scientific instrument trade was made a key industry, and since then
has been benefited by a 33⅓ per cent. import duty on all imported instruments.
This has gradually increased home trade, and although the small employer is
now rare, the larger manufacturers employ more hands than they used to.
Type Founding.
Among the less common trades carried on in the Borough is that of a type
founder. Although largely superseded for letterpress printing by the linotype
and monotype machines there is still a demand for the ordinary type in certain
classes of work, e.g., book printing, the leading articles of newspapers, etc. The
factory concerned in this work buys the various elemental metals and melts them
in certain proportions at a small coke furnace to produce the necessary alloy which
is run into the ingot moulds.
The type founding machines are each operated by a man, but are largely
automatic. Over the machine is a gas heated metal pot in which the ingot is
melted, and the metal kept in a molten state; the molten metal is automatically
released in sufficient quantity to make one type, then is led to a mould which
includes a copper matrix with the particular letter stamped in it. The type is then
cast; it cools immediately, sufficiently to allow it to take its place on the closely
packed travelling band which carries it to another part of the machine where it
is cut to the correct height and the nicks cut in the side. After being examined
as to height, etc., it is ready for use.
A large proportion of lead is used in the alloy for the type and careful
cleanliness is necessary to avoid the risk of lead-poisoning. Ample lavatory basins
with hot and cold water, soap and towels are provided at the factory entrances for
the use of employees.