Wages—Standard Lists.
In those towns where a uniform class of goods is made of simple weave, it is possible to formulate and adhere to a standard method of payment such as is done in Burnley, Blackburn, and other towns. In other districts, such as Bolton and Preston, the sorts are so varied and difficult to classify that at many mills a private list is adhered to with satisfaction to the employer and employed. For the benefit of some readers a typical calculation will be given, based on the 1853 Blackburn list, as in 1883 this list was adopted in Preston, Chorley, and other towns. This may be considered a list of medium position with regard to other lists—Burnley being lower for plains, Ashton list being considered a low one for fancies.
The Blackburn list is based on a 40-inch loom, weaving from 36 to 41-inch cloth, 60 reed Stockport counts, 16 picks per 1/4 inch, 37-1/2 yards, from 30’s to 60’s weft, and from 28’s to 45’s twist, for 12·25d.
Reeds.—A 60 reed or 30 dents, being the standard, is made the starting point, and 3/4 per cent. is deducted for every two ends or counts of reeds, from 60 to 48; but no deduction is made below 48 reed, and 3/4 per cent. is added for every two ends or counts of reed above 60.
Weft.—All weft from 30’s to 60’s, both included, is considered medium, and reckoned equal, but all weft above 60’s to be allowed 1 per cent. for every 10 hanks,
and all below 30’s to 26’s to be allowed 2 to be allowed
and all below 26’s to 20’s to be allowed 5 to be allowed
and all below 20’s to 16’s to be allowed 8 to be allowed
and all below 16’s to 14’s to be allowed 10 to be allowed
Twist.—All twist from 28’s to 45’s, both included, is considered medium, and reckoned equal, but all twist above 45’s up to 60’s to be allowed 1-1/2 per cent., and all above 60’s 1 per cent. for each 10 hanks,
and all below 28’s to 20’s to be allowed 1 per cent. on list.
and all below 20’s to 14’s to be allowed 2 per cent. on list.
Additions for Picks.—All picks above 8 and up to 18 are considered proportionate, but 8 picks and all below and all above 18, to have 1 per cent. allowed for every pick over and above the proportionate difference in the number of picks.
Width of Looms.—A 40-inch loom being the standard, is taken as the starting point, and all additions or deductions are made therefrom. (The reed space is measured from back board to forkgrate.)
25-inch loom has 2-1/2 per cent. deducted from 30-inch loom.
30-inch " 5 " " 35-inch "
35-inch " 5 " " 40-inch "
40-inch loom (45-inch reed space) the standard—
45-inch loom has 5 per cent. added to 40-inch loom.
50-inch loom has 10 per cent. added to 45-inch "
55-inch loom has 10 per cent. added to 50-inch "
60-inch loom has 10 per cent. added to 55-inch "
Looms of Intermediate Width.—One per cent. per inch is to be deducted from 40 down to 30-inch loom; below 30 to 26-inch loom 5/8 per cent. per inch to be deducted. Above 40-inch and up to 45-inch loom, 1 per cent. per inch to be added, and all above 45-inch 2 per cent. per inch.
Narrow Cloth in Broad Looms.—Suppose a 40-inch loom should be weaving cloth 36 to 31-1/4 inches in width, take off one-half the difference between 40 and 35-inch loom price; and if weaving cloth 31 to 27-1/4 inches wide, take off one-half the difference between 40 and 30-inch loom price; or if weaving 41-1/4 to 46-inch cloth in a 50-inch loom, take off one-half the difference between 50 and 45-inch loom, and so on with all other widths.
Range of Cloths.—
26-inch loom allowed to weave cloth up to 27 inches.
35-inch loom allowed to weave cloth from 31 to 36 inches.
40-inch loom allowed to weave cloth 36 to 41 inches.
45-inch loom allowed to weave cloth 41 to 46 inches.
50-inch loom allowed to weave cloth 46 to 52 inches.
Basis of Calculations.—The calculations in the Blackburn list are based upon the picks counted by the glass when the cloth is laid upon the counter. Forty yards short stick to be taken as 39 yards long stick.
To find price for a 44-inch cloth in 45-inch loom = 66’s reed, 44 change pinion, 528 dividend, 75 yards long, 34’s/36’s—
12·25 Standard.
Add 5 per cent. loom ·61
———
12·86
Add 2-1/4 per cent. reed ·28
———
13·14
Calculate in proportion to pick 16 to 12 = 9·86
Calculate proportion length 37-1/2 to 75 = 19·72 = List price.
Double
Deduct 10 per cent. = 1·97
———
17·78 = Present price.
or from list under heading, 45-inch loom—
66 reed, 37-1/2 yards = ·822 for 1 pick.
9·86 for 12 picks.
19·72 for 75 yards.