PLAN No. 960. AREA OF EMPLOYMENT
The area of employment in the trade is largely in the East, about 75 per cent in New York, Newark, and the cheaper-grade factories in New England. There are some jewelry factories in Chicago and other large cities in the West.
Tools and Machines Used
The tools and machines used in the trade are chiefly the following:
Drop hammer up to 200 pounds to a large degree power lifted.
Punch and cutter presses.
Lathes, machine and speed.
Power, plate, and wire rolls.
Power drawbenches.
Welding and soldering outfits.
Polishing lathes, lapping lathes (to polish metal.)
Blowers (to supply air in connection with soldering.)
Melting furnaces of various sizes.
Annealing furnaces.
Hand tools, such as workbenches, files, saws, hammers, drills, alcohol, ammonia, emery paper, various shellacs and acids.
Unions
Local unions are fairly strong in New York City, but are not officially recognized by manufacturers. They have, however, enforced competitive bidding, which has driven prices up very high, and has made conditions practically those of the closed shop. They claim a membership in New York City of 3,500. In Newark they are not so strongly organized.
Bonuses
There is no recognized system of benefit funds. A few factories have individual associations for sick benefits, which are rather discouraged by the unions. Some distribute bonuses on the 1st of January.