Fig. 100.—Airostyle Plant Power Unit, Compressor, Motor Fan etc., Installed for the Davis Gas Stove Co., Ltd., Luton.
On referring to the drawings Figs. 97, 98 and 99, showing respectively an elevation, end view and plan of one of the plants, it will be seen that the plant is divided up into two bays, each accommodating six operators, so that, in all, twenty-four operators are provided for in the two plants and were actually seen at work.
It will at once be noticed that ample space between the bays is provided, and this is most essential in order to give sufficient room for the racks which are wheeled into place behind each operator. These racks are readily seen in the photographs, Figs. 103 and 106, and can also be distinguished in Fig. 104.
The japanning shop in which the plants are installed is of large dimensions, 250 feet long by 48 feet wide, and is extremely light and airy, but, owing to the fact that the roof-lights are now painted over (by Government regulations), the shop at present appears to disadvantage, and the photographs consequently suffer.
The photographs, nevertheless, show very clearly what an immense amount of work can be daily handled, but, notwithstanding this, the writer was assured that there were still numbers of brush hands in the shop. This was primarily due to the fact that full arrangements for spraying are not yet completed (12 more operators are being provided for), and, secondly, to the fact that certain work needing a large amount of masking can be almost as readily brushed, and this class of work finds employment for brush hands. Messrs. Lucas, Ltd., admit that there is a wastage of japan, but maintain that a heavier and much more even coat is applied with a superior finish to brush work, and that there is an enormous gain in time of about 4 to 1 over brushing.
They state, also, that an indirect gain is obtained in the economical working of the stoves, for these are filled far more quickly, and, consequently, the daily output per stove is correspondingly increased.
A striking proof of the saving is their statement that if they had not the system of spraying at work, it would have meant 200 hands in the japanning department, whereas they now employed only 90, and a considerable number of these were engaged upon brush work, so that if only the whole of the work could have been handled with the spray, then the number of hands necessary would have been even less than 90.
The photographs, Figs. 105 to 107, need no description, and are self-explanatory to a large extent.