A short time ago we realized that the average manufacturer had never thought of his work in terms of fatigue. We could, therefore, expect no fatigue eliminating devices, as he either had none to offer, or as he did not realize what he had. Again and again, a manager will say, in effect, “I am much interested in your museum, and should like to send you something, but we have never given much thought to the subject of fatigue elimination, and therefore, unfortunately, we have nothing that we can send.” In many such cases, if we go through the plant, or the factory, or the store, we find fatigue eliminating devices, and immediately say, “There, that is just what we want.” Whereupon the manager replies, “Oh, that. Sure enough it does eliminate fatigue. I had never thought of it in that light. We have always had that.” Within the next few days we add a specimen to our collection.
We have, perhaps, not sufficiently emphasized the fact that eliminating fatigue means not only that we know the things that we lack, but also that we appreciate and fully utilize the things that we have. It is good practice to use what is on hand before laying in new devices. There is waiting space, then, in the museum for any sort of device, old or new, well-known or not known at all, that does, or will, or may eliminate or overcome fatigue. There is an especially warm welcome awaiting any such type of stool or chair. The older and more worn it is the better, if it is still in working condition. There is a chance to be a pioneer by exhibiting clothing that is artistic, inexpensive, and appropriate for doing any type of work with less fatigue.
Types of Chairs and Their Uses.
We are fortunate in that, of the nine chairs exhibited, each represents quite a different type. This illustrates the large field for chairs.
[Chair No. 1] is designed for work to be done standing or sitting. This is the ideal fatigue eliminating chair, as it allows of the most scientific distribution of work and rest periods, and for the greatest variation in working periods. The work for which this chair was devised was the folding of handkerchiefs, work that had always been done sitting. This chair is the result of accurate measurement, and is of exactly that height that will permit the girl’s elbows to be at the same distance from the work table when she is seated as when she is standing. The back of the chair, like the backs of all chairs designed for eliminating fatigue while working, is designed for work and not for rest. The chair is provided with dome casters, which allow of its being pushed away, or drawn back into position with the least amount of time and effort possible. The worker on this chair has a foot-rest which is a part of the working table.
Fig. 12
This chair is of type one, devised for doing work that has always been considered sitting work, either standing or sitting. In this case an ordinary chair has been boosted so that a worker can sit at a work-bench made exactly the right height for standing work. The chair is provided with ball-bearing casters, so that it can be pushed out of the way or pulled into position with little effort. This device helped make it possible to divide each hour into work periods and rest periods; and at the same time into standing and sitting periods,—thus not only eliminating unnecessary fatigue, but providing an efficient means for recovery from necessary fatigue.
Fig. 13
This chair is of type two, devised for doing work that has always been considered standing work, either standing or sitting. By its use, heavy filing can be done with greater ease and with the same speed and efficiency. The chair is inexpensive and easy to construct, and is of such a height as best suits the individual worker.
