Fig. 16
This chair is of type three, designed to eliminate fatigue from surrounding conditions. An ordinary chair, which was fairly useful and comfortable, was provided with springs that relieved the operator of 100 per cent. of the vibration of the floor. It is to be noted that the device attached to the chair is extremely simple and inexpensive, while at the same time it solves a problem that has always been rated as most difficult.
The eighth type of chair is devised for rest periods. We have two examples of this. One is a small folding stool contributed by a local drygoods merchant, much interested in fatigue elimination, who, as a result of our fatigue eliminating campaign, has installed many of these stools in his large store. The other is a more complicated chair with adjustable seat and back. This is designed not only for causing least possible fatigue, but also in the interests of correct posture of the user.
Four of the chairs show particularly what can be done with little expenditure of time or money. Only the filing chair is a “new” chair, in the sense of the entire chair having been made especially with the idea of fatigue elimination. The other three chairs consist of chairs already in use, supplied with cheap adjustments, made of material already at hand. These may impress the reader as extremely inartistic. This they undoubtedly are, but these are chairs of the transitional period, made to better working conditions immediately, and to be used until standard methods are introduced, and new standard fatigue eliminating devices substituted. It must also be noted that three out of the four chairs are provided with what are practically footstools, although only one is shown in the picture, as only one is attached to the chair itself. The fourth chair allows of the feet being placed comfortably on the floor.
Other Fatigue Eliminating Devices.
The other fatigue eliminating devices exhibited are useful more as suggestions than as object lessons. There are various types of packets upon which materials are so placed as to be most handy to the worker. These packets are filled by unskilled, that is to say, young, or inexperienced, learning or unskilled workers in such a way that the material can be removed from the packet by the high-priced man with the least amount of effort possible. Filling the assembly packet is an excellent training to the unskilled worker, as will be shown later. One of these packets is contributed by a local manufacturer of cotton cloth.
The other devices for holding materials in position consist of two devices for holding motion picture films in position so that they may be studied with the least amount of effort possible.
Fig. 17
These chairs are of type four, devised to relieve fatigue caused by vibration. Besides the chairs, foot-rests were devised to hold the feet without any vibration from the floor; and, also, special treadles.
Fig. 18
This chair is of type six, which modifies a device already in use, so that it will become a more efficient device for eliminating fatigue. The chair shown was, ordinarily, fairly comfortable, but the legs had become worn with time. It has, as shown, been raised to that height which is most comfortable for the worker. The work-bench, in this case, could not be raised so that the work could be done either standing or sitting. The problem was to have the sitting work done with the least unnecessary fatigue possible.