To this we would reply, that very much depends upon the age and ability of the learner. Girls who begin young, say at the age of fifteen, generally learn to set up fairly well in about twelve months, and then begin to acquire speed, so that they can set from 25,000 to 30,000 letters per week.
Those who begin later, say at about twenty years of age, should be able to do the same amount at the end of six months, for which they would receive from twelve to fifteen shillings per week, according to the conditions on which they enter as learners.
We have known some to earn twenty shillings per week after twelve months’ learning, and afterwards increase to between twenty-five and thirty shillings.
We do not mean to say that every learner would make the same progress, as we have known many who have not; but, generally speaking, the deficiency arises either from a want of proper education, or a lack of anything like aptitude for business.
However, we are quite sure that persons of fair education, who make up their minds to learn, can do so with even better results than those we have before mentioned. It is not to be expected that a business of this description can be learned without some amount of perseverance, and those who take it up must be prepared to meet with difficulties and overcome them.
For persons of more mature age there are special posts to occupy, one of which is that of forewoman. This post requires not less than six months’ training, in order to learn the general routine of the work. But those who fill it must have a natural aptitude for business, and possess those qualities which are essential in governing a number of hands in any business. The remuneration would be higher in this case, though much would depend upon the ability of the individual.
The post of reader is also an important one, and requires about the same amount of training. It is essential that a reader should have a practical knowledge of at least the rudiments of printing. Moreover, a person filling this post must necessarily possess a large amount of general knowledge; must be able to read a great variety of manuscripts, and have a quick eye to detect errors. A good reader can always obtain a high rate of remuneration.
We have now gone over the whole ground, though, perhaps, very superficially. Our object, however, is not so much to give an exhaustive treatise on the Art of Printing, as a general idea of one branch of it to those who desire to learn; and only by entering a printing office for a given time as a learner, is it possible to acquire any useful knowledge of the business.
