There are certain special occupations which require more skill, such as hand and machine carving, wood turning, and saw filing, for which men must be trained through a kind of apprenticeship, which may take several months or years.
In these occupations workmen move about easily from one factory to another, or shift from one machine to another. Many men move about constantly, and seem to have little difficulty in fitting in wherever they go.
The operator of woodworking machines is commonly required to look after the oiling of his machine, to change knives, saws, and cutter heads when they become dull or when the work requires it, and to adjust the machine properly so that it will do good work at a fast rate.
Some Products of These Trades
Factory woodworkers are employed in many industries in which the men carry on one or more of the lines of work specified above. Of these industries the principal products are the following:
Products of Woodworking Industries
| In planing mills. | In vehicle, truck, and body factories. | In furniture factories. | In box, crate, and basket factories. | Special products. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stair material; sash; doors; blinds, interior finish for homes, stores, and offices; built-in furniture parts; cabinets; cases; mantels; bar, store, and hotel fixtures. | Wagons; buggies; auto bodies; truck bodies; poles and shafts; baby carriages. | Tables; chairs; bedroom, office, and library furniture; kitchen cabinets; case goods; specialty furniture; school furniture; billiard and pool tables. | Boxes; crates; splint baskets; patent carriers; fruit and berry boxes. | Airplane parts; agricultural implements; cane, reed, and fiber goods; trunks; wooden canoes and boats; coffins; musical instruments; toys; games, etc. |
PLAN No. 929. THE PLANING MILL INDUSTRY
Much of the work formerly done by carpenters in the shop is now done to order in planing mills. This branch of the woodworking industry supplies lumber and building material at retail, and builds store and office fixtures, interior woodwork for dwelling houses, and a variety of special work which requires the use of machinery.
Planing mill employees usually are able to do a variety of hand and machine work and usually receive therefrom somewhat higher wages than do factory workers. They rank with outside carpenters as mechanics, and the trade is organized as a branch of the carpenters and joiners national organization. Opportunities for advancement in this industry are greater than in other related woodworking occupations, but there is some irregularity in employment, since the prosperity of the trade depends on local building operations.