In the upholstering department are found machines for sewing, and racks upon which the upholstering is built before being put into the body. A number of these operations are done sitting, so that a man without legs could very efficiently do this work.
The upholstering is first made upon racks or frames, and is then cut out and tacked to the body. In this way the work is much easier done than by building it upon the body itself. The machine operators should have the use of one foot. However, with special equipment, the loss of both legs could be overcome in some of the work. The work in the upholstery department is very desirable in that it is dry and quiet, and employment is steady. Pay is good, and hours are about the same as in any other factories.
PLAN No. 1138. ACCESSORIES
The word “accessories” means extras or special pieces of equipment which are applied to the automobile. Under this heading are included wind shields, speedometers, clocks, indicators, horns, mirrors, spark plugs, and various other pieces of equipment. As this work inquires a great variety of machines, such as punches and presses, and a varied machine-shop equipment, no attempt will be made here to go into details. What has been said in preceding sections has covered the work carried on in these factories. For example, the work done in speedometer factories is somewhat similar to the work done in starting and lighting factories; and the work done in horn factories is somewhat similar to that done in ignition factories. Suffice it to say, that there are hundreds of occupations in the accessory departments and factories alone which offer employment to men who have met with accidents which prevent them from having the free use of every member of the body. There are a number of occupations which lend themselves particularly to men who are not able to do heavy work, as for instance, in the assembly of speedometers, clocks, and horns.
Conditions in these accessory factories are first class, wages are good, and hours are about the same as in the average manufacturing plant.
Classification of Occupations With Reference to Disabilities
In passing through an up-to-date automobile factory, there are thousands of operations being carried out at one time. The foregoing account does not cover hundreds of minor operations, skilled and unskilled, which could be efficiently done by disabled men. Many of these operations are entirely suitable for individuals who have been slightly disabled.
The following tabulation classifies the principal occupations which have been mentioned, with reference to certain type disabilities. It will be understood that neither the list of disabilities nor the several lists of occupations specified under these disabilities are complete.
Possible Occupations for Men with Certain Disabilities
Total blindness. Folding cartons, counting parts, armature winding, bolts and nuts, inspector of packing of parts in cartons, inspecting and testing.