One Thousand Ways to Make a Living; or, An Encyclopædia of Plans to Make Money

by Harold Morse Dunphy

Environment of Workers

The printing business is entirely shop and office work. There is no exposure, nor is the trade affected materially by weather conditions. The work is more uniform in volume than in many other trades. Only a few of the processes have special hazards, and the health of printers compares favorably with that of other indoor trades.

Entering the Trade

The printing trade embraces several distinct branches, chief among which are composition, including hand and machine, presswork, and bindery. Each of these is subdivided into a number of processes. The regular apprenticeship is 5 years for each branch of the trade. Very few men are proficient in more than one branch, the nature of the business being such that specialization is necessary for both the trade and the individual.

Within the last few years, technical schools have been established which aid in training for the industry. It must be clearly understood that the schools are interconnected with the trade, and are for the purpose of adding to shop training and not superseding it. An indispensable requisite of the printing industry is thorough intensive training and experience. In common with other worth while things, it can not be hurriedly or superficially mastered. Time and work both are necessary.

Printing Courses for the Disabled

Men disabled in the war who may be interested in printing will naturally fall into two classes: those formerly employed in the trade, and those without trade experience.

If you belong to the first class and have worked at the trade, we would unhesitatingly urge you to continue in it in some capacity. Special efforts will be made by all trade organizations to enable you to do so. Your previous training and experience should not be thrown away, but should on the contrary be used as the foundation for specialization, either in your own particular branch of work or in some allied branch.

The Government is offering you the opportunity to greatly improve your ability by technical training. You can return to the trade more expert by adding to your previous experience the training of one or more of the courses offered. This will give you a better position than you held before entering upon military service. It will enable you to earn more money, and to be more valuable to the trade and to the Nation.

If you are interested in the trade but have never worked at it, there is only one right way to begin—through thorough preparation. We should consider ourselves delinquent in our duty if we did not impress on you that competency is the result of sufficient time, proper prerequisites, and practical trade experience. Printing requires a high degree of skill, speed, and accuracy. These essentials can not be acquired superficially. The Government, the schools, and the trade are prepared to furnish you this preparation, asking from you only the time and effort necessary to do it right.