The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-07-18

Neddy.
David Baird again distracted but how different
were his feelings. He could have done thousand
extravagant things could have laughed, cried,
sung, leaped about, nay, rolled the floor for joys
but he did none Of these-he set calm, and looked
almost grave. At length he said, 'twife send the
childred TO bed, and let talk over this good fortune
together
you shall have yourSunday clothes on Tomorrow
said the happy mother,as she sent them up stairs To
bed they went; and altor awhile laughed and talked
themselves to sleep The father and mother smiled
and wept by turns, but did not sleep that night.
Mr. CHADwIcn:-A friend of ours, now in Lon
don. having recently sent the accompanying interest
ing description of the acture of needles Red
ditch, England, published in supplement Of the
Penny Magazine for January 1913, we communicate
it for the Caleponian believing that few IF your read
ers will fail to be interested in the process by which
this very delicate and indispensable instrument is per-
fected. Your friends, E. s, T. FA1RBANKs,& Co.
ADAY AT THE BRITISH NEEDLE MILLS,
REDDITCH.
''Neede making is nearly all the result of manual
dexterty requiring very little aid from
power. There are, it is true, few water-wheels
employed in working machines for securing the
needles; but Redditch presents no other facilities for
this purpose than such prese nted by thousand
other places in the kingdom. In short, there seems
to be other mode for accounting for the settlement
of the needle manufacture in this spot than that which
may be urged in reference to watch making in Clerk
enwell or coachmaking in Long Acre. medicinal
kcr, we will supposedly two centuries ago-settled
at Redditch, and gradually accumulated round him
body Of workmen. supply of skilled labor hav-
ing been thus secured, another person up in the
same line,-perhnps enticing away some Of the
from his predecessor. In time the workmen's child
rem learned the occupation carried by their pa
rents, and thus furnished increased supply Of labor
which lin its turn led to the establishment of other
manufacturing firms. BY degrees many needles
were made at Redditch, that the village acquired
reputation throughout the length and breadth Of the
land, for this branch ofmanufacture, and hencet be-
positive advantage for a maker TO be able to
say that his needles "Reddtch needless
There are in Reddtch' about dozen manufactu-
rers, each Of whom conducts the needle
large scale, and employs considerable number
of persons. The workpeople Of two kinds, dis
tnctly separated by the terms which their services
are rendered Some work in factories, built and con
uacturers while others work at their own homes, be-
ing paid according 10 the kind and amount of work
DONE In occupation, perhaps, is the division of
labor strictly carried out than in nee die making,
for the who anneals does point nor does the
pointer make the eyes polish the needles. Both
within and without the factory the system of d.
vision is kept up; for Gotta ger who procures work
from needle manufacturer does not undertake the
making of a needle, but only particular depart
ment, for which he paid certain recognized pri-
MANY Of the workpeople live at few miles
distance, and come with their finished work inter-
walls of few days; plan whhh be adopted
without much Inconvenience, since considerable
quantity Of these little articles may be packed in
small space. 1t is,we believe, estimated that the mum
Der Of needlemakers lie Reddtch is about three thou
sand; and in the whole district of which Redditch is
the centre, six thousand of which very
siderable number females.
The general name of mills is given 10 the needle
factories, each one having distinctive name
whereby it may be indicated Thus the establish
ment which we have been obligingy permitted to
visit, 81 the arrangements OF which will be described in
this paper, is called the "British Needle -Mls''
ssWhat's in name? 20 We need not stop to inquire:
in the factories of the Dorth and no doubt facilitates
the distng uishing of one factory from another. To
the sBritish Needle Mills of Mr. Thomas, then, our
visit is directed.
This factory has been recently constructed and is
situated extremity Of the village. 1t consists of
anumber Of small court yards or quadranges each
rounded by buildings wherein tbs manufacture is
red The object Of this arrangement seems to be
to obtain as much light possible in the workshops,
since most of the departments Of matchmaking
quire good light. Some Of the rooms in the facto
ry are small, containing only three or four men:
while others contain great many workmen, according
to the requirements ofthe several processes of the
manufacture. From the upper rooms Of the factory
the surrounding billy districts of Worcestershire
seen over wide extent, wholly uninterrupted by any
indications of manufacture town hustle; and it is
while glancing this prospect that one wonders
how on earth needle making came to specke such
scene.
oF Tho far x,;tL