The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-28
WIG MAKERS AND WIG MAKING.

WHERE DOES ALL THE HAIR COME FROM!
The wig makers Of New York are less numerous
than those employed at any other branch of the hair
business. The number does not exceed 240, and Of
these about 200 are women, some of whom are more
skilful in the business than the 1t is kind of
work that requires neatness and the most assduous
application, but then it has one great advantage-it
is more remunerative than the majority of occupa-
tons in which females are employed. We do not
say this heedlessly, for we know how cruel it is to
raise false hopes; but it is fact, that good work
woman can, by eight or ten hours labor every day,
earn five and six dollars week. and we have heard OF
one woman who could make eight dollars. AS we
said it requires untring application and neatness,
and only those who think they are fully qualified
should engage in it. We may state here that we
know Of prominent wig maker in this city who is
willing to employ several women, on condition that
they shall serve month six weeks with him in learn
ing the business and says after three months prac-
tice they can make four and five dollars week. Of
a large number in his employment there is not one
whose weekly wages is less than three dollars and
half, while there are several who can earn five and
six dollars. They are allowed to do their work at
home, and are paid punctuaIy when it is DONE
Compared with the shirt sewers their condition Is GER
tainly most envable one and for the sake of those
poor creatures who compelled to exc out miser-
able existence with needle and thread we wish tnRt
every monied man in the city was baldheaded
But hairless heads are not so numerous as we would
desire for their sake and there is very little prospect
of poll tax such as we would like, being established
At present the number of wigs made in New York
annually is about $4,000, and their total value
is estimated at quarter Of million Of dollars. This
top dale thn IF oh
wig, but they vary in price from six to thirty and
forty.
The number Of shops in which wigs are made and
sold is eighteen; of these, however. more than one
half employ others to make them at certain per
centage. Many who are called wig makers know
little or nothing Of the artistic scientific part Of
the business for we are persuaded that there is con-
siderable science and art required in the making of
wig. OF the forty female wig makers not more than
half dozen at the utmost can mount wig;" that
is, they cannot fit it the block take the required
dimensions Of the head or divide the net work into
the proper sized sections to make it fit it. The
only part OF wig making with which they are thor
oughly acquainted is the working Of the hair into
the net work. which is particularly tedious process
and straning upon the eyes. Yet il is preferable to
needle work, and the labor, we think, is not SO
severe.
The number of men employed in wig making is
about twenty, and their weekly earnings vary from
six to twelve dollars, that find in this as well
as in other departments Of labor - which men and
women are employed, the work of the latter
ia less literally rewarded than that of the for
mer. They are paid by the piece, and not by the
week. Where it be followed this is the best plan,
ncites to greater exertion and the Development
Of mechanical skill and ingenuity. On this &C.
count it is superior to the system Of employing by
the week on settled wages. The number of wigs
which an ordinary wig maker can turn out in the
year. depends upon the quality and style Of the arti
cle it takes week to make thirty dollar wig three
days to make worth fifteen, but six dollar wig
can be made in one day.
Wig making in this city has undergone great i'm
provements within the last thirty years. and may be
considered now to have reached the very acme Of
perfection II is generally considered the highest
department of the hair dressing business. It has
but little affinity, however, with shaving, for a
real, genuine, outand-out wig maker never uses
razor, except it may be upon his own face. Indeed,
they rather think they are degree above the
barber, and coniine themselves almost exclusively
to the cutting and dressing Of hair, and sup
plying the bald portion Of the community
with wigs. At the time of which we speak
New York was in state of woful ignor ance regard
ing the advances which had been made in this very
important particular. Our wigs were literally be-
hind the age, and it was impossible to find one that
would exactly fit the head Of any. We have seen
some Of these specimens of the antique and could not
help plying the poor, hairless wretches who were
| forced to wear them in lieu of better. Fortunately
for this afflicted portion Of the community Mr.. Clire-
hugh prominent peruquier, in his Investigations
happened to get possession Of French wig which
he found on examination was made in very differ
ent style from the kind then generally worn. The
hair was fastened into the net work ITSELF and in this
respect differed from the New York wigs, on which
the hair was sewed, having previously been worked
into piece Of silk plat about sixteenth of an inch
in width As may be supposed, our wigs were much
heavier than those made in France; besides, we did
not understand the proper method, Of fitting them
and consequently those we made were rather
clumsy in shape, and could not be got to
| sit right upon the head. That which the renowned
John Gilpin wore on the day Of his eventful race
from London to Ware, must have been of the same
description, or it would certainly have kept better
companonship with his head than with his hat, than
to have left the former in such an unprotected CON
diton IL required considerable trouble and labor To
find out the manner in which the French wig was
made, but after five or six months close study 1t was
at last discovered and in the of few months
after, the important secret was intrusted to few
women and men. For four or five years, Mr.. Clre
hugh was the only pymq,ier who understood the
art Of making the French wig; but one Of his hands
leaving him, commenced business on his own account
and impaired the secret to others. Now we can
compete with either Paris or London in this par
ticular As these wigs are much dearer the old
style has not been abandoned It has, however, been
considerably improved, and is not much inferior to
the French, which are called ventilators. They are
sent to every part Of the United States, and some
have been exported even to the Sandwich Islands.
A large. number are bought by literary men,
whose heads become bader at an earlier period than
most mems but il is thing to find bald head