The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-18
rates Of wages given to cabinet makers upholserers
oaryers and chair Makers

In cabinet making, chair making, anu eA'Is'
there is the same classification OF work tnat we nave
noticed elsewhere and which is created Dy the az
ference in the skill of the worKmen. IL Is almost
Needless 70 state that those belonging to the third or
inferior class are most numerous. The DIVISION Oh
labor in this business is also considered more profit
able to the employer it las proved in almost every
other trade or occupation Men employed at one de-
partment of work can d. more than when their al
tenton is divided beTeen two or three; besides,
eyery cabinet maker not thoroughly skilled IN all
the branches of his fade This division is therefore
also a matter If necessity but in uphol-
starinp we bsjve the difference is not so
,reat az in otpr branches of the trade. There
e more unitohity in the wages of upholsterers
,ban in tbose,ngaged in chair or cabinet making.
CHAIR lAKERs AND CHAIR MAKING.
This bach of cabinet making employs about
three hu red m en-, and is divided like other work,
into TIN. distinct classes, first second and third
rate. ne last named consists of the cheapest de-
scrusn of chairs. large quantity of which are
main the prisons, at Auburn, Sing Sing, and the
Coeeticut State prisons. The labor is paid at the
n. of one shilling per day for each convict,
yile the real value of the work is estimated
six shillings. This enables the manufacturer to
and consequently has the effect of deprecatng the
labor of the honest tradesnen. In 1885, the employ
ment of convicts on this and other kinds of work,
was strongly opposed by the Trades Union, society
which existed at that time, but the opposition did
not result in any permanent benefit. portion Of
the chairs made at Auburn are mahogany, but
those manufactured at the other prisons of an in
ferior description. Some of the work is done by
machinery such as the planning, the saving, and the
morticing, which make great difference in the
price of the article when compared with what was
formerly paid for it. Those employed in making
mahogany chairs are called cabinet makers, although
they are engaged almost exclusively in that kind of
work. The rush and cane seat chair making is not
so extensively pursued in New York as it was for
merly, an immense amount OF work being done in
many of the villages in different parts of this State
and Connecticut The weaving of the seats of these
chairs is separate branch, and some men can make
more at it than at the frame work. The average
wages is seven dollars week, but quick and expert
hands earn ten and twelve dollars. As general
thing, they prefer employment in seating to any
other branch Of chair making. There is a particular
class Of cane seat chairs manufactured in this city,
which sell at five, six, seven and eight dollars
each. They are made of the best description
of American oak, which grows on the sea shore
of New Jersey, and which is considered equal,
not superior to that of England. The wood is very
valuable on account its scarcity but in strength and
durability is not surpassed by any other used in chair
making. Mahogany chairs can be had considerably
cheaper, and there are a larger number of them
made. They range from SO to So each, and some we
believe sell for higher price. The cheapest kinds of
chairs are those made of common pine. Such can he
bought at any price from three to six shillings
piece, and an enormous quantity are made daily both
inside and outside of New York. With the exception
of the joining, painting and some Of the lighter work
they are all made by machinery, They are painted to
represent mahogany, and sometimes the artist gives
a few ornamental fourishes to the back, to make
them more attractive to the eyes of the poor whose
means will not permit them to buy mahogany. They,
however, answer their purposes just as well the
only difference being in the appearance they present
THE CARvERs.
The number of carvers in New York is estimated
at three hundred. They paid better prices than
those employed at any other branch of cabinet max
ing but their work requires more skill and artistic
taste. We have seen some specimens of carving in
rosewood, which, for chasteness, beauty of design
and finish it would be difficult to match. The Wen
nese, London and Partisan carvers have very high
reputation in the trade, and find employment in
the best manufactures in the city. They are more
numerous than our own countrymen, but we believe
the difference in the quality of their work is very
slight The average wages Of carvers are fourteen
dollars week; and there are few-about one in
every ffteer--whose weekly earnings amount to
twenty and twenty five dollars. They are however
subject to the changes of fashion, which at time
threw large number of them out of employment,
while those who could obtain work were satisfied to
make even eight and ten dollars week where they
could before earn fifteen and sixteen Carved fur
niture was not much in vogue eight or ten years
ago compared with the great demand there is for it
at present. Many improvements have been made in
1t within the last three four years and specimens
of the best workmanship are procured from Paris,
Vienna and other European cities. The principal
kinds of wood used in carving are mahogany rose
wood oak and walnut, and of these there is more
mahogany carved than of any other.
UPHoLsTERERs AND UPHoLsTERTNG.
The upholsterng business gives employment to
about four hundred men, and the average rate OF
wages is ten dollars a week. There two classes Of
upholsterers-those who are engaged in paper hang
ing, and those employed in seating chairs, sofas and
hanging drapery. We do not, OF course, include IN
our estimate Of the number the former class, whose
business we believe has no connection whatever with
any branch Of cabinet making. Upholstering, next
10 carving is considered more remuneratve than any
other department of the trade, and good workman
Can earn fifteen and eighteen dollars week Some
devote their attention almost exclusively to the ma
nufacture of mattresses, which we believe pays, at
what is called in the business, :" very fair rate.
Uphosterers, too, have been injured by emigration
and competition, the reduction within twenty years
amounting to little more than twenty per cent.
TRICKS OF EMPLOYERS.
We believe there is no trade or occupation in
New York in which some frauds or petty tricks are
not practised upon the workmen by their employers.
If there is, the cabinet makers are certainly not
among those who are exempt, and we would not be