Huntsville gazette., 1888-09-22
THE "eAcK SHOP"
4 Chicago Institution In Which Every 8an
Is His Own Tailor.

On of the queerest institutions iAthe
tailoring trade in Chicago is the ''back
shop" about which one begins to hear
almost as soon as one makes any in
quiries into Chicago tailoring. "Most
of the work is done either at home or
in a back shop" is the customary
statement. What is a back shop?"
demands the investigator, whereupon
he is usually told that it is an institu-
tion that must be seen to be appreciat.
ed, and he goes to work and sees it and
appreciates it.
The 'back shop is place where
for dollar or two a week tailor may
rent a seat upon broad table, with
the privilege of using irons of the
common stove. 1t is large shop
where every body is his own shop
keeper. One of the largest OF these
''back shops" is on the northeast cor
ner of Fifth avenue and Madison
street, on the top floor. A reporter
climbed up beyond the sundry stories
until he reached the top, where he
found himself in long, well-lighted,
but rather low-ceiled room, which
stretched the full length and breadth
of the building. Close to the windows
all about the room was a collection of
broad tables upon which a number OF
men We're squatting after the bone
breaking manner in which tailors rest
themselves and work. A few women
were grouped together in one corner
OF the apartment, and in the middle
two stoves, heated like the fiery fur
mace in the old testament, were keep
ing the irons of the establishment
warm. There was little talking but a
great deal of work, and as soon as the
reporter had found Mr.. Braybrook,
the proprietor of the enterprise, no.
body paid any attention to him save
the person with whom he was talking.
"Yes," Mr.. Braybrook said, ''this is
what is called back shop, where
tailors are provided with place to do
their work and hot irons are furnished
for a fixed charge per week. You see,
in most of the tailor stores about town
there is no place for the men, and so
they come to places like this. There
are quite a number in Chicago. l
simply rent man his seat and see
that he has all the irons he wants and
that ends my duties in the premises. /"
What do you charge them?"
ssOna In11op a uoaly fun ,,,a,,
who are partners work together-$1. so
for the two. Seamstresses we make
room for at rs cents apiece"
"And how many men usually take
advantage of the schemep"
''It depends on the season and the
amount Of work. There are usually
about forty or fifty here"
"Of course, you have nothing to do
with the time they work?"
''Oh no, certainly not. They rent
their seats, and that is the end Of it as
far as am concerned"
How about shop discipline? Have
you any rules which your renters must
observer"
mo. If man makes himself disa-
greeable to the other workmen, Of
course get rid of him as soon as I
can and will not let him back into the
shop-but that seldom happens. You
see, tailOrs, as rule, are very decent
men, and they know how to take care
of themselves and do their work. Un-
der any circumstances it would be none
OF my business. AS long as nobody
does any thing to interfere with the
others | have nothing to say"
What is the reason, Mr.. Bray
brock" said the reporter finally, as he
cast a glance about the room, ''that
the tailors sit on the tables and curl
themselves up like that man yonder, :"
and workman in an acutely uncom-
Portable position was pointed out, ''in-
stead of sitting on chairs?'
Because it is the most comfortable
position for the work. A tailor gets
supple-jointed after a time, and he can
do the most extraordinary things with
his legs. These positions don't look
restful to you, but they are.n
What do these tailors make?"
That depends. Some of them can
sit down and make $25 a week; others
run less. They can average $15 a week
without working too hard"
"Do they have to make deposit
when they take goods away from the
shop?"
"No. The stuff is given to them all
cut and prepared, and no tailor is
asked for deposit. 1t is not needed.
/ never heard of but one case in Chi
cago where man made off with the
cloth and material given him to make
Chicago Neaos.
A Desperate Individual.