New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-05
POLISHING FURNITURE.
Parts of Work Requiring Patience Women
are Hired to Do


The furniture polishing trade in New-York City
is one which is little heard of. but it is an i'm
portant one. and much Of the work is done by
women They employed chiefly by the small
man, who works for retail store or for the
trade and employees anywhere from three to twenty
people. the polishing the large furniture in
one department. and the the small IN an
other.
a good piece Of furniture passes through several
processes before it Is ready the polish. It
is sandpapered and then stained. Then the
process known in the trade as 'bodying In" takes
place that is. the wood is rubbed with a mixture
OF plaster OF paris and nnseed oil. since neither
planning sandpaperng gives a sufficiently
smooth surface 10 receive the best polish The
mixture is rubbed in vigorously fills up every
uneveness in the surface II the furniture is
imitation Sheraton. the operation called stopping
must also bs performed before the staining takes
place That Is to say. the little beading OF self
colored wood must be protected from the stain
This is done by giving coat Of varnish TO the
edge II question, and is delicate process.
The polishing mixture Is applied with pad
made OF cotton wool. covered with a cloth. and
the work this stage is chiefly a matter Of much
rubbing and elbow grease. Otter piece Of fur
niture is put away after its first polish and a day
process a second time. Finally ii is well rubbed
with pad dipped In methylated spirits to take OF
The work is purely manual in its cheaper
branches and ia the polishing Of cheap sideboards.
wardrobes. oveTmanteis and the like, very little
skill and nicely are required. 1t is merely a mat
OF staining the requisite shave ana rubbing
until the surface acquires 2 certain amount Of
shine In the better class OF work, however.
polishing may almost be considered art,
deal OF training and intelligence IS required TO
set the right shade OF stain and the right surface
before beginning 10 polish. Different sorts OF
wood require different treatment. and tits only
be learned by experience and the exercise of in
teligent observation.
The length Of time spent IN learning the trade
varies accordingly. Any time between six months
and three years Is the duration OF training, ana
TIE worker who undertakes to polish all kinds Of
furniture in all sorts % styles viii never finish
learning.
Apprentices to the trade are taken on the
ages Of from fourteen 70 fifteen years. and paid
a weekly wage OF from & 80 50 for the first six
months. This is raised as the beginners improve
but they are usually regarded as learners for TWO
three years, and earn during the last part OF
that time from - 10 So a week.
All the employed in the trade whether IL
be IN the large factory itself the small work
work: that is the polishing Of looking glass frames
chairs. oVermanteis and the like. The women. en-
uloyers say are more conscientious and thorough
in their work than men. In one workshop, EneTS
women are employed. they do most OF the noailhs
work by which Is meant carved backs OF CtldIA >
..IDo Won SUPPOSE" said their employer, mat q
man would bother TO polish in these CRACKS anu
boles2 Not muchi That would be TOO nuCh iOu-
ne Now women not that way Iney take as
much pains in polishing the furniture As II ~ We
reason that We prefer women on oehcate ahd orhA-
r5e work OF the polisher is not detrimental to
h.al+h Some say that the metfythteu spirit Is
wholesome; certainly IL IS not nhp s ai ~ tIlo
smell ~ stain is not sufficiently strong 70 pc m
5syfo,ss II is true that the constahI rlohng IS
6ard but the muscles soon gro" hCCustOIned 70 the
continual movement