Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-07
POLISHING FURNITURE
PARTS OF WORK REQUIRING PA
THENCE WOMEN ARE HIRED TO DO
Processes Known to the Trade-tllhng
the Wood-Making the
Surface Shine.

From the New York Tribune
The furniture polishing trade in New
York city is one which is little heard o.
but it is an important one, and much OF
the work is done by women. They are
EMPLOYED chiefly by the small man. MO
works for some retail store or for the trade
and employs anywhere from three 10 TWEEN
tv people the men polishing the large LUZ
niture in one department, ana the Woiheh
the small in another
A good piece of furniture passes through
several processes before it is ready 10 take
the polish. 1t is sandpapered ana tiien
stained. Then the process known IN the
trade as "bodyng in takes place that
is the wood is rubbed with a mixture OF
MASTER of paris and linseed OIL, SINCE
neither planning nor sandpaperins sloes 10, q
sufficiently smooth surface to receive me
hest noliSh The mixture is ruDbed III
vigorously, and fills up every uneVehliess
In the surface If the furniture is lmlta-
ton Sheraton, the operation called stop
mig must also be performed before the
staining takes place. That is to say lile
little beading of self-colored WOOD must ne
protected from the stain rms Is Gone ny
giving a coat of varniSh TO the euse III
question and is delicate process.
The Polishing Mixture.
The polishing mixture is applied with
mad made of cotton wool, covered with
cloth, and the work at this stage Is chleAS
a matter of much rubbing and elbow grease
Often piece of furniture is put away aftef
its first polish, and day or two later taken
out again to go through the process sec
ond time. Finally it is well rubbed win a a
pad dipped in methylated splri's ~ 'aAe o'-
the excess of oil.
The work is purely manual IN ITS cheaper
branches, and in the polishing of cheap SIDE
boards, wardrobes, oVernahtels ana .ne
like very little skill and nicely are re-
ouired 1t is merely matter of staining
the required shade and rubbing untll the
surface acquires a certain amount u
'shine." In the better class OF WORK, now
ever polishing may almost be considered
an art as a great deal of training and IN
telligence is required to get the right shade
of stain and the right surface before begin
ming to polish. Different sorts OF wood re-
o,lire different treatment, and this can only
be learned by experience and the exercise
of intelligent observation.
The length of time spent in learning the
trade varies accordingly Any time be-
tween six months and three years is the
duration of training, and the worker who,
undertakes to polish all kinds of furniture
in all sorts of styles will never finish learn
ing.
Pay of Apprentices.
Apprentices to the trade are taken on at
the ages of from fourteen to fifteen years,
and are paid a weekly wage of from $50
to So for the first six months. This is
raised as the beginners improve, but they
are usually regarded as learners for two or
three years, and earn during the last part
of that time from s. to $12 a week.
All the women employed in the trade
" hether it be in the large factory itself or
the small. workshop, are assigned to the
lighter branches of the work: that is. the
polishing of looking glass frames. chairs,
overmantels and the like. The women,