Milford chronicle., 1907-07-12
AN UNSTocKED TRADE.
ons Business Which Has to Hunt For
Good Workmen.

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Good Workmen.
There is one class of wOrkmen who
in New York at least, do not have to
look for employment but are eagerly
sought for by employers. They are
the skilled carriage painters and var
nishers, the latter particularly, says
the New York Press. The enormous
growth Of the automobile business ere
ated a demand that is nowhere nearly
met. There are establishments in the
! city that constantly are on the watch
/ for good men, and while they are wait
ing for them they run the painting
department Of their business at a big
loss. Other firms are more fortunate,
for they possess the right men or the
right man, but at the very best there
is an element of gambling in all fine
vehicle painting.
The work requires a special knack,
special training and care that never
for moment relaXes. A house paint
er, fresco painter or even a piano var
nisher Is apt TO be a bungler at the
work. A single mistake or a slight ac-
cident may necessitate the whole
tedious process being gone through
again. When vanishing is done the
room is locked against all intruders,
the cracks of the windows and doors
are stuffed with rags and paper. the
floors. lower part of the walls and the
window sils are sprinkled with water,
and the place is vigilantly searched
lest fly or other insect may be there
II a speck of dust settles while the
varnish is being flowed on It will make
an ugly lump that stands out glaring-
ly in contrast to the rest Of the smooth
surface. A fly lighting on the fresh |
varnish will cause an upheaval rela- I.
lively as great as a sun spot. And /
sudden changes Of temperature may 4
cause unequal drying, and a crack will |
result. In any Of these cases there is |
no possibility of patching and covering
over the defect. The coating has to be /
burned off down to the lead and the
work done over again. An inexpert
man in the paint shop can in couple
)f days wipe out the profits of the
'eSt of the establishment, and, unfOr-
expert men are harder to get
Is the relative number of vehicles in
,reases.
Even when a job leaves the place in
| good condition the difficulties of the
PAINTER are not ended. A carriage may
le caught in a shower, and the mOis-
ure may dry on it. That will cause
potting and streaking. The carriage
nay be housed in an unventilated +.
table. and the fumes will affect the
'um copal or the resin or other gum
n the varnish and cause it to turn
elbow. Then the owner comes back
t the painter. and it takes tact and 4
ersuasive power to convince the own
r that he has been in any way at
ault.
Another minor difficulty occurs in
he matter of brushes. A good set Of
our varnish brushes, genuine badger
air. of from one TO three inches, can
e bought for So or Sc. But the buying
the brushes only begins the opera
on They must be tested, worked
1T and seasoned before they can be
'ed on fine work Not long ago a
lrriage painter sold his set Of four
FINISHING brushes. which he had used
for fifteen years, for $500.
I'd the varnisher who got them con- =
lered that he had a bargain. The
ushes were perfect in every respect
ID could be depended upon in any
b, no matter how difficult.