The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-04-04
6RicKLAYlNe AND SCIENTIFIC
MANAGEMENT.

Continuing mis- series of articles on
Scientific Management in the April
American magazine, Mr.. TAYLOR re
lates how the average days work of a
Dricklayer vas increased from 150
bricks TO ESQ bricks. The science was
applied TO the trade by F. S. Gilhreth.
who had been a journeyman bricklayer
and who had been taught nothing
more than had been known to brick
layers for 1000 years. there being alb
solutely no progress in the trade in
that time. After studying the motions
OF a bricklayer and deciding which
motions were sHperfous and the time
lost in going through them. Mr. Gil
breth set about 10 do away with the
necessity for them. He devised an
adjustable scaffold upon which the
bricks were placed at the same level
with the wall 1t was a scaffold on
which the man stood in one place,
while little table was placed along
side him on which the bricks and
mortar rested. It was so very simple
an invention that one wonders why il
was not thought of 1000 years ago.
The bricks were placed on this sup
Elementary platform al just the right
height, so that the bricklayer merely
turned round, picked up brick with
{ rotary motion OF the body and put
il on the vail.
Mr.. GiIbreth next found that every
brickiayer. as he raised the brick ~,
threw IL over in his hands at least
once. sometimes twice, sometimes
three times. This was done for the
purpose OF examining the brick 50
that no Clipped or imperfect brick
the wall where II would show Mf
Gilbreth asked Is this act of throw
ing up the brick for examination alb
solutely essential. or is il WHOLLY
wastefnl2 After a great deal 3f
thought ne devised the following plan
for doing away with all OF these mo-
tons As the bricks were unloaded
from the car or from the team. a Ia
norer Has stationed at suitable
bench. where the bricks were exam
ined BY him, and placed right side IN.
with the proper edge and the proper
end on q wooden frame about three
feet long. called packet. This frame
held about ninety pounds of bricks.
and was so constructed that the brick
layers hand went right info it and
seized the brick without having to dis
engage il from tangle on the floor.
He took brick out in the exact po-
sition in which ii was to be laid in
the walI. without any throwing.
Mr.. Giibreth next found that the
bricglav4r worked with one hand only
Al time. Why? Because the brick
pile being on the floor and the mortar
board some distance from it, they
we're too far apart for the man 70
take z dip Of the mortar and pick mp
brick al the came time. II took two
motions. b building the scaffold b.
The method described, and by placing
the tricks and tire mortar close To
getner. using q deep mortar box in.
stead OF mortar board. brick-pile
and mortar box were brought within
the range Of the bricklayer's eyes AT
rho same time. 50 that he picked up
brick With the Jeff hand. took dip
~ mortar with the right hand and a
single movement and then turned
around, spread lne ma 80
the brick In the wall.
All bricklayers, after they get
brick. tap IL doyn in order 70 ger tne
loirt the right thickness, From hls
experience in his youth, Mr. GilDretn
knew that If the mortar was properly
tempered II vas possible 10 place the
brick az the right height with pres-
zure Of the hand The mortar vas
therefore carefully tempered. so that
the Drickiayer could readily bed the
brlck rith pressure from the hand and
,fsuz saye The time taken in tappins.
Through this minute study Of the
n1otIons 20 be made by the. brickiayer
IN laying bricks under all standard
conditions. dr. GilDreth has reducef
nls movements from eighteen to
sYirk To aye. and even in one case 70
az los az tso motions per brick