The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-09
BY HELEN LINDSAY

BY HELEN LINDSAY
1.-THE music goes round and
around" according to the woroo T.
the current song hit, and so do the
capsule sorting machines at the Eli
Lilly pharmaceutical plant.
Efficiency in the department has
increased noticeably in the last few
years since the more than 20 girls
in the department have been re-
lieved from the monotony of their
task by radio music, Bruce Childs,
capsule plant superintendent, said
today
Providing diversion for workers
in monotonous employment is not
original with the Lilly company, Mr..
Childs says. 1t was suggested by
the practice of having readers" in
cigar factories in Cuba, where news
papers, magazines and books are
read to workers as they roll tobacco
into cigars.
Situation Different
There is a difference, however,"
Mr.. Childs says. 1.-THE workers in
the Cuban cigar factories generally
can not read themselves, thus the
readers acquaint them with daily
news events and educate them.
Here, our idea is to provide
workers with a diversion which will
keep their senses from becoming so
deadened by monotony that they
will allow defective capsules to es-
cape detection.
Thousands of capsules pass be-
fore each workers eyes daily. They
pass from bin at the top of the
machine over a belt, constantly
moving, and into another bin be-
meath the machine.
Defective capsules are taken out,
and dropped into containers at each
side of the belt, from which they are
gathered, remelted and nodded into
capsules again."
Better Than Rest Periods
The radio was installed in the
department. three years ago, follow
ing a series of experiments to in
crease the workers efficiency. Sew
eral types of rest periods first were
tried out; at one, two and varying
hour intervals.
For a time, the girls were served
milk in mid morning and mid
afternoon: later, candy was served
at intervals, because it was recog-
nized as an energy food, and it was
believed that the sweets would
stimulate the workers to greater
activity.
None of the methods were as
successful, however, as the intro
duction of musical entertainment.
Few radios in Indianapolis are
used as continuously as the one in
the Lilly plant.
Girls Choose Program
The girls decide each day which of
the two indianapolis radio stations
is to be tuned in. Because of ma
chine interference in the plant, it
is impossible to get good reception
on any except local stations, and
usually selection of one of these de-
ponds on which is offering the best
reception for the day.
They are not only interested in
music, but in sports broadcasts,"
Miss Anna Pletzer, inspector of the
department for 20 years, said to-
day.
when the world series games
were broadcast, the girls listened as
enthusiastically as any baseball fan
in the city. They enjoy broadcasts
of football games, and now are an
ticipating basketball reports"
Eight different sizes of capsules
are manufactured in the local plant.
Their uses are many and varied.
Used to Hold Drugs
Some are to be used as containers
for drugs. The most recent medical
use of capsules is as containers for
vaccines, particularly for colds and
typhoid fever.
But these capsules which dance |
across the moving belts to the
rhythm of popular music have other
uses. Some are purchased by watch |
manufacturers, to be used as con-
tainers for minute screws which are
affected by moisture. Others are to |
be used as containers for cigar
lighter f1ints.
Several years ago New York
musical production sought means of |