318949.1186 Blurry image of two hands taking metal objects that almost look like show horns off of a wooden storage rack. What this is is a close-up of part of the 'Gilbreth Packet' used to hold machine pieces in order of assembly; the image documents ...
odd: label: General note
content: Category: assembly study
label: General note
content: Collection: NMAH
label: General note
content: Copy negative: 99-30276
label: General note
content: Gilbreth image: B4
label: General note
content: Job name: New England Butt Company
label: General note
content: Job number: 610
label: General note
content: Related captions: general information about the series: "142, 157, 1042 show three different types of braiders made at the New England Butt Company of Providence, R.I. Braiders similar to these are used for such work as making braid for ladies' dresses, show strings, window cord, clothes lines, braided straw for hats, insulated and other coverings for wires, etc. It was on these vraiders that we developed our micro-motion process of determining methods of least waste. In spite of the fact that the method of least waste never lies in the consecutive acts of any one person with our micro-motion process we are able to select the motions of leastwaste and synthesize them into a standard cycle to be followed as nearly as the peculiarities of the individual will permit." (NF 1/0019 vol. III, GPP).regarding the packet:

"610-1056. Assembling upper works of a braiding machine. The component parts and sub groups of the upper works are arranged in an obvious sequence on a vertical packet. The carriers which hold the bobbins are arranged on a gravity packet so that they will slide down hill automatically as fast as the lower carrier is removed by the assembler." (Motion Study folder, from Morley/NMAH, f. 888-1.)

1219. shows the arrangement of parts for assembling base group of a 13-strand braider of the New England Butt Co. This shows a Gilbreth bench and a Gilbreth packet, with the parts for assembly arranged in the standard method, and determined by their sequence, and with the greatest speed and facility in picking up. (Descriptions of photographs sent to Mr. A Russell Bond, Scientific American, (Morley/NMAH 816-181)).

"1219 shows the Gilbreth table used in connection with the Gilbreth packet, the universal packet for assembling. It is made of pieces of wood approximately two inches by seven-eighths of an inch, arranged vertically and horizontally with holes for removable pins located at each intersection of the vertical and horizontal strips. There are also various kinds of clamps and tables that can be attached to this packet with one motion of the hand. The loading of the packet is done by a supply boy who can fill up or load a complete packet with our standard truck and other devices in less than a minute, and saves much more that time of the high-priced assembler. The parts are arranged in the sequence of picking up in order to eliminate the time, effort and fatigue of making a decision as to which piece should be selected." (NF1/0019 vol. III, GPP). 

1239 shows the rigging of a typical Gilbreth packet, as used for the assembly of braiders and cord machines at the New England Butt Co. This picture shows the supporting devices. The length of the supporting device is determined by what is to be held upon them. They are standardized and are but few in number. They are specially designed, and are arranged for picking up parts with both hands, simultaneously, and in an obvious sequence. Much time is wasted every day by all of us in making useless decisions every time a motion is made. Here we have endeavored to standardize certain practical ones for all, and the parts are so arranged in an obvious sequence on this packet, such, for example, as beginning at the lower left hand corner and running horizontally on the lower board, picking up each piece in its turn, if with one hand, or in pairs with both hands. For example, some of the rods will be seen as being suitable for holding eight, one-half inch, hexagonal nuts. These can then be picked up eight at a time with each hand, and right side up for ambidextrous work. (Descriptions of photographs sent to Mr. A Russell Bond, Scientific American 816-181, Morley/NMAH).

1282 [Shows assembly frame for causing habits of motion. L-189 Braider parts on packet.] shows arrangement of parts in an obvious sequence for assembling the base group of a braiding machine. These cross-sectioned boards or packets were developed as a result of our micro-motion study measurements, and we found that the time and cost of having a boy arrange these parts in the same standard places on the cross-sectioned packet was very small compared with the gain to the assembler in having the parts exactly where needed for the shortest and quickest reaching and with no mental hesitation as to which part was to be picked up. This method is extremely profitable where new worker are used for the reason that they do not have to remember the sequence of pieces at all. A boy would arrange parts that will fill a packet in less than a minute. The laboratory methods here shown resulted in increasing the output of the worker nearly three and one half times. (Dave Ferguson, via GPP).

"610-267. This shows a typical "Gilbeth" packet, as used for the assembly of braiders and cord machines at the New England Butt Company. This picture shows only the supporting devices. The length of the supporting device is determined by what is to be held upon them. They are standardized and are but few in number. They are specially designed and arranged for picking up parts with both hands, simultaneously in an obvious sequence. In other words, we have all heard of the jackass who starved to death before he could decide which of the two bales of hay to eat first. And so it is with all of us in our daily pursuits and vocations. While we do not have to wait quite as long to decide as did the jackass, nevertheless, much time is wasted every day by all of us in making useless decisions every time a motion is made. Here we have endeavored to standardize certain practical ones for all, and the parts are arranged in an obvious sequence on this packet; such, for example, as beginning at the lower left hand corner and running horizintally on the lower board, picking up each piece in its turn, if with one hand; or, in pairs with both hands. For example, some of the rods will be seen as being suitable for holding eight, one half inch, hexagonal nuts. These can then be picked up eight at a time with each hand, and right side up for ambidextrous work." (NF 1/0019 vol. III, typescript MG 6/7/16, description of pictures sent to Mr. Engel, GPP, pg. 1).

610-G331 [Showing arrangement of packet for assembly of braiding machine, Base Group. U-106] Typical assembly packet. This method was evolved in 1912 by means of motion study films and has been in successful operation every since permitting the workers to do over three times as much work in a day and with less fatigue.Studies of an assembly packet for arranging the parts of a braider in an obvious sequence, as a result of this investigation a man enabled to assemble 66 braiders where before he assembled 18, with no added fatigue. (courtesy of Dave Ferguson, via GPP),
label: General note
content: Location of subject: Prividence RI
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Perkins, James Secor
label: Collection Creator
content: Gilbreth, Frank Bunker, 1868-1924
label: Collection Creator
content: Gilbreth, Lillian Moller, 1878-1972
setName: label: See more items in
content: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Collection
label: See more items in
content: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Collection / Series 2: Glass Stereo Slides (Positive) / 318949.1158 to 318949.1238
unitdate: label: Date
content: 29-Jan-16
container: label: Container
content: Box 8
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Negatives