Some years back I published some images I had found of the Rudall Carte workshop in 1922. It suddenly occurred to me that a later image of the reknowned metal flute maker Albert Cooper shows him at what is probably the same bench as shown in one of the older images, so I’ve added Albert’s image to the series.
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/RC_Wshop1922.htm
Terry
With all of the natural light coming in on both sides of the room, it looks like a good space to do handwork. The treadle powered lathes look like wood lathes with only a tool rest, but I’m sure that they had to have what we would call machine lathes as well. I am always amazed when I see the messy workbenches of highly skilled craftsmen. The organization is in the worker’s head and hands, not necessarily visible on the workbench. Why is it that the artistic temperment goes with a degree of messiness? On the other hand, I have seen auto mechanics that kept their hand wrenches in perfect order, laying on a soft cloth on the workcart. I was always a little suspicious about them.
I suspect either #1 or #2 has been flipped. Both are oriented toward the open end of the stairwell, yet in each the sloping bank of windows are on opposite sides. From the other pics, it looks like the facing wall has vertical, not banked, glass.
Er, no. The camera is in the same position, just swung round, with a big overlap. From the beams I guess this is the top floor, in the roof. Window ledge is sloping in the earlier photos, level in the later one. #3 and #4 are a higher room with heavy ceiling joists suggesting a room above.
Fascinating. What’s that by the guys feet on the right in #3 ?
The wooden beams? I thing that’s a form of treadle (or treadle attachment) used for boring on the lathe. If you imagine trying to bore through the tailstock of a normal treadle lathe, you’ll see that you can’t be in front of the lathe treadling, while at the same time be down at the right hand end guiding and pushing the boring tool. He appears to be standing on his right leg (for stability in guiding and pushing the tool), while his left foot is up on the treadle extension.
Interesting to remember that by 1900 flute factories in France were running on steam. No such modern conveniences for Rudall Carte workers. The only steam involved was probably brewing a nice cup of Earl Grey…
Terry
Well, my granny wouldn’t give up her treadle sewing maching in favour of electric, said it was more controllable. And that what the folks who demonstrate wood turning on pole lathes at folk museums say (but maybe they would say that !).
How much of an instrument did each craftsman make ? I guess as apprentices they would learn the whole trade but was it like that in production ?
I wonder if with the advent of electric light they had built up the sloping window ledge to make a more useful shelf.
Thanks for posting this. Fascinating.
No Jim, It’s not fascinating…but it is interesting.