The Records of a Pin Manufactory, 1814-21

IN text-books and examination scripts the pin trade of a hundred or more years ago has been given a prominence which is far from justified by its true rank among economic activities. Babbage notwithstanding,' the manufacture of pins does not afford the ideal illustration of the division of labour; and one may echo Dr. Clapham's regret that Adam Smith did not go a few miles from Kirkaldy to the Carron Works to see them turning and boring their cannonades instead of to his silly pin factory.2 Nevertheless, the industry is not without interest to the student of industrial organisation, and it is mainly from his point of view that it will be considered in the following pages. The source consists of the records of the firm of Peter Stubs Limited, filesmiths and toolmakers of Warrington, generously deposited by Mr. F. Aylmer Frost in the Commerce Department of the University of Manchestel. The early history of the firm, which dates at least from I777, has been outlined elsewhere :8 the present article will confine itself to an account of a separate enterprise conducted by a later generation of the family. Early in i814 the sons of Peter Stubs, while retaining their interest in the parent firm, entered into partnership with Joseph Wood, who had long been employed as a rider, or traveller, in their father's business. Premises were obtained at an annual rent of ?35, and the following year others were rented at ?ioo. Between February and June the first of these were equipped for their purpose by Adam Parkinson, millwright, of Manchester, at a cost of ?332 I4s. 3d.; large payments were made to ironmongers for the supply of drawing blocks, spindles, whetstones, tubs, whitening pans, shears and other tools; and contracts were given to carpenters for benchies and stools. An abundant supply of child labour existed in Warrington, but adult workers had to be sought in other centres of the industry. Since its raw material was transportable without I Economy of Manufacture. Ch. XVIII. 2 Economic Journal, XXIII, 40I. 3 See The Domestic System in the Early Lancashire Tool Trade in the forthcoming special Economic History number of the Economic Journal.