Posted by Mark Robson on December 24, 2019, 2:46 pm
I was just re-cutting some and was wondering if there are any pictures of the factory set up. Wondered if there were cradles used or just how they did it any pictures of tools etc. I know that checkering was considered "ladies work" and they were paid by the piece. Thanks
Can't answer your questions Mark but will add the insight I have. Years ago I watched a poorly done video given to me by Rich Byer that featured a former employee who'd worked at Hunter as a checker. He started working there after WW2 and had zero experience beforehand. His job was checkering Field and Ideal Grade stocks which were batched in racks containing 25 stocks. He was paid by the piece and was expected to complete 3 racks a day. Obviously that's a lot of checkering; and as is also obvious, the emphasis was on quantity and not quality during the Marlin era as it was the lower grade guns that kept the doors open. Checkering on higher grade Smith guns was reserved for those more skilled veteran employees.