For the employe there is nothing better to possess than double
equipment, by which we mean the ability to do two things well.
From the employer's standpoint nothing will stand his business in such
good stead as to have his employes doubly equipped.
In the printing business, for instance, the old time printer knew how
to set type, lock up forms and to run a press.
Nowadays we seldom find a printer in the broad sense of the word.
In the big printing establishment we find the various branches of the
printing trade have employes who are specialists at one thing. In the
printing trade the craftsman is either a compositor a proof-reader, a
make-up man, a pressman or a binder.
The employe who can set type and also run a press is a decided
advantage to the employer. The writer knows a certain publishing house
whose every employe is doubly equipped. The rule of the proprietor is
that every job or branch of the business must have more than one person
competent to run it, and that every person must know how to do two
things.
Double equipment on the part of the employe gives the employer great
resources.
When sickness, accident or other causes prevent the employe from
filling his accustomed place, then the proprietor can call on others
who have the double equipment, to fill in the gap.
The employe who is following a particular line in the establishment
should acquaint himself with some other branch of the business or some
other trade, if he is a craftsman.
The employe who is doubly equipped is decidedly at an advantage over
the employe who knows but one thing.