The number of hands employed in large cabinet-making and furnishing
establishments is very considerable. Not only are the workshops well
provided with joiners, cabinet makers, and turners, but also with
upholsterers, cutters-out and workwomen, stuffing, tacking on or
sewing on the covers of chairs, sofas, &c. Indeed, it is no uncommon
occurrence for the entire furniture of royal palaces and yachts to be
ordered from one of these firms by the courts of foreign potentates in
every corner of the world. Chairs, tables, sideboards, &c., were made
lately at Messrs. Holland's for a steam yacht of the Emperor of
Austria; while Messrs. Jackson and Graham have been furnishing the
palace of the Khedive at Grand Cairo.
To execute, with certainty and promptitude, orders such as these, both
premises, plant (such as wood and machinery), and the command of
first-rate hands, must be abundant. Painters, gilders, carpenters,
paperers, and a miscellaneous assistant staff are required to pioneer
the way for the more costly work, or to make all good behind it. The
firm of Jackson and Graham, for instance, employs from 600 to 1000
hands, according to the time of the year or the pressure of orders;
and pays out close upon 2000_l._ per week as wages, when all these
hands are in full work; and to highly skilled craftsmen (independently
of designers), occupied on the production of the most costly kind of
furniture, 60_l._ to 230_l._ per week. The Howards employ from 150 to
200 hands on cabinet making and joinery alone. It is the variety and
comprehensiveness of these operations, that is so profitable as a
speculation. Such a business requires, it need hardly be said, a large
capital, and must be liable to fluctuations.