I get a big chuckle out of those congressional hearings when I read them. They are talking 11 cents USD. Not sure the exchange rate back then. They also fail to mention the high number of women and children working in their own factories in the USA. None of whom were being paid the rate of a male worker.
In Belgium the children were mostly apprentices. They were the children of guild members.
Steve,
I understand what you are saying. At least by 1924 they had 2 sets of barrel makers at the forge. From the stills I have, there are multiple tubes standing against the wall. However, I am willing to acknowledge the high likelyhood that was the photographer dressing up the scene.
E Heuse-Lemoine in "Manufacture of Damascus Gun Barrels" 1890 claimed that some barrels had to under go 300 heatings, that would be for a single tube. He also states that only master barrel makers ran the forge.
Pete
