Colour Schemes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 235, 5 October 1936, Page 12

Colour Schemes

VALUE IN FACTORIES Special colour schemes are being used ,n England now to bring about greater efficiency in factories, with different combinations of shades and tones for each particular type of worker. In Birmingham in the YVolseley automobile factory it has been definitely proven that the surrounding colours have a great effect on the ■worker—that they can either detract from the quantity or quality of his work or increase it measurably. According to W. H. Thomas, the director and general, manager of the firm, manual worker achieve most when the bottom half of the walls are a restful green and the top half white. Mental workers, on the other hand, are at their best when the lower part of the walls are dark brown and the top a light stone colour. “Since the new colour schemes were introduced, ” said Mr. Thomas recently, “we have noticed greater attention to detail by the 5600 people at the factory. ‘‘Men are taking more care about their dress, too. Those who formerly wore only mufflers about their necks now arrive with collars and ties.” The Rev. Robert Hyde, director of the Industrial Welfare Society, has also gone into the problem deeply with regard to its effect on the working man. “At one time psychological colour schemes were considered a stunt or a fad/ ihe remarked. ‘‘That idea is going fast. Bright paint work, especially cream-, orange, yellow and gold, is a boon to health and efficiency.”