JUDGING WORKMEN BY THEIR HANDS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10671, 21 January 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

JUDGING WORKMEN BY THEIR HANDS.

It is possible to itell a 7 good from a Eoor.-.w6rkmaii ;; shnply by observing his ands;"so we:.lire told with confidence by George who w rites- m "FactafyiV Mr Barrett assmes us that he is noXbelieyer itt ; >palmistry, neither does he claim-that a?mau with a "good hand" iwill possess-skill without training. He does assert, howc\ er, that the man. who hires men may judge something of the capabilities b> observing their hands, and he tells us that this conclusion is based, on tivenlj jeais' observation. Says Mr Ban ett "The expression, 'a good judge of human nature' is common. I need itot argue that there are many people who know.that a narrow, retreating chin indicates w-eakness of character, while a square, protruding chin indicates aggressiveness. -If tile is a key to these traits of character* wln should not the hands that execute the work for the brain; be equally indicative of mechanical ingenuity ? ... It seems entirely reasonable that the characteristics of the hands should be indicative of what the combination of brain and hands can accomplish. It is not only reasonable, but I have found in actual I practical tests that these characteristics, are my best guides in picking out me-'-chanics.

"When I say : 'in picking : ; out, mechanics' I hiehn in picking men with. • natural mechanical aptiude,, not.-ex-pecting a farmer to turn into, an expert machinist the moment he walks into a factory. But for the assembling department, where the, work is.such/that any intelligent; man can .do' it,', given time, patience, and preliminary instruction, 1 would rather have a ybung;in;an with the riglit.sort.of: hand and no experience than one with the wrong sort- ■•■ of hand and unlimited experience. It will be only a few days; until the right - sort, of hands will be turning out mors, , work than the wrong:sort r of. r hands: ; '; . The application of the '.theory: isf-vSrj;.--' simple. It may take some time "Mf. make it produce the best, results. Andy" remember, strongly as I believe, that'£■ man's hand holds a true appraisal o&: bis natural mechanical aptitude I dp* not believe that'natural aptitude takes" the place, of, all .training. Whether I v want a 'handy, iiriaii.' around, the ari'assembiy. man, a rpfess nian, or'atf : . all-round machinist before I look at the; applicant's : hand, I 'first for sign's of . dissipation and _ put" hjin ■ through, a course o£ questioning, fitted to'.our factory.-". ■.. ,-,..; : ' ""I*"tv:ill* describe what'my experience v Reaches me to he the ideal hand for: a mechanic, together' with /what rious- distinguishing' marks mean.,: ;Tne tody of the hand' should be ' scjiiare;- J.t/ should be' the .same' width. at base .of the fingers : and at the base_:.of the ■ tlmniband as long froin* the endofrtne "wrist to ! the beginriihg- v of , the it is square;-sJJhis-pro-claims a man ;who .is methodical, obedient, and amenable' to reason. -1M,,, fingers should "be . medium: lengthy , neither very-short, istubby fingers, which go' with selfishness: and: the -extremely one- -winch ;gp:/sv}tn argumentativeness and,; chronic, dissatisfaction. ■ :Md:mey ishould; be of Vprpper proportibnate lengths;' second/finger longest; thii-d:, finger next, index next, and: the .little, finger /the fortes*Lack of 'proper 'proportion /means an -frbiri- the of:awe, tw6%aitsT;:The ; :finger-30int S -should.b| V : well^developed-and^rge, ; making M. - si<rn of exactness m work andrmethodja, finger: nails should be: broach, ■■ shirty, 'approximately,; sa™re, -*£, - cushiousCopposite Jlie b| • brbad7and;.well ; deyeloped, fmgers broadest at the end? or as tread as at. the/ well-developed (jeiitjey ;^nts : -■■■ Fngers with such-nails- ;. ;cSns;;:invariablyv ; ihdicate ">g?™*% ~ aptrtude-fpr ;™^™*>."£&. ilbye/pf;mechanical- work; for, the, wor£.

fi The -thumb. ■■ should neither ho .$£ *feht • angles. 'to V nof nof should it he:--clo ß e |o thcVliand, -a sign, of. narrowness an| :J&iS reach nearly to the middle joint of tjia iSet finger: In other respects. A should have all the characteristics ,of the fingers. Neither thumb nor, fingers should have any pronounced tendency to bend backward which means carelessness and instability, nor should they be of the kind that cannot be opened perfectly -flat without unusual effort, which means overcautiousness hampers a man in his work. , "I hardly need say that this ideal of mechanical hand is too ideal to ever £e found in its entire ideality on an applicant for a factory job. I might be all day telling of the variations I ha£e noted,' and then not be through. One "ood characteristic seems to ; to Balance a: bad one. Thus the hand nidicates whether or not a man is a, desirable employe© and also m wnat department he will prove, most desirable. A man- with square hands and: medra'm loiicr thumbs and fingers with large joints, even though the digits are ntf. spatulate, is entirely fitted for work on a drill press where the work is. tedious in its monotony, but must be done with careful exactness." ~