MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

WATCH REPAIRING.

ROUND ABOUT 1926 AND 1947 THERE WERE 15 AND 32 WATCH REPAIRERS and dealers respectively in the town. Of the 32 shops in 1947, 14 were located in C ward, 10 in D ward, four in A ward, two each in B and E wards. At the time of our survey there were 31 such establishments. Of these 15 were situated in C ward, nine in E ward, four in B ward, three in A ward. The total number of persons employed in them was 62 out of whom 37 were members of owners, families and 25 paid employees. Three shops of different sizes were surveyed in the sample. Two shops had a business standing of more than 40 years and one had of more than 25 years. All the three shops in the sample had the main business of selling and repairing of watches. In addition to it one shop sold optical instruments. Watches and other spare parts were brought from Bombay, Poona and Calcutta. The equipment of these shops mainly consisted of a few pieces of furniture like one or two cupboards and chairs and the necessary instruments required for repairing watches. The cost of equipment in the biggest shop in the sample was about Rs. 2,200.

All the three shops were situated in rented premises, the rent of which varied from Rs. 10 to Rs. 80 per month. Other items of expenditure on the establishment were electric charges, municipal licence fee etc. The total electric bill of the three establishments was Rs. 51 per month. One of the establishments spent Rs. 40 per month, the other two only Rs. 11 per month on electricity. The biggest establishment paid Rs. 1,500 per year as municipal tax. The other two did not pay any tax.

The total employment in the three shops was 18 out of whom six were the members of employers' families. The biggest establishment employed 14 persons. The remaining two shops were managed by members of employers' families. A skilled watch-repairer in the biggest shop was paid Rs. 250 per month. The other two were paid Rs. 90 each and the remaining two Rs. 75 and 60 respectively. The total wage bill of the biggest establishment was Rs. 875 per month, The daily working hours in these shops were eight to ten.

These shops were mainly dealing in the sale and repairing of watches. Two units sold about 20 watches, and 10 alaram clocks, and did the work of repairing worth Rs. 250 per month. The third shop sold watches and optical instruments worth Rs. 9,000 and also did repairing work worth Rs. 1,800 per month. Watches were sold in the whole district. The season from October to June was usually brisk for the sale of watches.

TOP