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MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS |
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CAP-MAKING.
IN 1926, THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS OF CAP-MAKERS
in the city was ten out of which eight belonged to shimpie
and two to other communities. In 1947, there were 17 concerns of cap
and turban makers. Almost all concerns were located in C and B
wards. There were 22 shops of turban and cap makers at the time of
our survey. Of these 9 were located in D ward, 7 in C ward, 4 in B
ward, and 2 in A ward.
Only three shops were surveyed in the sample. Of the
three, one was started in 1938, the other in 1944, and the third in
1947. Cap-making was the principal occupation of these shops, which
provided employment throughout the year. One concern was making
turbans also.
Equipment for making caps consisted of pairs of
scissors, threads, needles and sewing machines. Two concerns in the
sample had two sewing machines each and the third had five machines.
One establishment had two pairs of scissors, the other had five and
the third 15. The total cost of equipment in one shop was about Rs.
2,600, in the other about Rs. 1,800 and in the third Rs. 1,500.
The necessary initial capital required was borrowed
by two proprietors. The shops were situated in rented premises. The
rent of each varied from Rs. 25 to Rs, 35. The total electric bill
of two establishments was Rs. 33 per month. One of the
establishments had to pay Rs. 150 per year as municipal tax.
All the three shops were making caps, and in
addition, one was making turbans. Two were specialised in making
woollen, jari, Gandhi and folding caps. Raw materials required were
woollen, cotton and jari, cloth, canvas, thread and straw board. The
consumption of woollen and cotton cloth of each shop per month was
600, 500 and 400 yards respectively. The consumption of jari and art
silk cloth of two shops was 300 and 250 yards per month
respectively. Woollen and art silk cloth was imported from Bombay
and Jari cloth from Surat.
The three shops were managed by 31 persons out of
whom five were members of employers' families and 26 paid-employees.
A cap-maker was paid Rs. 50 in one shop and Rs. 60 in the other. A
salesman was paid Rs. 60 per month in-both the shops. A turban-maker
was paid Rs. 60 per month. The total wage bill of each shop
was Rs. 925, 300 and Rs. 100 respectively.
The monthly production of woollen, cotton and jari
caps of the biggest shop in the sample was 2,000 and of the other
two was 1,000 and 500 respectively. Similarly, the production of
folding caps of the three shops was 1200, 800 and 400 respectively.
These shops were manufacturing Gandhi caps also. The total
production of these was 1200, 1,000 and 200 respectively. These caps
were mostly sold to wholesale and retail dealers. The market for
these goods was generally local as well as the whole Kolhapur
district. In the two establishments, 25 per cent. of the production
was sold directly to customers. The business in these shops was
brisk during January to May.
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