Chapter 64 The first batch of An...
The first batch of safety helmets produced was sold to Butterfly Sewing Machine Company at almost cost price, and these helmets were quickly distributed to the workers free of charge.
This time, Thomas Smith finally couldn't help but raise his objection. In his view, these hats protected the workers' lives and safety, so they should naturally pay for them themselves.
“Miss Price, these hats won’t last long, maybe two or three years at most. If all the workers’ safety helmets are provided by our company, the long-term cost will be considerable,” Thomas Smith said excitedly.
This is unlike the worker management measures Mary previously proposed, which have minimal company expenses; nor is it like opening a skills school, which, although costing money, is very helpful in training qualified technicians for the factory.
He saw no reason why the company should pay for the safety helmets; the workers were supposed to buy their own, weren't they? With Mr. Price absent, he felt obligated to remind the extravagant young lady.
"Don't worry, Mr. Smith, I understand perfectly well. In fact, I'm planning to make it a company rule that all workers must wear safety helmets in the factory, and each helmet cannot be used for more than two years. Do you see the number inside the helmet? That's the production date." Mary answered calmly in Richard's usual office.
"Then why are you giving them away for free?"
"Mr. Smith, if you were a worker now, would you buy a hard hat if they weren't provided for free?"
Seeing Thomas Smith deep in thought, Mary continued, "I suppose you'll wait until your old hat is too worn out before buying this one? Even if the company mandates it now, these workers only earn a little over thirty shillings a week, and this hat will certainly be a huge burden for them in the short term."
"Oh, kind lady, may God bless you forever!"
"However, the company cannot simply do charity. The hats distributed are only worn in the factory each day and must be collected on the same day. They are then distributed again the next day to prevent workers from taking them home and not bringing them back."
Thomas Smith bowed to Mary and left the office to carry out the young lady's orders.
Thus, during Mary's time managing the company, Thomas Smith, who was responsible for assisting her, often felt puzzled and confused, but because of Richard's instructions before he left, he chose to respect Mary.
Although he is now a manager, Thomas Smith's past experience as a watchmaker has taught him that Miss Price's approach is beneficial to the workers. As for the slight increase in production costs, he doesn't need to keep opposing it as long as the shareholders don't mind.
Not long after the safety helmets were distributed, Mary's long-awaited foot-operated sewing machine was finally manufactured. Compared to hand-cranked sewing machines, it could be driven by either a foot pedal or a handle, making it more efficient and convenient, and allowing more sewing work to be completed in the same amount of time.
In other words, compared to hand-cranked sewing machines used in homes and workshops, foot-operated sewing machines are more suitable for industrialized production.
Therefore, after Mary returned to Harry Street, she discussed it with her brother: "William, what do you think if my clothing factory participates in the competition for military clothing business?"
"A clothing factory? Dear Mary, I know you've been busy going to the countryside lately. I remember your factory produces safety helmets, right?"
“That’s right, but I didn’t say we could only produce safety helmets. Now that the foot-operated sewing machine has been manufactured, I’ve decided that as long as there’s a chance to compete, I can offer a price that no other tailor shop can match for the same quality, and produce it in the shortest possible time.”
If it were purely a price war, Mary wouldn't be afraid of anyone, but whether she could get orders didn't depend on high quality and low price, but on interpersonal relationships.
“Then you can go to Sir Edward. Although he no longer goes to sea, he still has influence in the naval system. But Mary, why do you need to do this? You don’t lack money right now, do you?”
“Oh, William, I don’t understand my own thoughts either. I used to think that once I made enough money, I could enjoy life in peace, but there are always some things that I can’t stand. Just consider it a hobby.”
Anne overheard the siblings' conversation and interrupted their little argument: "William, what does it matter if we run a factory? Mary just needs to find a good agent. Just like Richard is in charge of the sewing machine company, this garment factory can also be handed over to John or someone else."
After his sister returned to her room, William confided his concerns to Anne: "Darling, I'm worried about one thing, and that is that Mary has absolutely no intention of getting married. She doesn't care about anything that girls her age care about. She's about to enter the social scene, but almost no social activity can arouse her curiosity."
It turned out that during Mary's frequent trips to the factory, Anne was planning a ball on Harley Street at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. She wanted to use this opportunity to introduce Mary to social circles, as the couple, now happily married to William, especially hoped that their sister could enjoy the same happiness.
This time, Mary was still not very willing, which made William a little worried, since she was only a few months away from turning eighteen.
Anne pondered carefully: "Could it be that, like me back then, Mary didn't want the ball at home because the person she wanted to see wasn't in London?"
The affection revealed in those words made the husband's heart flutter, but it couldn't answer William's doubts. He still hadn't noticed any signs that Mary was interested in any of the men around her.
Richard said he thought the Duke of Devonshire liked Mary. William had never met the Duke and dared not comment, but his sister had never shown any longing for aristocratic life.
The next day, Mary, William, and Anne returned to Grosvenor Square, where the General and Mrs. Maxwell were delighted to welcome them back.
“Oh, Anne, Mary, you have no idea how much Edward misses you. You’ve come back so few times this month. I think you must have forgotten about us.” The two young women’s absence from the general and his wife’s side has made them feel quite uncomfortable for the past two or three months.
The two girls quickly apologized and said they would definitely come back often in the future.
“Okay, I understand you perfectly, Anne. Young couples should definitely spend more time together. But you, Mary, you promised to make time for your godparents. I had already planned a ball for you.”
With nothing to do, Mrs. Maxwell roused herself when she thought of her unmarried goddaughter Mary, a beauty by her side, and vowed to make Mary the talk of the town's social circles next year.
Anne leaned close to her husband William and whispered, "Dear William, don't worry now. My stepmother will never give up until she gets what she wants. Sigh, as her brother and sister-in-law, we were originally Mary's closest relatives. Now I can forget about taking Mrs. Maxwell away from her."
Sure enough, after repeated reminders from her godmother and subtle hints from her godfather, Mary had no choice but to agree to move to Grosvenor Square next March.
After their casual conversation, William stepped aside and mentioned to the general that his factory wanted to supply uniforms to the navy.
“This is easy to handle. There’s no need to bother the First Minister of the Navy and his secretary. You just need to get in touch with the Quartermaster General. However, although I know him, you’ll need a suitable gift to impress him,” General Maxwell readily advised his son-in-law.
After Anne married William, the general treated his son-in-law like his own child, introducing him to all his connections. William had met Captain Richie, the current head of the naval quartermaster, at a party; he was an extremely greedy man.
Thinking of this man, he couldn't help but recall the appalling supplies he received as a sailor, and his late father, Lieutenant Price's, rants and ravings against the Admiralty and the Naval Commission.
Lieutenant Price's words weren't entirely without merit. Perhaps he too had opportunities for promotion, but the penniless and powerless lieutenant could only helplessly miss them.
About a week later, at an appropriate time, William and Thomas Smith, who was part-time manager of the clothing factory, visited Colonel Richie, the quartermaster, with gifts that Mary had prepared in advance—a gilded high-end sewing machine and a roll of exquisite Chinese silk.
Colonel Richie affectionately called William "my friend," and after seeing the delightful gifts, he became even more enthusiastic, constantly praising Sir Edward's excellent taste. As for that matter, there was no need to worry at all; Mr. Smith could simply speak with his clerk, John Dickens, the very next day to sign the contract.
In the quartermaster's office, a clerk also named John looked curiously at the price and production time quoted by Price Garment Factory: "Mr. Smith, it's unbelievable. Your price isn't high, and the production time is the fastest in recent years. Can you make it in time?"
"Mr. Dickens, rest assured, we certainly have a way to do it and will never violate the contract."
“I bet you’ve used a sewing machine, haven’t you? Although many tailors are against it, I’ve seen the Butterfly sewing machine’s advertisement, which says that ‘a sewing machine is faster and better than the tailors’ inconsistent handiwork.’ It seems I’ll have to buy one for my dear Elizabeth this year,” John Dickens muttered to himself.
With the contract signed, Mary had already bought the first batch of foot-operated sewing machines at market price. Following the military uniform patterns and size charts drawn by Mary, the garment factory officially began production.
In addition to her salary, Mary also gave Thomas Smith, who helped her manage the factory, five percent of the shares. She admired his loyalty to shareholders and his attitude towards workers.
As for John, he felt he lacked business acumen and that the life of a businessman wasn't for him, preferring to remain a clerk in the Treasury. However, he soon introduced his sister to a second business deal: providing uniforms for government employees, a business that seemed easier than securing the military uniform business.
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