Originally Posted By: PeteM


Apparently the apprenticeship in England had been 7 years at one point:
Quote:
The King and Company Of Gunmakers. 1733-1734
J Mandamus.

Mandamus to admit J.S. to his Freedom of the Gunmakers Company, having been educated in the Art and Mystery of a Gunsmith, and served seven Years Apprenticeship. The Company returned they were incorporated by Charter, by Char. 1, and set out the Charter, that no Person was intitled to his Freedom but those of the Trade residing in London, or within ten Miles thereof at Time of the Incorporation, and such of their Children as should serve seven Years Apprenticeship to that Art and Mystery ; and as to other Persons it left the Company at large to admit or reject as they thought proper and convenient, and they returned that they did not think proper to admit him. Objection was taken to the Return, that it did not answer the Suggestion, as to his being educated in the Art, etc., and serving seven Years Apprenticeship.


Pete


Pete,
That is an interesting quote. The applicant JS must have been a pushy fellow by trying the mandamus route to gain entry to the Company. He must have had a good patron or two to think it worthwhile. However, it would seem that he had poor grounds for doing so, particularly as he did not provide much evidence or proper responses to their queries, as evidenced by their closing sentence, “Objection was taken to the Return, it did not answer the Suggestion, as to his being educated in the Art, etc., and serving seven Years Apprenticeship.”

In Ireland now it is 2 years for solicitors; apprentices must have passed various law exams first, then do a two-year stint with a master before sitting final exams and being admitted to practice. AFAIK, the payment to the master has stopped and the apprentices are paid the minimum wage – about $450 a week.
Apprenticeships are the entrypath to the main trades – see the national training body’s site for details on
http://www.fas.ie/en/Training/Apprenticeships/default.htm

Rs
K.