1912 source -
"Practically all of the gun barrels used by American shotgun manufacturers are imported from Belgium. Several American manufacturers undertook to make these barrels, but finally had to give up the attempt, as they could not begin to compete with the product of Belgium factories, which are imported free under the present tariff. Parker Bros Gun Co erected an addition to its factory put in up to date machinery and brought men from Belgium to show their blacksmiths how to make gun barrels. This company soon had to give up the attempt however as they had to pay their blacksmiths from 32 to 40 cents an hour while the highest wage paid Belgium blacksmiths for exactly the same grade of work is 11 cents an hour."
11 cents per hour for the blacksmiths.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
