Apprenticeships for Artisans

Len where did you get that information about him hiring an apprentice/employee? Is it an actual machinist?

Len where did you get that information about him hiring an apprentice/employee? Is it an actual machinist?

That information came directly from James' newsletter, which he sent out en masse.

James (Wolfman) wrote: "The plan for the machine shop was to work alone on technical things, and hire help on occasion for moving equipment around, cleaning etc. But due to the interest and opinions of many customers, I am probably going to hire someone to help make razors. I have someone in mind, but it's too soon to confirm anything yet."

Sounds like he will be hiring an actual machinist.

Guess apprenticeships, even employee based ones, are not as crazy as what the naysayers assume.

Helping make razors is not exactly the same as sn apprenticeship.

Helping make razors is not exactly the same as sn apprenticeship.

I think you are splitting hairs. If I'm a machinist, and James (Wolfman) hires me and trains me to make Wolfman razors to his specs on his machines, what else is it?

A rose is still a rose by any other name.

No, Len, I am not.  An apprentice will not actually "help make razors" but rather will be learning a craft.  There is quite a difference.  Remember, your original thought was, indeed, true apprenticeship.  I am not getting that from your quote of James's statement.

The simplest definition of an apprentice has nothing to do with wages paid. I found

Apprentice: "a person who works for another in order to learn a trade" http://www.dictionary.com/browse/apprentice

Freddy, whomever James hires will actually be leaning the craft of razor making, unless you are assuming that the machinist James hires is already a master razor maker. My guess is not. Therefore, James is hiring an apprentice. And who knows, it might actually be for "low wages" (definitly less than what James himself gets paid!) ... not that that matters, because the result is the same.

And this is what the OP is all about.

Okay. I won't argue the point.

An "employee" and an "apprentice" are not always the same thing...

Wolfman can hire a machinist to true and turn blanks, for example, without revealing or teaching any of his skills as a Master Razorsmith. This person could also fill a variety of other roles including sourcing, ordering, stock and inventory, emails and phonecalls, collections and payment procesing, and a myriad of other menial tasks that would in no way require the Master to impart his skills upon an apprentice.

All of this would reduce Mr. Wolfman's workload tremendously, thereby "helping make razors" without actually learning anything as regards the fine art of razor making.

An apprenticeship is a situation wherein a student is guided by a master of a craft in learning the techniques and traditions of that craft.

Turning blanks and counting stock is hardly the same thing...

I didn't know counting stock = "making razors"... but whatever... Through supremely convoluted twists of logic that defies all semblance of common sense, a person can help 'make razors' without knowing how to make razors. Maybe the industry of wet shaving is somehow set apart and different from all other crafts and trades.

All I know is that apprenticeships occur in every craft there is, regardless of whether people here understand how that applies to the wet shaving industry.

I once knew a plumber who had an apprentice. I should of told him how stupid he was to have created his own competition down the line when the apprentice moved on, and apparently neither of us had the foresight of the people on this thread.

Regardless of whether you think James is foolish for apprenticing someone to 'make razors' with him, or whether you think Lee Sabini was foolish for apprenticing someone to make brushes with him... I'm interested in this age old practice that continues... and would like to hear more about it from people who are interested as well... and from those who have apprenticed, taught the craft to others, or are interested in doing so.

Correct while I have no worries about the OS, but the current OS is not same as the old one, nor is the Indian one. I do have to admit the new OS Classic is awesome, and the Indian OS Original is a no go by my taste