Card factory, daily routine

• loaned by Wilfried Kaschel

Professional card makers use woodcuts until well into the 18th century. Although copper and steel plates allow higher print runs in better quality, they are more expensive. So the techniques used in their work are alternated. The development of stone printing (lithography) at the cusp of the 19th century brings new production options that change the work of a card maker irreversibly. Less expensive letterpress printing is introduced in 1890. What started as individual pieces created with significant crafts skill develops into factory production.

Labour laws and socio-political requirements become more relevant as the size of the workforce grows. Regulations for the work conditions are defined in 1892. This itself assures the playing card factory a leading role in the economic history of Stralsund. Fines for violations are collected in the company health fund to finance social benefits such as invalidity payments, death grants or maternity benefits.