[Document currently in possession of Richard Austin's granddaughter, Margot Williams. Transcribed June 2014 by Maggie Barnett.]
INDENTURE OF APPRENTICESHIP
Dated the 11th day of October 1910
RICHARD GEORGE AUSTIN (with the consent and approbation of his father Mr John Albert Austin)
----to----
MESSRS ALFRED ARROWSMITH and W.E. FLOYD (trading together under the style of "A. Arrowsmith & Co.")
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(red seal showing crown above three shamrocks, reading Two Shillings and Sixpence)
THIS INDENTURE made the 11th day of October One thousand nine hundred and ten BETWEEN RICHARD GEORGE AUSTIN of Number 2 Back of Number 29, Shakespeare Road Ladywood in the City of Birmingham of the first part JOHN ALBERT AUSTIN of the same address Brass Worker of the second part and ALFRED ARROWSMITH and WALTER ERNEST FLOYD (trading together under the style or firm of "A. Arrowsmith & Co.) of Number 60, Albion Street, Birmingham aforesaid Jewellers and Diamond Mounters (hereinafter called "the Employers") of the third part WITNESSETH that the said Richard George Austin of his own free will and with the consent and approbation of his father the said John Albert Austin hereby binds himself as apprentice to the Employers from the date hereof until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and seventeen on which date he will attain the age of Twenty one years to learn the art of a Diamond Mounter And the said John Albert Austin hereby covenants with the Employers that during the said term the said Richard George Austin shall honestly diligently and faithfully serve and obey the Employers and shall not do or suffer to be done or committed any waste damage or injury of or to the property of the Employers and shall not unlawfully absent himself from the service of the Employers And further that the said John Albert Austin will during the said term at his own expense provide the said Richard George Austin with good and sufficient board and lodging clothes washing medicines and medical attendance and other necessaries In consideration whereof the Employers hereby covenant with the said John Albert Austin and also with the said Richard George Austin that that they the said Employers will during the said term take and receive as their apprentice and to the best of their knowledge and ability teach and instruct the said Richard George Austin in the art of Diamond Mounting as now practised by them And also will during the said term pay to the said Richard George Austin wages at the rates and in manner following that is to say: - From the date hereof until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and eleven the weekly sum of Five shillings from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and twelve the weekly sum of Six shillings and threepence from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and thirteen the weekly sum of Seven shillings and sixpence from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and fourteen the weekly sum of Eight shillings and ninepence from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and fifteen the weekly sum of Ten shillings and sixpence from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and sixteen the weekly sum of Twelve shillings and sixpence and from thence until the Second day of March One thousand nine hundred and seventeen the weekly sum of Fifteen shillings AND LASTLY will on the completion of the said term endorse on these presents a certificate that the said Richard George Austin has duly served his apprenticeship in
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confirmity with these presents (if such shall have been the case) and deliver these presents so endorsed to the said Richard George Austin IN WITNESS thereof the said parties to these presents hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first before written.
SIGNED DEALED AND DELIVERED the said Richard George Austin, John Albert Austin, Alfred Arrowsmith and Walter Ernest Floyd in the presence of
Katie Stuart Davis
The Fountain
Tenbury
Clerk
(all four signatures in black ink with four red seals alongside)
NOTE: Converting these wages into today's values, using an index of 56.7, shows how much his wages would equal now:
5 shillings in 1911 would be worth £14.17 today
6 shillings 3 pence in 1912 would be worth £17.71 today
7 shillings 6 pence in 1913 would be worth £21.26 today
8 shillings 9 pence in 1914 would be worth £24.80 today
10 shillings 6 pence in 1915 would be worth £29.76 today
12 shillings 6 pence in 1916 would be worth £35.43 today
15 shillings in 1917 would be worth £42.52 today
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