I find it fascinating to see and read fairly detailed descriptions of how previous generations of business worked and actually how little the process has changed over time.
As a fellow metalworker and piercer, other than no longer having to make a saw blade up, I use exactly the same method and tools as that article. Indeed, having done work for horologists in restoring clocks, I've reproduced damaged clock hands and corner mounts/inlays in exactly the same way, even down to having templates in envelopes to work from.
Factories, like Toyes, Firmins et al, employed considerable numbers of young women in whole departments dedicated to just piercing work out as well as a considerable proportion of the silver trades in birmingham and sheffield etc.
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