Henry Noll
Encyclopedia
Henry Noll was a resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
made famous in a (fictionalized and error-riddled) anecdote used by Frederick Winslow Taylor
to illustrate his theories of scientific management
.
Noll came to public attention in the writing and speaking of 'scientific management' proponent Frederick Winslow Taylor. In Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management, he describes a study conducted at Bethlehem Steel
in 1898 regarding the loading of pig iron
onto railroad cars. At the start of the study, workers were loading an average of 12.5 tons of pig per laborer per day and received a wage of $1.15 per day, regardless of individual output. The Bethlehem Steel management wanted to increase workers' output and shift to a piece-rate wage of $.0375 per ton. Under the target piece-rate, workers would have to load more than 30 tons per day (or 250% of the current output) to earn the same wage. Two of Taylor's employees worked at the Bethlehem Steel plant, experimenting with loading
strategies and searching out exemplary workers to serve as models for the assertion that "a good day's wages could be made at the existing rates by a good man" (original research reported quoted by Wrege & Perroni, 1974, p. 17).
Henry Noll was one of the workers identified by Taylor's employees as being capable of loading the target rate of 49 tons per day, and therefore being able to earn the increased efficiency
wage of $1.85. Other workers who had tried and failed to load the target rate, including workers who injured themselves and were no longer able to continue, were excluded from the analysis.
In Taylor's anecdote (versions of which were presented as early as 1901), he presents Noll as 'Schmidt,' "a little Pennsylvania Dutch
man who had been observed to trot back home for a mile or so after his work in the evening, about as fresh as he was when he came trotting down to work in the morning" (Taylor, 1919, pp. 43–44). In Taylor's telling, which was "frankly insulting" (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
), 'Schmidt' is a dim-witted but outstanding laborer with a heavy German accent. He is extremely motivated to earn more money, as he has purchased a piece of property in Bethlehem and is building a house on the land.
In reality, 'Schmidt' was Henry Noll. (The original research reports misspell his surname as "Knolle".) The original research reports records his height as being 5'7", weight 135 pounds. He was not the shortest worker among those recorded by the researchers, but he did weigh the least. Originally a native of nearby Shimerville, Pennsylvania
, at the time he lived at 812 Laufer Street, on the Southside of Bethlehem. He had purchased land, and later completed a house, at 313 Martin Lane on the Northside. He was a volunteer fireman at the Good Will Fire Department, close to his house on Martin Lane. He is buried at Bethlehem Memorial Park.
Interest in establishing the identity of Schmidt began in 1933, when Hugh S. TenEyck (a professor at Lehigh University
) conducted an unsuccessful search. In 1974, Charles Wrege and Amadeo Perroni were successful in establishing many details of Noll's biography.
Noll is currently commemorated by a historical marker
on 3rd St. on the Southside of Bethlehem, across the street from the closed Bethlehem Steel plant where he worked at the turn of the century.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
made famous in a (fictionalized and error-riddled) anecdote used by Frederick Winslow Taylor
Frederick Winslow Taylor
Frederick Winslow Taylor was an American mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency. He is regarded as the father of scientific management and was one of the first management consultants...
to illustrate his theories of scientific management
Scientific management
Scientific management, also called Taylorism, was a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management...
.
Noll came to public attention in the writing and speaking of 'scientific management' proponent Frederick Winslow Taylor. In Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management, he describes a study conducted at Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
in 1898 regarding the loading of pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
onto railroad cars. At the start of the study, workers were loading an average of 12.5 tons of pig per laborer per day and received a wage of $1.15 per day, regardless of individual output. The Bethlehem Steel management wanted to increase workers' output and shift to a piece-rate wage of $.0375 per ton. Under the target piece-rate, workers would have to load more than 30 tons per day (or 250% of the current output) to earn the same wage. Two of Taylor's employees worked at the Bethlehem Steel plant, experimenting with loading
Loading
In electrical transmission lines, the term loading means the insertion of impedance into a circuit to change the characteristics of the circuit....
strategies and searching out exemplary workers to serve as models for the assertion that "a good day's wages could be made at the existing rates by a good man" (original research reported quoted by Wrege & Perroni, 1974, p. 17).
Henry Noll was one of the workers identified by Taylor's employees as being capable of loading the target rate of 49 tons per day, and therefore being able to earn the increased efficiency
Efficiency
Efficiency in general describes the extent to which time or effort is well used for the intended task or purpose. It is often used with the specific purpose of relaying the capability of a specific application of effort to produce a specific outcome effectively with a minimum amount or quantity of...
wage of $1.85. Other workers who had tried and failed to load the target rate, including workers who injured themselves and were no longer able to continue, were excluded from the analysis.
In Taylor's anecdote (versions of which were presented as early as 1901), he presents Noll as 'Schmidt,' "a little Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
man who had been observed to trot back home for a mile or so after his work in the evening, about as fresh as he was when he came trotting down to work in the morning" (Taylor, 1919, pp. 43–44). In Taylor's telling, which was "frankly insulting" (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage...
), 'Schmidt' is a dim-witted but outstanding laborer with a heavy German accent. He is extremely motivated to earn more money, as he has purchased a piece of property in Bethlehem and is building a house on the land.
In reality, 'Schmidt' was Henry Noll. (The original research reports misspell his surname as "Knolle".) The original research reports records his height as being 5'7", weight 135 pounds. He was not the shortest worker among those recorded by the researchers, but he did weigh the least. Originally a native of nearby Shimerville, Pennsylvania
Shimerville, Pennsylvania
Shimerville is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania located on Pennsylvania Route 100 and Pennsylvania Route 29. Shimerville is located in Upper Milford Township in Lehigh County. The community is located just outside and to the south of Macungie, Pennsylvania and to the...
, at the time he lived at 812 Laufer Street, on the Southside of Bethlehem. He had purchased land, and later completed a house, at 313 Martin Lane on the Northside. He was a volunteer fireman at the Good Will Fire Department, close to his house on Martin Lane. He is buried at Bethlehem Memorial Park.
Interest in establishing the identity of Schmidt began in 1933, when Hugh S. TenEyck (a professor at Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
) conducted an unsuccessful search. In 1974, Charles Wrege and Amadeo Perroni were successful in establishing many details of Noll's biography.
Noll is currently commemorated by a historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
on 3rd St. on the Southside of Bethlehem, across the street from the closed Bethlehem Steel plant where he worked at the turn of the century.