Nederlands

Men at Work in China

Beijing, 18.VII.2004;
pict. N. Heerink		 Shanghai, 7.VII.2005;
pict. E. Van Den Bergh		 Hong-Kong, 22.VIII.2001;
pict. E. Van Den Bergh
 
At least for now Europe seems to have more influence in China than the Americans. All finds, be it work-men, children or rocks, are of the European design type. Of the European match-stick type, naturally. Some smaller details are worth noticing though.
Take the panel of Beijing. The worker is tasteless, but the heap is peculiar. The heap is very high in proportion to the size of the worker (similar to Mali). The shape indicates that the earth must be a bit humid; dry earth would never be stable in this shape. The worker is probably new to the job (or the tool). Someone will have to tell him to rotate the blade of his spade under a more useful angle. (Read also Bartolomeo's Best Practices)   The find from Shanghai warns drivers for men on the road carrying spades in flames (Happens if people dig too fast. That's probably why the heap is watered: against fire hazard.) Normal practice is not to show the target of the warning on the sign. I've explained this more in depth at a similar situation with playing children in Kilkee, Ireland. If the sign is directed towards workmen warning them not to dig into a cable under the surface then the drawing should be like the one where we removed the man. The recipient of the message shouldn't be in the picture. And the spade should hit the wire.
 
The find from Hong-Kong shows us a clear case of a sign of the UK-type (the UK-version is better though). I wonder how long this kind will survive now that Hong-Kong belongs to a new mother-country.
By the way, can you tell the difference between a sign from Great-Britain and one from South-Africa, both from the same UK-group? Which one is closest to the Hong-Kong sign? Did you see that this poor fellow lost his neck during his metamorphosis towards match-stick ?
 
   
Hanghzou, 26.VI.2004; pict. N. Heerink     Beijing, 10.VII.2005; pict. E. Van Den Bergh
 
The design from Hanghzou reminds me of similar drawings at several European places. However a shaft giving way under the load isn't seen that often. We have examples from Austria and Svalbard where we could blame the industrious worker or the inclement weather, but I think that in this case we should point to the inferior quality of the tool.
 
Hanghzou, 20.VII.2005; pict. E. Van Den Bergh
 
N. Heerink wrote me: Because of the Olympics construction work is going on at so many places all over Beijing (3 metro lines at the same time) that the modern men-at-work signs are running out. They have to fall back to the old handicraft stock.

Finally some news from China that's not depressing. Certainly for collectors.

Two really nice finds. Enjoy.

The text says: Construction ahead - cars should take another route
Beijing, 5.IX.2006; pict. N. Heerink
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More signs from China: Children's crossing - Falling rocks
Road signs from Macau: Men at Work - Children's crossing