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The development of the capitalistic manufactory characterizes the first half of the XX century in Belarus. Organization of production was based on specialization of labour. Wide spread of small and handicraft production was a peculiarity of the development of Belorussian industry in post-reform period.
Boroughs were the centers of the small-scale commodity production. Smilovichy was one of such boroughs. There in 1928 a factory grew out of a small producers' artel «Red Star». The artel was organized by artisans, who produced soft home-made felt footwear in rubbers. Every member of the «Red Star» contributed machinery, such as small wooden handicraft combing machines, wooden boottrees, in the capacity of his. Some of the members contributed raw materials or cash deposits.
Work in the artel was based on hand work. For example, combing machines were put into operation by horses by wooden cam gear. It is significant that it was mostly men who worked in the artel. They sorted out and carded fleece on combing machines. Warp pressing used to be made on slabs and fulling in boilers – by firewood heating. Felt footwear hafting used to be made on wooden boottrees. In summer almost ready-made felt footwear was dried in the sun, and in winter it was usually handed out for drying to artel members houses. They didn’t scour felt footwear at the factory.
In 1930 construction of the first factory building began. Boiler room was also built. Combing machines start operating (to be operated) with the use of oil engine. Washing machines were installed as well.
In what follows re-equipment of the factory quickened: steam traction engine, hammer machines, boiler machine tools were set in operation. Worker’s labor became much easier. Unlike twenties of the XX century when production plan made up 80-90 pairs of felt footwear a day, in 1969 this number reached 240 000 pairs a year.
In 1980 office factory building was constructed.
In 1998 in order to up-grade production and improve its hygienic properties the manufacture of a new item - felt footwear «Arctic» - was mastered. Production of such item provided for higher content of virgin wool in felt footwear.
In 2006 an Italian businessman, who owned a firm, specializing on production of machinery for shoemaking industry, took an interest in the factory. With his assistance a compact (composed of only four machines) but up-to-date production line on complement felt footwear with polyurethane platforms appeared at the factory. The new production line consisted purely of special machinery: press-tools, sewing machines, presses.
What concerns nowadays nomenclature of the Open Joint-stock Company "Smilovichy felting factory", it includes more than 20 items, among other things 15 items of felt footwear and 3 items of quilts with pure merino wool filling.
Quality of goods, produced at the factory, is attested by Byelorussian conformity certificate and since 2009 also by international conformity certificate. Superspecialty of felt footwear models on polyurethane platforms and children's half-coarse-haired felt footwear «Little Bear» with fur trimmings, appliqué and rubbers was awarded diplomas and patents during factory participation in numerous special-purpose expositions and trade fair, particularly in the international wholesale trade fair «Leather – footwear – fur – technology» in Moskow, in the 2nd Moskow interregional forum «Country of childhood», in XX international exposition «Beltekslegprom», in «National exposition of the Republic of Belarus » in Krasnoyarsk.
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