Industrialists in 19th-century Europe often favoured hand labour over machines for several pragmatic reasons. Firstly, labour was abundant and cheap, as many rural migrants moved to cities. This kept wages low, diminishing the financial incentive to invest in costly machinery. Secondly, machines demanded substantial capital investment, were expensive to maintain, and risked rapid obsolescence with technological advancements, posing significant financial burdens that hand labour avoided. Thirdly, many industries, like gas works and breweries, experienced seasonal demand. Hiring temporary workers for peak periods was more economical than investing in machinery idle during off-seasons. Finally, a significant market existed for goods requiring specific designs, intricate craftsmanship, and variety, particularly luxury items, which skilled artisans produced better than early machines designed for uniform, mass production.