Boot and Shoe Perator

[bobloes]

Hi

Can anyone help me out on this description of a trade within the census?

Thanks

[LesleyB]

Hi bobloes
I'm guessing this is the transcription on Ancestry or a similar site? You would need to see the original I think to work out what it really says. Bits & pieces of information are rarely easy to work out in isolation...you really need to see them in context.

You don't say what year of the census, the person/peoples names involved or what part of Scotland (or England or Ireland???) we are talking about - it usually helps us to help you if you can give a bit more info.

Best wishes
Lesley

[SarahND]

You're right, Lesley, that it is an Ancestry transcription. I had a wee look for Perators in the census

In 1891 Mary Pattison, age 18, is a "needle perator" in Old Kilpatrick

There are 6 perators in the Ancestry transcriptions of the 1901 census. Most clearly mean "Operator" as in "Telephone Perator."

John Ritchie, age 18, is a "Boot & Shoe Perator" at 92 Canning Street, Glasgow Greenhead, Calton, Lanarkshire

His neighbour John Docherty is a "Boot O Perator"

I suspect they are both operating some sort of machine in the production of boots & shoes.

At least this is more comprehensible than the occupation of his brother Robert, who is a "Linsmith & Gousfitter Apprentice"

All the best,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello All,

See “Wages (standard piece rates). Board of Trade (Labour Department) (1900)” http://archive.org/stream/wagesstandard ... 4/mode/2up

It seems to have been something to do with operating a Lasting or Tacking or Rolling Machine. I haven’t studied the document, but it looks like there may also have been a Puller Over, a Knocker Upper, a Sole Attacher, a Getter Offer, and maybe even a Putter Downer.

I wonder what Ancestry would have made of those.

All the best,
Alan

[momat]

Puller Over

Love it!!!
I wonder who knitted it

[carlineric]

The 1920 Census Occupations dictionary gives

"machine operator, machine feeder, boot machine operator; general term for any person engaged in any machine operation in manufacture of boots, shoes, ets, including pressman, skiver, folder, perforator, lasting machine operator, machine sewer closer, rounder, slugger, etc."


Not sure I would want to be a skiver and slugger sounds more like a boxer.


Eric

[bobloes]

Thanks all for your help. I obviously considered 'operator' but it did not make sense without the use of 'machine' or some such.

Sarah - You found my Ritchie ancestors very easily. I read it as Tinsmith & Gasfitter although the juxtaposition of such diverse trades within an apprenticeship is odd.

Thanks for the humour as well. Cheers

[trish58]

A "Skiver" is one who shaves or splits the leather, not a bad occupation.

Trish

[Alan SHARP]

I read it as Tinsmith & Gasfitter although the juxtaposition of such diverse trades within an apprenticeship is odd. Cheers

I would see soldering and gas welding, as being very complimentary skills, when working with tin, copper and the other associated alloys.

Alan SHARP.

[carlineric]

A slugger was not a boxer but the person who attached the heels.As Trish pointed out a skiver was a skilled craftsman not a layabout.


Eric