occupational nomenclatures

[protohistorian]

Here is a thread to discuss LVP occupational nomenclatures. Clarity in the descriptions of people may enhance our understandings. I will be asking many questions as I do not have the focus anymore to divide my concentration from geography to vocabulary.

Here is my first observation, the 1888 postal directory gives two nomenclatures for a person who cuts hair. The first is hair cutter and the second is hair dresser. Could this be a hint at a distinction between the client sex? Is there another reason? ( sick em, casebook! Get those answers!) Dave

[Marc]

Distinction between professionnal skills ?

Sorry, couldn't resist but this thread is an excellent idea

Seriously, would one ('hair dresser') be also a 'barber' and not the other ('hair cutter' ?) ?

[protohistorian]

Distinction between professionnal skills ?

Sorry, couldn't resist but this thread is an excellent idea

Seriously, would one ('hair dresser') be also a 'barber' and not the other ('hair cutter' ?) ?

I do not know, I am mapping. I leave that in your capable hands sir! It may prove useful in the discussion of a certain suspect however. Dave

[protohistorian]

grinder dealer?

Can someone tell me what the hell this is? Dave

[protohistorian]

flour factor?

grinder or seller? Dave

[protohistorian]

grinder or seller? Dave

grinder it appears. A cheesemonger is a seller of cheese, and I just came across a cheese factor, which I am ASS uming, makes a flour factor, a maker of flour. Dave

[The Grave Maurice]

...which...makes a flour factor, a maker of flour.

Well, no. A maker of flour is a miller.

[protohistorian]

Well GM then what the hell is a flour factor? I have not seen a flour miller yet. For now the point is marked as manufacturing. It might be that much grinding of foodstuffs was done in the home, thus explaining "grinder dealer", and that only those foodstuffs requiring very specialized equipment were considered a seperate field (Cocoa and coffee for example), I have also come across a "peel manufacturer", is that "pill"? or one who grinds "peels"? Dave

[The Grave Maurice]

Come on, Dave. Factor means, in this context, agent or trader. You're not going to find a miller in Whitechapel unless you discover a previously unknown fast-flowing stream.

[Chris]

My oldish English dictionary has this as one definition of "factor":
"An agent employed to sell goods on commission."

[Robert]

And of course a very tall, vulgar agent is known as the Highest Common Factor.

[protohistorian]

Thank You both!

It may sound odd, but here in Kansas we have, and I dare say have had, no such nomenclature for agent. Many things are listed as broker, dealer, trader, what makes a factor different? Dave

[protohistorian]

Well done Robert, I had a hardly chuckle at that one. Dave

[protohistorian]

Come on, Dave. Factor means, in this context, agent or trader. You're not going to find a miller in Whitechapel unless you discover a previously unknown fast-flowing stream.

I have found several, mostly cofee and cocoa. I am ASS uming they used beasts of burden as a powersource. Dave

[The Grave Maurice]

Hmm. We have a hand-turned coffee mill on our kitchen counter, but there isn't a beast of burden in sight---unless you count me.