occupational nomenclatures

[Graham]

How many of you know what a sagger-maker's bottom-knocker was, without Googling it?

Graham

[protohistorian]

I do not know Graham but I am blushing now. That just sounds filthy!Dave

[Pinkerton]

I've wondered about this one

Here is one I've been wondering about for some time. What is the difference between a "barman" and a "potman"? I know they both work in a bar but other than that I have no idea.

[Phil H]

Or a "carman" like Cross and Paul (see the Nichols killing) and a carter or driver?

[coral]

Hi Pinkerton

I think a barman serves the beer while a potman collects the empty glasses and earns himself a pint for doing so.

Coral

[John Savage]

Hi Graham,

It is a good few years since the TV show "What's My Line?" and I do remember the sagger maker miming how he knocked his bottom.

Was it something to do with the upholsterers trade?

Rgds
Eamon Andrews.

[The Grave Maurice]

I admit that I don't know what a saggy bottom knocker is, and I won't Google it, but I think Coral has the other question right. A barman served the drinks and a potman collected, and maybe washed, the glasses and did other general jobs in the pub.

[Pinkerton]

some more!

Thanks for the answer Coral, that makes sense. I have a few more for you guys if you're willing. I've always wanted to ask this very question so I'm glad someone else started this thread.

What is a "crest chaser", a "compositor", a "wood turner", and a "shape maker"? My guess on the latter is that it is either a person who makes the "last" for boots or shoes, or some kind of mold for something.

And lastly, what is the difference between a "hawker" and a "traveler"? Are they both basically selling various things? Would a "traveler" be equivalent to a traveling salesman?

[Supe]

Pinkerton,

A compositor was a member of the printing trade and was the one who actually set the hand type into a form. As with all in the printing trade back then, they were among the most literate in society.

A wood-turner is just that, one who operated a wood-turning lathe, creating all sorts of fancy, intricate cylindrical wooden objects with a variety of gouges, skews and and other cutting tools.

Not sure about a "shape maker" unless that was the same as a "pattern maker" in American industries. Again, a highly skilled occupation as pattern makers would create the model for which the products of all the other workers would have to conform.

Unless a "crest chaser" pursued proprietary toothpaste products i have no idea. However, I do believe that in the UK now "traveller" is a PC term for a Rom or Gypsie.

Don.

[protohistorian]

working jeweler vs. jeweler?

They seriously drew this distinction. My mind boggles at the logic that might have lead to this.Dave

[Graham]

Sagger-maker's bottom-knocker

In the days of the mass pottery industry, a sagger (or saggar) was the shelf in the base of a kiln, like an upturned bowl, which held the pots to be fired. The saggar was an extremely difficult piece of kit to make, but its base or bottom didn't need much skill, and the sagger-maker employed a labourer to mould the bottoms by literally knocking clay into a mould. There you go!

Not as skilled as a wringer-out for a one-armed window-cleaner, though...

Graham

[protohistorian]

You are a ROCKSTAR Graham, keep the tidbits coming, it is not like we know it all. Dave

[coral]

working jeweler vs. jeweler?

I would think that a working jeweler makes jewellry. A jeweler just sells it.

Coral

[protohistorian]

Thank you again Coral! Dave

[protohistorian]

piece broker?

Fire arms dealer? Dave