Author Topic: Heckle Fitter  (Read 428 times)

Offline jennywren001

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Heckle Fitter
« on: Wednesday 17 September 14 09:54 BST (UK) »
Hi,
I've got a young lad down as a heckle fitter on the 1851 census - all the others in the household are down as shoemakers. Any idea what this is?
Jen
North East Scotland above the Tay...
JOLLY, Johnston,Thom, Rae, Davidson, Fielding, Sherret
FEARN, McKenzie, Stirling [brick wall], Robb, Wilson, Stott
RUSSELL, Fullerton, Christie, Cochrane, Davidson, Coutts, Easton, Scott
FRASER, Henderson, Noble, Mundie, Goodall, Thain, Neish, Moir

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Heckle Fitter
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 17 September 14 10:45 BST (UK) »
A heckle is an instrument for combing or scutching flax or hemp, could also be for horse hair.
A Hackle is a comb with coarsely set teeth. A Hackler Machine is one in which short and weak fibres are removed by the action of steel pins. There were various types of Hackler; Brush Fibre; Textile Mill; Hair; Horse Hair; Manilla Hemp; Whalebone Bristles etc.

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline jennywren001

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Re: Heckle Fitter
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 17 September 14 11:20 BST (UK) »
Thanks Stan- I had it in my head it was something to do with horses!
Jen
North East Scotland above the Tay...
JOLLY, Johnston,Thom, Rae, Davidson, Fielding, Sherret
FEARN, McKenzie, Stirling [brick wall], Robb, Wilson, Stott
RUSSELL, Fullerton, Christie, Cochrane, Davidson, Coutts, Easton, Scott
FRASER, Henderson, Noble, Mundie, Goodall, Thain, Neish, Moir