What is this occupation?

[alistquin]

Can anyone help please with this census fragment displaying an occupation?

Alistair

[Lily M]

Is it a badly written carpenter?

[Wiggy]

That was my first thought.    Carpenter.

Wiggy.

[Jamjar]

I was thinking something 'plater', but can see it as carpenter now.

Do you have him on the 1891 census?

Jamjar

[alistquin]

That was my first thought, but I wasn't sure. If you Lily and Wiggy agree, then that'll do me! Thank you! 

Jamjar, I do have him in the 1891 and 1911, but in the first he's a child and the second a General Labourer. I'll go with Carpenter. 

Alistair

[a-l]

I thought something plater too but will agree with badly written carpenter.

[mrsruz]

Could it be a very badly abbreviated capstan lathe. Missing the words to qualify the job, eg capstan lathe setter. capstan lathe turner etc.

Marion

[Bookbox]

I read it as Carpenter, and the government statistician who later classified the occupations has marked off the Carp with a bracket, as standard.

[alistquin]

Thanks guys for all the input, in particular the little technical note from Bookbox. 

I never knew about the various marks on census returns before.

Alistair