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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Jackiemh on Monday 06 November 17 06:46 GMT (UK)

Title: Occupation of refiner and sweepwasher 1799
Post by: Jackiemh on Monday 06 November 17 06:46 GMT (UK)

Can anyone help with these occupations. The refiner is possibility involved in melting down old metal (silver?). I have looked at the old occupation site but nothing under refiner, silver, sweepwasher.
Jackie

Title: Re: Occupation of refiner and sweepwasher 1799
Post by: Kay99 on Monday 06 November 17 07:01 GMT (UK)

Try this site  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l0d/

Sweep-washer
One who extracts small residues from sweepings of gold or silver refineries

Kay

Title: Re: Occupation of refiner and sweepwasher 1799
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 06 November 17 08:36 GMT (UK)

From the Oxford English Dictionary
sweep-washer  n.

1815   J. T. Smith Anc. Topogr. London 20   The Sweepwasher is a person who buys the sweepings of the floors of the working gold and silver smith and also the water in which the workmen wash their hands.
1833   in R. Ellis Customs (1840) IV. 154   Sweep-washer's dirt may be landed and delivered without entry, on due examination.
1839   A. Ure Dict. Arts 1225   Sweep-washer, is the person who extracts from the sweepings, potsherds, etc., of refineries of silver and gold, the small residuum of precious metal.

Stan

Title: Re: Occupation of refiner and sweepwasher 1799
Post by: Jackiemh on Monday 06 November 17 08:41 GMT (UK)

Thank you. That makes sense now - my original thought had to do with chimney sweeps.
Jackie