RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: ThrelfallYorky on Tuesday 13 February 18 15:36 GMT (UK)
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I've come upon a man, William Clitheroe Moston/Morton/Mostyn, resident in Bethnal green area for quite a bit of his life, who severally describes himself in different censuses as:
1861 - Scale board Cutter
1871 - Scale board cutter
1881 - Scaleboard Maker
1891 - Wood Scale board maker.
He died in 1890s, so there are no later entries, and I've not been able to find censuses listing him with this occupation earlier. One of his sons seems to have gone into the printing industry at one census, but at others is in the same occupation ... but can anyone advise me what exactly they were doing?
I'm intrigued....
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An earlier thread might help http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=643784.0
Kay
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Thank you very much, Kay99, I clicked on the thread you suggested, and read it with interest - I apologise that I didn't think to "search" for the term before posting my query. So: backing sheets for framing pictures? Seems very specialised.
Don't think it's at all linked with match BOX making, although it would seem that at the time both required thin sheets of wood.
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I must admit that I didn't think I would find anything when I looked!!
It does seem amazing that he managed to keep his occupation for his lifetime. Maybe he was self employed??
Kay
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From the OED
Scale-board; Thin board used for hat-boxes, silk hats, veneer, etc., and by printers for justifying.
Stan
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Now: I mentioned that one of his sons started in type and printing - perhaps it was linked to that? (Although the whole family were remarkably variable in the spelling of their own surname, so probably not a high level of literacy anywhere!)
Thanks again, stanmapstone