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Messages - Nickm

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1
Durham Lookup Requests / Re: Marriage and Birth look ups for Brandon, Durham
« on: Tuesday 15 December 09 21:50 GMT (UK)  »
Firstly I put the wrong given name in the post. She was actually Elizabeth Joyce Holliday (always known as Joycee though). I can confirm that she died a few years ago and I am  not aware of her having any siblings. 
I havent tried FreeBMD for her parents etc, but had tried the GRO indexes, in the same way and not found any siblings, so its probably unlikely.
many thanks
Nick

2
Durham Lookup Requests / Marriage and Birth look ups for Brandon, Durham
« on: Sunday 06 December 09 15:40 GMT (UK)  »
Anyone able to access marriage records from Brandon (probably), Durham for Q3 1930 (from GRO index)? Looking for details of marriage of Thomas Holliday and Agnes Joyce.

The Brandon reference came from the birth place of daughter Joyce 2 years later. So would appreciate baptism details of Joyce Holiday, born 1st June 1932 if possible. I don't know of any siblings for Joyce, but would be nice to know for sure.

Many thanks
nick

3
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Sunday 07 October 07 15:57 BST (UK)  »
I have now seen the book at the V&A. It gives a paragraph about Mr Martins new process "Tornography". It then gives a 2 page price list and a page of 15 red wax seals made by seals engraced by the new process.

My only idea for finding out more is to check for Patents for the new process of Tornography at the British Library. I did this for a brother (and his sons) of Thomas Martin, and found several patents for horse hair clippers.

My feeling is that this new process came too lateto make him a fortune(!) as the article talks about the Post Office not liking thick wax seals on letters, so I suspect that they started to become less used soon after he invented it. Not sure when envelopes with glue came into use?

4
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Sunday 16 September 07 15:22 BST (UK)  »
I have to pre order the books, 2 days in advance and I'll need to get a Temporary Ticket when I go there wit some id.

5
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Saturday 15 September 07 19:39 BST (UK)  »
A quick update o this.. I have traced a copy of the Essay in question to the V & A Museum.  The catalogue entry says

"Includes fifteen specimens of brass seals in red sealing-wax, produced by Thomas Martin, Newton Abbot, Devon, attached to inside back board."

I plan to go and see it next week and get some photos of the Seals. I'm hoping that the Essay itself will say a bit more about Tornography and Thomas Martin.
Many thanks for finding  the original reference!!!

6
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Monday 03 September 07 23:09 BST (UK)  »
Bit odd this one. Page 138 has heading reference to new methods of engraving, but I cant find any detail for it. I downloaded the pdf and tried paging through all 166 pages and no mention? Did I miss it somehow?

7
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Monday 03 September 07 14:09 BST (UK)  »
Your a star!!!  Many thanks for this, its great!

We are a clever lot us Martins! Yes he is related, he is a brother of my Gt. Gt. Grandfather, Robert Martin. Robert left Devon in 1851/2 and came to Charlton in London. Robert and his sons were also inventors as I have found Patents at the British Library for them connected to Horse Hair Clippers. They manufactured these and later went into human hair dressing clippers.

I guess its back to the British Library to look for any patents for Thomas and his sons who also were Tornographers. And a look at the Newton Abbot papers to see if he got a mention for being athe Great Exhibition?

If you would like to start a new posting about the catalogue, thats fine by me.
Many thanks again!

8
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Monday 03 September 07 12:46 BST (UK)  »
Hi Mog, Thanks for this.
I did find them in a couple of Trade Directories, but they didn't say much...

Entry in Billings Directory of Devon - 1857 - "Martin, T. Engraver, Wolborough St" & "Engraver - Martin, Thomas, Wolborough St. (Ref: Westcountry Studies Library)

Slater's (Late Pigot & Co) Royal National and Commercial Directory - Newton Abbot - 1852-3 - "Tornographic Seal Engraver - Martin, Thomas, Courtenay St.  (Ref: Westcountry Studies Library)

It looks like they were early adopters of new technology and then seals went out of use, maybe? They used Tornographic in the earlier one, but just said Engravers in the later one. They were still saying that they were Tornographers in the 1891 and 1901 census, but maybe they were just using it as a clever word for Engravers.

Thanks for finding the above.
nick

9
Occupation Interests / Re: Tornographer (Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery)
« on: Monday 27 August 07 22:51 BST (UK)  »
Hi Ricky
Here is the 1851. Its the same family/place in later ones as well
1851 - PRO Reference: HO/107/1871 555+6  Page:7/8
Address:   Courtenay St, Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devonshire
Thomas  MARTIN      Head   M   36   M   Tornographer or Engraver of Seals by Steam Machinery. Master empl'g 2 men   Denbury-DEV
      

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