What is the most interesting occupation in your family tree? (#2)

[Romilly]

Thanks for the info.

No doubt Slate Quarrying was thirsty work...& so I'm sure that the beer must have gone down well in the long dark evenings in Kirky Ireleth, Lancs:-)

Cheers, Romilly.

[behindthefrogs]

Romilly,

Spelter is low grade zinc not tin and is used in producing galvanised iron.  So your spelter melter would be melting it ready for galvanising.

David

[Romilly]

Thanks for the feedback on spelter smelters:-)
I found this entry (via Google:-) which explains it well.
Thanks, Romilly.

Spelter, what is it ?
The town of Llansamlet , about 2 miles north east of Swansea, and in that county borough, overlooks the wide lower valley of the river Tawe. There are collieries, copper and tinplate works here, but the place is noted chiefly for its spelter undertaking, which is said to be the greatest in the country.
To the vast majority of people, spelter is a puzzle; they have no idea what it is, or what is done with it. It is really zinc, and originally one of its chief uses was for galvanising , by providing a coating impervious to weather conditions on any sheet iron dipped in a molten bath of it. It has now a myriad uses ; zinc ozide for paint, zinc chloride, sulphide, peroxide etc. Concentrates, or spelter ore, which looks like a brown dust, is imported from Australia, and the first process is to draw off the sulphur, resulting in the making of concentrated sulphuric acid. The desulpherated ore, mixed with coal and salt, becomes blende , which, passed through retort process, pours out like a silvery or bluish-white liquid, the actual spelter. This solidifies in square moulds and is zinc.
[Glamorgan, Its History and Topography by C J O Evans, 1938. Gareth 4 June 2001 G]

[GalaxyJane]

Hi Romilly,
               I don't know if you are into Bargain Hunt, Cash in the Attic and other antique programs, but they are always finding statues or clocks they think might be bronze, then turn out to be a cheaper version in spelter
 Cheap as chips as you might put it,  ....
                           Best wishes from Jane

[northern_rose]

Not that interesting in 1901 but today in 2005 I'm interested!

I want to know how he became one .............

Prisoner

[dennford]

another mistake
                              sorry

                                             

[RedFox]

Actually, I've come across many men who list as their occupations "Innkeeper and Miner".  As it was noted, with a large family, two incomes were needed (sound familiar?). 

The last time I noted it was in Aspatria, Cumberland in 1871.  I'm sure the wife and daughters (perhaps a son if he was too young for the mines) and a servant were left to work at the inn. 

Although I've seen boys and girls working in the mines at age 11!

RedFox

[Romilly]

Thanks for the info RedFox.

Actually, I'd be interested to know where the Beerhouse was. On my Grandfather William James Wilson's birth cert in August 1860, the place of birth is given as "Sandside", Kirkby...perhaps it was a shack on the beach?

Later on, they're at Beckside Cottage, Kirkby Ireleth, - perhaps they were both shacks on the beach?

Is anyone on here familiar with those areas?

Cheers, Romilly.

[linmey]

I have one who was a Fancy Knitter. I dont know if she was fancy or the knitting!!!