Occupation of "air ball maker"

[marnold]

What is an "air ball maker"?
Appears in the `1871 census, living in Merthyr Tydfil.
Thank you.
Mavis

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Mavis,

bit unusual this one !  Google brings up mostly the modern, car "air bag" makers, but one reference had a

CODE: 556.685-010Buy the DOT:Download/Diskettes/CD-ROM
TITLE(s): AIR-BAG CURER (rubber tire)

Tends steam-heated press that molds and cures air bags used in automatic tire curing presses: Weighs slugs of rubber to obtain specified charge. Positions bag core in mold, using hoist. Places charge in mold cavity and presses switch to close press and start curing cycle. Lifts core from mold when curing cycle is completed. Pushes lever to lower hydraulic clamp on core and pulls air bag free, using hoist. Counts and tallies cured air bags. May set automatic timer for specified curing cycle.
at: http://www.occupationalinfo.org/55/556685010.html


Note the reference to rubber tire (OK, so it's an american dictionary !). lt could be that this has something to do with what we might nowadays call tyre-making

would that fit in with anything else you know about this person ?

Bob

[alanh]

Mavis

Is probably short for Air Balloon Maker ( as in hot air balloons), as my G G Grandfather is described similarly in 1881 census
 Thos. HUMPHRIES   Shifnal, Shropshire, England
   Rel:   Head      
   Occ:   India Rubber Air Ball Man Employing 4 Girls

Alan   

[Hackstaple]

I would think this is a description of the job of making hollow balls with rubber exteriors. Before that technique all balls were solid through. Certainly tennis players were using hollow balls as early as 1851 perhaps before.

[marnold]

Thank you for your replies.  In the 1891 census he is listed as a "toy maker", so I think he must have been making toy rubber balls!
What a great site Roots Chat is!
Mavis