Mantle Maker

[vickim]

Hi,
Found an 18 year old relative Mabel was listed in 1911 census as a Mantle Maker.
Does anyone know what one is?

Her mother was a needle woman so I am wondering if there is a link in the work they were doing?

Would it be something done in a factory or in their home as piece workers?

Interested in any comments...and many thanks...Vicki (New Zealand)

[Keziahemm]

Making Mantles for Gas Lamps?

I remember them in holiday caravans, made of some type of white fireproof material.

Susan 

[millymcb]

She could have been a "gas mantle maker" ...making the covers which went over gas lamps,  or a maker of cloaks (called mantles) which women wore over dresses. 

As her mother was a needlewoman it was possilby the latter - but then again maybe not!


Milly

[vickim]

Hi
Thanks for the replies. Both are very interesting.   If she made gas lamp covers what would they have been made out of because one imagines they would get very hot and catch fire? Or maybe they didn't! Would there be, back in early 1900s, fireproof materials?

It has just occurred to me when I saw the "maker of cloaks (called mantles)"( thanks Milly) that in 1968 I worked for a  while in  the ladies section of a department store suits (known as costumes), dresses, coats and some  furs.

The department was called the "Mantle showroom".!! Gloves and hats were in a different department as was lingerie etc. Very "Are you being served?" type store.

Do you know I have never ever given any thought ot why it was called that?

So I think that if her mother was a needlewoman then Mabel was not doubt involved in something similar but it had a different title...or it could be the gas mantles.

Fascinating...
Many thanks to you both...Cheers Vicki

[willow2670]

Hi,
Found an 18 year old relative Mabel was listed in 1911 census as a Mantle Maker.
Does anyone know what one is?

Her mother was a needle woman so I am wondering if there is a link in the work they were doing?

Would it be something done in a factory or in their home as piece workers?

Interested in any comments...and many thanks...Vicki (New Zealand)

Are you sure it says Mantle Maker?

Could it be Mantua Maker?

[vickim]

Hi,
I only have the transcript thus far not the actual image and that says mantle maker. I also, like you mentioned, found description of a 'mantua' maker and found that it stems from the 1700s. So it did cross my mind that maybe that could cross to cloaks which could cross to mantle? If you follow my meaning. I will have to get the actual image to see what it says. "Mantua" is a strange word though. Thank you for replying..
Cheers Vicki (New Zealand)

[geniecolgan]

Considering the date I think it more likely she made gaslight mantles. They were very delicate things, made from silk I believe and the collar of the mantle was sewn.

[stanmapstone]

This is what "The Dictionary of Occupational Terms" has to say

Mantle Maker, Gas Mantle Maker, Incandescent Mantle Maker, are general terms for any worker engaged in any process of gas mantle making e.g. burner-off, seasoner, dipper, impregnator, sewer.
A tailors' mantle maker, was a coat  maker engaged in sewing by hand or power-driven machines mantles or loose coats of a special pattern.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_mantle

Stan