"Sailorman"

[macintosh]

In the steel rolling mills of Middlesbrough in the 1950s a man who was a foreman in the steel stockyard was called the "Sailorman", does anyone know if this was the general term for that position or was it possibly a nickname for this particular person.
The "Sailorman's" cabin was always a focal point in the stockyard.


James

[stanmapstone]

A Sailorman, metal trades, was a labourer with seafaring experience, employed as a slinger, and in splicing ropes etc. A Slinger, aka crane signalman, crane slinger, fastened wire or rope slings round heavy articles or loads, attched sling to a hook on crane rope, and gave directions to the crane driver.
"A Dictionary of Occupational Terms"

Stan

[macintosh]

Thanks Stan, I was aware of the slinger/crane job as part of the stockyards, it was just the term sailorman, and you have answered it perfectly.

BTW do you think it was generic in the steel industry or just in the North East?

James