Lace Industry

[Burto]

Hi,
Just wondering what "Coml traveller lace" and "Coml clerk lace thread" occupations would involve and would they have been well paid jobs?
Thanks.

[casalguidi]

Hi Burto

Commercial traveller would have been much the same as a modern day sales rep./travelling salesman.

Casalguidi

[Hackstaple]

The first is Commercial Traveller, Lace. Commercial Traveller was a term used for well over a century for men who travelled selling the product of a factory. It was paid by way of a small basic salary and some commission on sales. Some would do well or very well and others eke out only a miserable living.
A commercial clerk would be one involved in the order booking procedure at a factory or warehouse -  a fixed salary job paying better than a labourer would get. In some industries like the tea trade it was not unknown for particularly skilled commercial clerks to become partners or to find financial backing and become principals.

[Burto]

Hi,
Thanks for that really appriciate it!