1871 Census. What does ‘16 - 2’ mean in woman’s occupation?

[AlanBoyd]

Maybe they couldn’t read the husband’s occupation: mordant liquor maker? Can’t have been many of those about. Or they didn’t know what to classify it as?

[JenB]

Maybe they couldn’t read it: mordant liquor maker? Can’t have been many of those about.

I was thinking along those lines. I don't think the number refers to Ann but to Henry.

[Nichy]

Thank you for your help.  There did seem to be a Mary Jones that had a bit of a criminal history, but i don't think it must be the same one as this one.  Just wondered if the '16-2' was anything to do with that but it seems unlikely then.  It must be to do with Henry's Mordaunt liquor making. I wonder what Mordaunt liquor was?

[hanes teulu]

Explains the use of mordants in the calico printing trade
https://electricscotland.com/history/industrial/industry12.htm

[Nichy]

ah thank you so much! I was thinking mordant liquor was some kind of alcohol to drink.  It all fits in with the mills in Manchester now.

[hanes teulu]

ah thank you so much! I was thinking mordant liquor was some kind of alcohol to drink.  It all fits in with the mills in Manchester now.

Re. alcohol, a number of newspapers 1870 carried a report of a "practical public brewer, who has repented of the evil of his ways" spilling the beans on how he "improved" his wine/porter/ales eg.
""Roche alum (here are dye and mordant together) fines and enlivens ale"

In the calico printing trade I think alum might precede mordant in the sequence of processing?

Also spotted
"The thickening of mordant is one of the most important operations in calico printing, for the permanence and beauty of the impressions depend not a little on the consistence and quality of the inspissating substance. The substances usually employed in thickening are flour starch, flour, roasted starch, gum senegal, gum tragacanth, salep, poptato starch, sulphate of lead and gum, sugar, treacle, glue"

[Andrew Tarr]

In the calico printing trade I think alum might precede mordant in the sequence of processing?

Surely alum is the mordant (a chemical to help bind the dye to the material) ?

[hanes teulu]

I'll need to find the newspaper article where I think I read this or similar.

[hanes teulu]

In the calico printing trade I think alum might precede mordant in the sequence of processing?

Surely alum is the mordant (a chemical to help bind the dye to the material) ?

You are right - alum is present in the mordant. My reference to it's being employed separately was based on an item I recalled reading prior to posting - hence the presence of "I think" and the question mark. I cannot find that particular item now but a salutary lesson in confirming sources before committing to print ie " the palest ink is better than the strongest memory"