What is this job?

[annabel]

Can anyone decipher the top job? It's for a woman previously a confectioner and coffee house keeper

 

[Daft Bat]

Could you post the census reference so that those of us with access can compare the writing with other on the page.

Thanks

 

[Archie's Mum]

Rents Gold ? Machine. Haven't quite got the other word yet. Might need some prompting.

 

[annabel]

Household schedule number 261
Piece 383
Folio 21
Page number 50
Household Members
Name Age
Phebe Kean

 

[Archie's Mum]

Doesn't help me, I can't look any way
But it seems like gold plating (plattening) machine

 

[Sis]

Comparing with some writing on the previous page I would say it starts with an F.

 

[Archie's Mum]

Gold flattening machine?

 

[Sis]

"The first penny press machine was a jewelry mill that was then altered to leave an engraving on the penny. Jewelry mills, while usually used to flatten gold, proved the perfect coin elongating devices."

Don't know if this is the one, as the census is 1861.

https://abbottscorp.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/the-penny-press-machine-a-history/

 

[annabel]

interesting. Would someone be able to rent a gold flattening machine? Why would you want to elongate a penny?

 

[Chimp]

My brother and sister can make copper wire out of a penny when they are fighting over change

 

[Archie's Mum]

Maybe she's making costume jewellery

 

[arthurk]

The page has a lot of spelling mistakes and corrections, and I wondered if the original was "Reform" which was been incorrectly changed to "Rents".

It's not something I know much about, but could it be something to do with recycling old gold etc? Or producing gold leaf?

 

[Sis]

interesting. Would someone be able to rent a gold flattening machine? Why would you want to elongate a penny?

Sorry missed too much off. Here's the whole paragraph:

"The first penny press machine was a jewelry mill that was then altered to leave an engraving on the penny. Jewelry mills, while usually used to flatten gold, proved the perfect coin elongating devices. Souvenir collectors could take a break from dancing to their favorite ragtime music to watch the penny press operator drop a penny in, turn a hand crank, and result in an elongated coin with a “Columbian Exposition 1893” engraving."

 

[GrannyBarb]

Ha, ha. I read the "Flat" as "Flax" and thought: Huh, you can rent a machine that will spin gold from flax!

 

[Sis]

Ha, ha. I read the "Flat" as "Flax" and thought: Huh, you can rent a machine that will spin gold from flax!

 

[arthurk]

You're not the only one - one of the sites hosting the image has transcribed it as "Rents Gold Flax Money Machine"

Was her middle name Rumpelstiltskin, by any chance?

 

[Sis]

You're not the only one - one of the sites hosting the image has transcribed it as "Rents Gold Flax Money Machine"

Was her middle name Rumpelstiltskin, by any chance?

 

[Philb-c]

Why would you want to elongate a penny?

To make their money spread out a little further ?
(LOL)

 

[AnnB]

From the Leed's Mercury 7th December 1896
On Sale - Jeweller's Gold Flattening Roller Mill; rolls 2 1/2ins diam. by 4ins long, fast and loose pulleys, belt gear and foundation plate. For hand or power £5. Bodley Brothers and Co., Exeter.

...... and if you Google "gold flattening roller mill" they are still available today for around £160

 

[annabel]

Thank you everyne, that all makes more sense now. It sounds like piece work for jewellers