Census Occupations - Calico Printer
Below are some resources I recommend if any of your ancestors in your family tree were Calico Printers.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z
Description: Someone who worked in the textile industry who dyed and colored calico, a type of cloth. Calico could be used not only for clothes and shoes but also curtains, cushions, bandages, tents and garden awnings. Calico had to go through several processes in order to be ready for this. It was treated in a chemical mix to remove impurities. It was then bleached to remove it's natural yellow colour. Initially dyes came from plants and insects. Agents were used to bind these to the calico, such as urine, salts and roots. The first man-made dye was discovered in 1856, mauveine. Others followed. Copper sulphate, tannic acid and aluminium were used to bind the dye. Expolsions could occur and long-term exposure could cause cancer. Irritation the eyes was common and could cause blindess. Breathing problems and burns were also common. Dyed hands were also sometimes washed in bleaching agents causing further irritation. Copper sulfate is an irritant which causes itching or eczema. Eye contact can cause conjunctivitis and other eye problems. Long-term exposure through inhalation led to a metallic taste in the mouth, burning chest pains, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, urination problems, which leads to yellowing of the skin. Continued exposure can cause injury to the brain, stomach, liver, or kidneys. Conditions in those mills were poor with aching head and limbs and nausea being commonplace, not to mention the over-crowding, the smell, the heat, lack of sanitation, the long hours and the repetitive, boring work.
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