Census Occupations - Shoe Cementer
Below are some resources I recommend if any of your ancestors in your family tree were Shoe Cementers.
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 footwear industry in the closing room, gluing the upper parts of leather together. Prior to the 19th century, shoes were made entirely by hand. With the industrial revolution came the invention of the sewing machine, increased mechanisation and therefore mass-production from factories. Initial factories were mostly small, cottage industries, with workers able to make shoes at home and bring the shoes in each day. These were known as 'snob' as they looked down upon this new modern machinery. Some opted to buy one of the new sewing machines but other workers did not always take kindly to this. Many workers also went on strike. Women were heavily employed in these new factories, sewing the uppers (the leather parts that surrounded the foot) together. As the 19th century progressed, the factories became bigger and bigger in order to compete with the international market. Conditions in these factories were poor and accidents common-place. Women's hair frequently got caught in the machinery, men's arms were crushed, finger's were lost and cuts received, especially when 'clicking' (cutting out leather by hand). Accidents were so common that they weren't reported in the papers unless it was fatal. Work hours were usually those of daylight (to save on lighting costs), around 54 hours a week. Norwich, Northampton and Mansfield were traditionally shoe-making centres in England.
Websites:
National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives
English Heritage: boot making in Northamptonshire
Shoe making in Northamptonshire
Glossary of footwear terminology
Reading materials:
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