info on a job name on the census

[claybury]

Searching a relative on the 1911 census and work was given as ,Caretaker of model dressings, any idea of what this type of work was, many thanks.

[tonyav]

Probably a window dresser, I should think.

[Jennykenny]

I think in Scotland a 'model' sometimes referred to a workhouse or poorhouse.

[dotty.]

what area of the country was it and what occupations were given by other workers in the same RD?

[dotty.]

mmmm, a dressing machine is used in all sorts of production industries, could he have worked in an engineering environment, maybe an early car factory? or even an engine/carriage works on the railways.

[Mosaic]

We can eliminate it being anything to do with the fashion industry, as our use of 'model' was not current until the 1950s - they were always called 'mannequins' until about that time.

[tonyav]

You can dress something like a casting, it means to grind any flash or roughness of it.

[Mosaic]

...and if you interpret 'caretaker' as an old-style way of saying someone who does that thing ie takes care of that task, then you have someone who grinds and polishes the 'flashes' (called 'snotters' round these parts) off castings.

[tonyav]

Called dresser's around my area, Mosaic.

[Jonathan-Joe]

Could it be a transcription error for "model dwellings"? http://en.wikipedia.o...del_dwellings_company

[boobesque]

I believe many prostitutes gave their occupation as dressmaker, so perhaps your relative was a pimp