Genealogy Chat

What I want to know is: would it be feasible for a 'puddler in iron works - aged 14 years' to go on to be an Iron Turner, then Iron Moulder? Or would he stay as a puddler? Thanks, Mary

I don't see why not Roy

Hi If its any help there is a reat site I have found for old occupations and if you go to 'I' for Iron Puddler and go to the more info link it gives you a quite extensive explanation. the site is http://rmhh(.)co(.)uk (remove brackets) and look under occupations regards Jane

Well its not uncommon for people to change jobs within a profession such as Iron working - but the puddler's job was actually quite a highly skilled one - Made wrought iron using the puddling process; a highly skilled and dangerous occupation which required physical strength, stamina and sustained concentration. The basic product of early iron making was 'pig iron'. Pig iron was brittle in quality due to impurities and the nature of its molecular structure and had to be converted into ' wrought iron ' by re-heating and beating with heavy hammers to impart the strength and tensile qualities required for more robust use. An improved method of achieving this was ' puddling ' - the iron was heated in a reverberatory furnace which was normally top heated, the heat source not being in direct contact with the metal thus reducing contamination.

Found these defintions - Puddling seems to require quite a lot of skill/stamina Iron Moulder Made moulds for casting iron Iron Puddler Made wrought iron using the puddling process; a highly skilled and dangerous occupation which required physical strength, stamina and sustained concentration Iron Turner Used a lathe to turn items from iron.

hello mary yes it is feasible the lad was employed as a puddler(stirs the molten metal like stiring the christmas cake to stop it settling) then goes on to learn his trade i presume gypsie

Hi All Thanks for all your input - I'm trying to determine whether this rellie of mine, who says he was an iron turner when he married and then later gives his occupation as iron moulder, would have started off as a puddler. If it seems likely that that's how they progressed, then HOORAY, I think I've finally found him LOL. If not - then back to the searching I go :-( Thanks all Mary x