Genealogy Chat

My Dad was a millwright I think it was called. He worked on ship's engines. He had his 'papers'. They were referred to as fitters as far as I recall. J

I think it was probably something to do with trains - Ive emailed York Museum to see if they know!

Do'nt have a definite answer Heather,could be either a fitter or engineer perhaps related to shipping or locomotives. JudyNZ

A fitter would certainly have served an apprenticeship - my uncle was one and my father was a fitter/armourer during WWII. In my opinion a fitter certainly WOULD work from engineering drawings. I could quite imagine a "Brass steam fitter" was involved with the fitting and installation of pipework, joints, valves etc in steam circuits in all manner of places. Such pipework/fittings would normally be of brass or copper, those metals being less susceptible to corrosion by hot water. Someone in my tree is "engine fitter's apprentice" in the 1891 census and an engine fitter in 1901. A modern dictionary gives "a person who is skilled in the assembly and adjustment of machinery". A fitter would often have a sidekick (to carry his tools and do the donkey work) who was called a "fitter's mate" - this would be an unskilled job requiring no apprenticeship. These days, anyone who has held a screwdriver or a spanner seems to be called an engineer, but in the old days it was one of the "professions" rather than just a job.

Hi Andy, not that I am bothered about his status !! but I used to work in an engineering factory in the Personnel Department and I have to say all our fitters were apprenticed and certainly skilled and able to work from drawings.

Andy, you remind me of how cross my mother was when, aged 6 or 7, I said my father was a mechanic. I was nearly right. He was a mechanical engineer. B

An Engineer would have served an apprenticeship, much better qualified than a fitter, who was a man who "fettled" raw castings etc before assembly. This would involve filing off casting sprue and flash. An Engineer would be able to follow drawings and make an item from raw material, something a fitter would never do. I don't know the relevance of "Brass" unless it was manufacturing the steam valves used in the cab of Locomotives, which are made of brass. A turner was a lathe operator. An Engineer would turn in his grave to think of a fitter and turner classed as the same profession as an Engineer!

A fitter & Turner is classed as an engineer

Heather I don't really know but could he have been an engineer on a steam train? Chrissie

My husband Great Grandad is shown as Engineer on his son's marriage cert. On the 1901 census he is down as Brass Steam Fitter - any ideas guys?