Genealogy Chat

Just a thought, but maybe he cleaned up the flashings (dresser)from cast iron cisterns(sanitary) Maggie

i think Mike is right ,having a look on the web ,sanitary keeps coming up as in free standing appliance ,possibly an old style dresser in a bedroom,with a built in position for a washing bowl ,hence sanitory dresser.Fred.

Thanks guys, You could be right, I come from Stoke on Trent where there was a huge pottery and ceramics industry in those days - toilets still made here to this very day. There was also a large iron foundry so either could be correct although going on my dad's (very vague) recollections, i think the first option is the more likely. Sam

I had the same thought as Mike; if the town had a ceramics industry then that would be my bet.

Greeting's Samantha. . . Taking Helen's 4th. choice But think of " Sanitary-ware " e.g. Toilet Pans etc. Then it makes some sort of sense. . . MIKE.

Samantha Old occupations has these definitions for "dresser" 1) A surgeon's assistant in a hospital 2) Operator who assembled the yarns or threads prior to weaving of cloth 3) Assistant to a noble person, preparing clothes etc. 4) In an Iron Foundry, the person who removed the flash and unwanted bits from castings I wondered if it could be to do with 1) , perhaps someone who dressed wounds. It would involve being sanitary, hopefully! I googled for definitions, there's nothing coming up linking the words, but sanitary is to do with health, and dresser is an assistant who is responsible for dressing lesions (wounds). Helen

...a sanitary dresser? I have looked on many of the websites that list occupations but to no avail. Anyone have any ideas? Sam