If ever you need new job title

Here, courtesy of Tanya Schmoller are some professions recorded in the the Register of the Sheffield General Cemetry between 1836 and 1900.

Tripe dresser, Purse maker, Boot closer, Comb presser, Pedestrian,  Fluter, Hafter, Clock cleaner, Oyster dealer, Coffee roaster, Springer, Chaser, Tape printer,  Cork cutter, Fleam grinder, Cooker, Comb buffer, German silver buffer, Horn turner, Gentleman’s servant, Comedian, Cow keeper, Anvil striker, Patent busk maker, Galvanist,  Fibre dresser, Hair drawer,  Paper ruler, Saw parer,  Harness plater, Waterman,  Sawyer of stone, Sugar boiler,  Staghorn cutter, Pork butcher, Coach smith, Butter dealer, Cutlery caster, Funel maker,  Joiner’s tool grinder, Ivory flutterer,  Razor setter, German silver filer,  File hardener, Stock taker of steel,  Hardener, Tragedian,  Music smith, Gymnast,  Gold beater, Hair worker,  Law costs draughtsman, Table blade striker,  Marble polisher, Curler of hair,  Toy forger, Billiard marker,  Stay busk maker, School officer inquirer,  Lithographic artist, Razor wetter,  Harness cleaner, Sheep shear bender,  Butcher’s steel stripper, Hammerer, Overlooker, Canvasser, Elephant trainer, Fire lighter, [a] Ingot lighter, Polisher of chandeliers, [b] Rule & straight edge maker, Shoeblade forger, File lighter, Builders' architect, Billiard marker, Spoon and fork filler, Pianoist, Saw Piercer, Scissor finisher, Carpet beater, Canvasser, Artificial teeth maker, Silver chaser, File stripper, Motor man, Poultry judge, Engine tenter, Impliment maker, Silver packer, Tram cleaner, [c] Hammer driver, Horse breaker, Draper's porter, Bone cutter, Corset steel manufacturer, Seaman's cook, Tool chest make, Auger filer, Tram car regulator, Cable plumber, Horse hair dresser, Shoe blade grinder, Silver fruit knife maker, Ferrule maker, Retired gentleman, Lens polisher, Blacksmith striker, Shell turner, Spring measure fitter, Nutt maker, Sculpterer, [d] Goods checker, Fibre maker, Varnisher, Edge-tool setter, Knife buffer, Piercer, Rod roller, Imbecile, Yeast dealer, Silver spinner, File annealer, Tub merchant, Sand blaster, Car cleaner, Silver forger, Safety lamp polisher, Metre inspector, Horse hair curler, Brick burner, Horse hair drawer, Slinger, Saw spinner, Shell presser , Shell turner, Barrel washer, Aeroplane examiner, Carpet pattern designer, Steel chipper, Retired huntsman, Pick hardener, Wire softener, Xylonite worker, Company promoter, Chaff cutter, Tragedian, Skin dresser, Street pairer, Organizer, File scourer, [e] Hair curler, Hollow-ware maker, [f] Broach buffer, Shaft finisher, Railway sheeter, Brass raiser, [g] Book cutter, Circular sawyer, Corker, Appraiser, Carving fork guarder, Horse hair spinner, Drainer, Spear grinder, Hay fork finisher, Goods remover, Elictor manufacturer, [h] Phonographist, Finisher, Heavy steel toy trader, Hollow ware stamper, Self-tip cutler, Odd worker, Sheet parer, Linseed cake maker, Old clothes dealer, Account book ruler, Snuff grinder, Ash felter (?asphalter), File marker, Cutter out (silver trade), Chemist stock taker, Roll turner, Dressing-case fittings forger, Road setter, Car conductor, Gentleman (?idler), Shovel belter, Dressing-case instrument grinder, Spoon & fork cutter-out, Tape dresser, Silver chaser, Curled hair dresser, Tea pot handle maker, Wire cleaner, Motor car driver (1900s), Bayonet bender, Wool scourer, Scale presser, [i] Shaloonmaker, Delver, Cow-doctor, Fustian-cutter, Calico weigher, Cloth searcher, Clothwarper, Hairsieve-maker, Boat hauler, Preaching-house keeper, Triangle boy, Liberty-bailiff, Overlooker, Geer striker, Aquafortis maker, Seed cruncher, Oil of vitriol maker, Cotton twist spinner, Chaise driver, Sergt-at-mace, Bassmaker, Bacon factor, Pinder, Lath-river, Oil drawer, Hat presser, Reed maker, Wool sorter, Heel maker, Pig-jobber, Bridlecutter, Raff merchant, Sizing boiler, Tammymaker, Tammy weaver, Stuffmaker, Kerseymereprint..., Lath renter, Saddletree maker, Oatsheller, Oatmeal seller.

Addition history: [a] 20060329, [b] 20060405, [c] 20060422, [d] 20060525, [e] 20060623, [f] 20060625, [g] 20060923, [h] 20070321, [i] 20100513.

You can also generate job titles with a more modern flavour at the Bullshit Job Title Generator.

Last updated 20100513.

Comments

[Irmgard]

... doesn't 'Learning Technologist' sound somehow a bit boring compared to these titles? Is there any knowledge bank where one can read more about what kind of job was hidden behind a title for the cases where it isn't obvious?

[David Morley]

This list is fascinating. But I wonder if assumptions that these professions have died out aren't a little premature. Some, I suspect, have simply been renamed. For example:

* Boot closer – personal security assistant;
* Clock cleaner – public relations adviser;
* Cutlery caster – promoter of innovative field sports;
* Fibre dresser – organic chef;
* File Hardener – investigative social security official;
* Galvanist – football manager;
* Gold beater – currency speculator;
* Hair drawer – trichologist specialising in inexpensive methods of hair replacement;
* Ivory flutterer – amateur pianist;
* Joiner’s tool grinder – recruitment executive;
* Overlooker – Secretary of State;
* Oyster dealer – handler of stolen London travel cards;
* Paper Ruler – Rupert Murdoch / Conrad Black / Robert Maxwell etc;
* Saw Parer – investigative journalist specializing in political scandals of a sexual nature;
* Tape printer – another type of investigative journalist;
* Tripe dresser – civil servant who writes education white papers.