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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Warwickshire => Topic started by: Homes on Tuesday 17 February 09 23:40 GMT (UK)
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Hello - My Great Grandfather's occupation is listed as Tube Drawer in various records. However, appearing in the 1901 Census, the enumerator wrote beside the above mentioned occupation the word "Pudd". Is this the name of employment?
Also, on the death registration of his daughter (1902), occupation is recorded as "labourer at Tube Works of Birmingham"? Is anyone familiar with this company and where was it located in Birmingham?
Thank you in advance.
Gail
Ontario, Canada
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Hi Gail,
Don't know the company, but as a Tube Drawer he was most likely involved in making shotgun barrels for the Birmingham
gun trade.
Jim
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'Pudd' may be an abbreviation of 'Puddler' an occupation in the iron-making industry. More info if you look up 'Iron Puddler' on this site:
http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/
I have iron puddlers and tube drawers in my tree. I don't have anyone listed as doing both jobs on the same census, but I do have them shown as being a tube drawer at one time and puddler at another.
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Thank you for your replies.
You learn something new every day! Jim, I was unaware that Birmingham was also part of the gun trade.
Found the web site extremely helpful and informative. Thank you for the link. Perhaps he was also a 'puddler'???
I went through other records (BMD's) and found from 1890 to 1901 he is listed as a 'Engine Fitter - Journeyman' and 'tube drawer - journeyman', with the exception of his wife's death registration (1902) as being a 'bicycle maker's labourer'. His own death registration in 1907 states 'tube drawer'.
After his wife's death, an application was made to Barnardo's orphanage . However, seeing that he made 25 shillings a week as a tube drawer, the case was declined. Was 25 shillings more than adequate, compared to other occupations during this time frame?
Next question - Is there an on-line directory listing manufacturer's in B'ham? They resided in the St. George District.
Thank you.
Gail
Snowy day......
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Cycle manufacture would also involve tubes, so there's not necessarily any contradiction there.
The note "Pudd" was probably made in the census office, rather than by the enumerator. They would group various job descriptions into broad categories for statistical analysis.
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Now that you mentioned it, the work "Pudd" is not written in the same hand as the enumerator. Thank you for that clarification.
I'm leaning towards the cycle industry. A Google search enabled me to find some history on "Cycle Manufacturers in Birmingham that may apply.
Regards,
Gail
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Bicycle making, although some mass produced, was also a home industry (as in my B'ham family). A lot of the support work also for the gun trade was done in local "shoppings" and sold on to the main manufacturers (as service industries do today). You may not find a link between the trade of your ancestros and any specific manufacturer due to the sheer number of people involved in supporting these trades.
Good luck.
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Thank you for your input. Much appreciated.
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Try this site if you haven't found it already, Gail. Lots of local knowledge there!
http://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/
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Hello There,
There was a company called Tube Investements Ltd in Rocky Lane Astom Birmingham. Don't know if they are still around.
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About 40 years ago I remember going on a visit to a Tube factory in Birmingham.
There are at least two different methods of steel tube manufacture. One sort of tube is seamless.
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A bit off topic, but my Brother In Law worked for a Birmingham firm of Tube drawers, He told me a story of An American firm that sent over a piece of tubing claiming it to be the smallest tube ever made, the Birmingham firm sent it back, with one of their tubes inside it. ;D
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(http://[flash=200,200][/flash])Hi all
Perhaps I can shed some light on this posting , I worked for Tubes for 20yrs
The company was founded 1897 in Rocky Lane , Aston Cross ,Birmingham
and amalgamated with several conduit companies( electrical tubing produce)
In 1907 , you say that on the certificate it had the name Pudd, I think this is red
herring , part of the equipment on the drawn bench was the PLUGBAR this was the inner part of the reduction die , perhaps this is what they refere to, his correct title was a cold wall tube drawer, he would have to transport the hollows
From the pilger mills to the draw bench ,no mean feat, as these hollows could weigh tonnes, he would then submerge the hollows into the pickle tanks, which were actually steam vat full of industrial soap, then after a few hours be transferred onto the draw bench so that the dog would start the reduction process
The tubes that they produced were used mainly in the dockyards, for the
manufacture of steam Boilers, and depending on the order book the rest would be Set aside for Honing and converted into hydraulic cylinders, some as long as 30'
the shorter ones were sent to Dowty to increase the coal output, (Pit Props) ,these
We're charged to hold the main roof in place,
I left the company back the 80's and I believe it was latter knocked down in the
90's ,In its day Tubes was the main cold wall drawers in the district, although the
black country was well noted for this culture and had some of the best people
In the world , I know I worked with them for over 20yrs
If you require further information please email me
I hope this has help you
Regards
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I doubt that gun barrels would be made of drawn tube, if so I most definitely would not fire one.
http://www.border-barrels.com/articles/bmart.htm
Although there was also the damascus type of gun barrel http://firearmshistory.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/barrel-making-pattern-welded-or.html
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There are more than one way of manufacturing steel tubes. There are seamless steel tubes which I guess could involve "drawing" the steel out.
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http://youtu.be/_PEZ3vNsNNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WAx6NCB324&feature=youtu.be
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Hi Kw Jones10,
My dad worked at Tubes for over 45 years, he was a crane driver I believe in the forging dept. He retired about 1969-1970 His name was Bill West I don't know whether you would have known him. West1947.
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Hello Gail - you wrote this a long time ago; I wonder if you will see my reply...?!
I've been researching my own ancestor, Albert Gardner, and found the census page that I'm guessing you saw. Albert's younger brother, Jesse, matches your ancestor, and in searching what a Tube Drawer was I stumbled across your entry!
It would be good to exchange notes about our common ancestry if you like.
Jason
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Hello - My Great Grandfather's occupation is listed as Tube Drawer in various records. However, appearing in the 1901 Census, the enumerator wrote beside the above mentioned occupation the word "Pudd". Is this the name of employment?
Also, on the death registration of his daughter (1902), occupation is recorded as "labourer at Tube Works of Birmingham"? Is anyone familiar with this company and where was it located in Birmingham?
Thank you in advance.
Gail
Ontario, Canada
Just found out a relative of mine was also a tube drawer in birmingham.