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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hertfordshire => Topic started by: Jane Medcalf on Friday 09 September 11 15:47 BST (UK)

Title: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Jane Medcalf on Friday 09 September 11 15:47 BST (UK)
Hi,

Does anyone know what an Oil Cake Trimmer did in 1911?

Thank you,

Jane
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Redroger on Friday 09 September 11 16:49 BST (UK)
Oil cake is the solid residue left after certain oily seeds have been pressed for their oil. It is used for cattle food, so I guess an oil cake trimmer would cut this residue to a standard size for transhipment to customers.
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Jane Medcalf on Monday 12 September 11 09:29 BST (UK)
Thank you for replying to my post. Very intriguing. I wonder where that would take place in or around Hertford, Hertfordshire. It doesn't sound like it would have anything to do with the brewing industry. There is a brewery in Hertford, McMullens, where most of the family worked then as Maltsters.

Thank you. Jane
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: cati on Monday 12 September 11 09:42 BST (UK)
Quote from: Jane Medcalf on Monday 12 September 11 09:29 BST (UK)
It doesn't sound like it would have anything to do with the brewing industry

You'd be surprised: all sorts of grains and seeds are used  in brewing (the most common being malted barley).

Cati
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Jane Medcalf on Monday 12 September 11 09:51 BST (UK)
Maybe he did work at the local brewery then!? Thanks, Cati!
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Skoosh on Monday 12 September 11 13:48 BST (UK)
This is more probably in connection to a mill extracting linseed oil, for example, from seed. The cake being a by-product.    Skoosh.
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Jane Medcalf on Monday 12 September 11 13:49 BST (UK)
Actually, there was a flour mill in Hertford. Could this be a connection???
Title: Re: Occupation: Oil Cake Trimmer
Post by: Redroger on Monday 12 September 11 15:48 BST (UK)
I think that in that era it is quite likely that the waste products from the brewing industry would also probably be included in the oil cake production, and have seen but forget where a building with a sign referring to both the production of flour and of oil cake.
From memory does the name British Oil and Cake Mills ring any bells with colleagues?