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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: gowjani on Tuesday 01 May 18 15:54 BST (UK)

Title: Wood Turner.
Post by: gowjani on Tuesday 01 May 18 15:54 BST (UK)

Would a wood turner have been employed in a sawmill or more likely a joinery or carpentry shop?
The one I am interested in started working in Glasgow before moving to Rochdale. Would he have been employed in a mill doing wood turning? Trying to figure out how my grandparents met.
Many thanks for any help, Graham.

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: John915 on Tuesday 01 May 18 17:06 BST (UK)

Good afternoon,

He would have worked in a turning shop or even at home depending on the era. Woodturning was a seperate industry from carpentry and joinery.

They made a whole range of household goods, from spoons to bowls and plates. Others, including bodgers, made chair parts. Bodgers worked with green wood out in the woods.

John915

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: gowjani on Tuesday 01 May 18 17:11 BST (UK)

Thanks for replies. I only know that he was a wood turner. No idea what kind though. I just wondered why he went to Rochdale. Possibly he changed his line of work.

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: mazi on Tuesday 01 May 18 19:00 BST (UK)

Turning wooden bobbins for use in cotton mills was a good source of employment in Lancashire.

Mike

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: gowjani on Tuesday 01 May 18 20:17 BST (UK)

Thanks Mazi. I thought that might be the case.

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: joboy on Wednesday 02 May 18 09:49 BST (UK)

A big industry for wood turners was bannister rails and supports which were (the vertical support rails) turned by the hundreds according to the size of the building.
All done on a wood lathe ..... it was a good job particularly if you were able to afford a wood lathe.
Joe

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: youngtug on Wednesday 02 May 18 10:43 BST (UK)

http://texts.wishful-thinking.org.uk/BygoneIndustries/BobbinMills.html

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: gowjani on Wednesday 02 May 18 11:50 BST (UK)

Thanks joboy, I remember being told by my mother that my father brought home a small wood lathe & proceeded to fashion a table lamp on it. Unfortunately she had just finished her Spring cleaning. As my mother never swore I wonder if she made an exception that day?

Title: Re: Wood Turner.
Post by: gowjani on Wednesday 02 May 18 11:53 BST (UK)

Thanks youngtug.