Any ideas? Merino painter

[Suffolk Mawther]

Well done that man Stan 

I had decided it was printer, then enlarged it and used my magnifying glass, changed my thoughts back to painter.

I guess the other chap I found on same listings was a printer too 

Pat ...

[Beavances]

Wow - you lot are amazing! Thank you for all your efforts. I had no idea it was possible to see the census returns in such detail - how did you do that?
Although I do agree with Suffolkmawther I think it was a painter (and not printer)as the letter 'r' is formed differently in the word merino . Thank you also to AVM228 because I didn't know he was  a warehouseman when he married - (I have never sent for the certificate). I have found out quite a lot of information about him but have neglected these early details so thank you once again. I think the term merino painter must be as Michelle79 says it must be something to do with dying the wool.

[stanmapstone]

I think the term merino painter must be as Michelle79 says it must be something to do with dying the wool.

The census entry is clearly Printer, the second letter is not an "a" it is an "r", the top of the letter "r" is slightly shorter than the "r" in Merino. I thought I had proved from the other example that it is Merino Printer, you can find no reference to a "Merino Painter" anywhere, either in Google Books, old Newspapers, or occupational lists. It probably refers to printing patterns on Merino Damask


Stan

[stanmapstone]

This is Worsted Weaver from the same census, look at the "r". The enumerator had not much time to copy the schedules into his book, so his handwriting would not be consistent.
Stan

[AskAnExpert]

The Penny Cyclopaedia, 1843, describes Merino as a fine woollen twill, sometimes printed. http://tinyurl.com/dxot9lx

Askan

[AskAnExpert]

This item in The English Cyclopaedia, 1867, may be relevant, even if not in vogue until about 1846. http://tinyurl.com/c8sewhh

“Embroidery, as a handicraft employment, is in our day singularly affected by changes of fashion. About the year 1846, embroidered dress-pieces for ladies came into vogue; and in a short time there was employment for 2000 hand-embroiderers in London alone, and many thousands in Scotland and Ireland. A pattern was printed in outline on the merino or other material; the stuff was then distributed by travelling agents; and after the embroiderers had worked it, the agents re-collected it. Such dresses are now (1859) nearly out of fashion, and embroidery (as a regular branch of trade) is chiefly applied to window curtains, table-covers, valences, borderings, and other furniture fabrics.”

Askan

[Beavances]

Thank you for the references and I can now see that you are right - he was a merino printer, the explanation of the handwriting and the entries in the reference material made it really clear and I, at last, understand what he did. Thank you to all who responded to my question.