crazy mistranscriptions

[demented]

Was browsing through newspapers on FindMyPast and was amazed at some of the errors made in the extacts. Some of course are understandable given the poor quality of writing etc transcribers have to work with.
 However I wonder sometimes if they actually read what they have transcribed!!
Loved this one
Arrested for " breaking into a horse in Bell St" and stealing articles of clothing 
What a picture that conjures up
Margaret

[mike175]

I think most of the newspaper transcripts are computer generated using character recognition software; it would be an almost impossible, and impossibly expensive, task to manually transcribe the millions of pages.

It is essential to read the original scans to get the details right.

But there are some very entertaining errors 

Mike.

[demented]

Thanks Mike

Afraid I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology. Things just move on so fast nowadays I can't keep up!
 
Margaret

[Marmalady]

And even the transcriptions (of censuses etc) that are done by an actual person are done by people with little or no knowledge of the area or sometimes even the language concerned

[mshrmh]

And even the transcriptions (of censuses etc) that are done by an actual person are done by people with little or no knowledge of the area or sometimes even the language concerned

One that I found this month was a "saw stationer" rather than a "law stationer" - an understandable misread of the writing style. I did wonder what the premises would have looked like that mixed legal forms and tools.......

[Rishile]

This isn't really a mistranscription but still makes me laugh every time I see this selection when I'm searching the newspapers.

"Frederic Stoneham, Esq., Hawbery Farm, Erith, on Sunday last gave birth to not fewer than eleven puppies, nine black ones and two brown ones"

I would love to have seen that 

Rishile

[LizzieW]

And apparently in the 19th century, The Times printed "Lady Kennedy has given birth to twins, the elder being a son".  That was later corrected a cable sent from Australia saying "Governor of Queensland, twins first son", should have read "Governor of Queensland turns first sod" (of the Gympie railway) and Sir Arthur Kennedy the Governor was in fact a bachelor.

[Anneatki]

I saw a census entry the other day - Occupation - Teacher of Mince. If it had been a family member I would have got the original from Scotlandspeople, but I may have to anyway, as it's been annoying me ever since! Anne

[Marmalady]

Should probably be "Teacher of Music"