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(11 Posts)
Tigerdove Wed 15-Jul-20 13:22:10

This morning I came across a site which gave details of church weddings 1909-1922 in a local church. At this time it was an ordinary northern mill town. 6 weddings were ‘posh’ grooms father being ‘gentlemen’ but the one that is intriguing is the grooms father who is a‘girdle straightener’. Any offers on this?

grannysue05 Wed 15-Jul-20 13:29:23

I think a girdler used to make leather belts but a girdle straightener must be something different.
Maybe something to do with barrel making and straightening the bands of wood!!!
Someone on GN will know.

Luckygirl Wed 15-Jul-20 14:31:23

Perhaps he followed ladies around and made sure they were comfortable!

midgey Wed 15-Jul-20 14:32:23

Ha ha Luckygirl!

MiniMoon Wed 15-Jul-20 16:42:18

Perhaps it's a girdle for cooking on. I remember my Nana having one which hung on a hook over the fire. She did have an electric oven, but also a range with fire and oven at the side. She always had the kettle on the fire.
ganga108.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/july-2002-what-is-a-girdle-a-griddle-by-another-name/

Callistemon Wed 15-Jul-20 16:58:14

This reminded me of What's my Line

The saggar maker's bottom knocker came to mind.

lemongrove Wed 15-Jul-20 17:43:48

No idea what it means Tiger ( and I grew up in a Northern mill town)?but not so far back as 1922.
Possibly something to do with mills I should think.

Witzend Wed 15-Jul-20 19:13:18

I remember a ‘streeker’ from some TV prog. ages ago.
IIRC it meant someone who laid out dead bodies!
Not that it’s ever come up in a crossword but I live in hope.

varian Wed 15-Jul-20 19:18:41

One of the holiday jobs when I was a student in the early sixties was as a "folder and boxer" in a knitwear factory.

Kate1949 Wed 15-Jul-20 19:21:51

A relative of mine, when asked what he did for a living, used to reply 'I'm an apprentice tea stirrer's mate'.

Carillion01 Wed 15-Jul-20 19:22:07

luckygirl ????