First published as The Boy’s Book of Trades and the Tools Used in Them by George Routledge & Sons, London, 1866. This book was originally intended as an aid for boys seeking information about prospective trades and occupations available to them as adults. This is a Dover edition published in 2005 and is an unabridged reproduction of the original work. The author is Anonymous.
It is profusely illustrated with over 700 beautiful engravings and has 320 pages covering many trades. Such as…
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| The Sugar Refiner’s Tools |
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| She doesn’t look like a boy! |
It says “Pointing these wires is the most unhealthy part of the manufacture; the fine dust is carried into the lungs of the workmen, and destroys them in a few years, very few living beyond the age of forty” not exactly an appealing career move!
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| A Hat Lathe |
Also included are such things as…
The Plasterer & Whitewasher
The Gilder
The Brassfounder
The Cutler & File Cutter
The Calenderer & Hotpresser
The Paper Stainer
The Manufacture of Gas
The Gas Fitter
The Gun Manufacturer
The Coppersmith
The Dyer & Scourer
and many more.
Unfortunately there is no index so it’s a good book for dipping into revealing many facets of working life in Victorian England.
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