A list of old job titles and descriptions

Job Industry Description
Banksman Coal mining The man at the top of a pit (Bank) who unhooked and emptied the loaded baskets of coal into carts or wagons.
Barrowmen Coal mining The boy who would fill and then pull trams of coal from the workings to the crane or shaft (see also Half marrow, Putter, Hand-putter and Foal).
Bodger Furniture making A skilled craftsman who makes chair legs and braces
Brakesman Coal mining The man controlling the winding-engine or other machinery used to raise the coal from the mine.
Card nailer Weaving Maintained the nails (teeth) on carding machines.
Chalker-on Coal mining A boy who is responsible for keeping a record of the number of baskets transferred (chalking-on). This boy is usually also a Craneman or Crane-hoister.
Cooper Manufacturing Wooden barrel or cask maker.
Costermonger Retail A cart or stallholder selling fruit, vegetables or fish.
Crane-hoister Coal mining A boy between 12 and 17 years of age who controls the crane which transfers baskets of coal from small wagons (trams) to larger wagons (rolleys) for transport to the shaft. They were often responsible for keeping a record of the number of baskets transferred (chalking-on).
Craneman Coal mining A boy between 12 and 17 years of age who controls the crane which transfers baskets of coal from small wagons (trams) to larger wagons (rolleys) for transport to the shaft. They were often responsible for keeping a record of the number of baskets transferred (chalking-on).
Deputy Coal mining A man who sets props, lays tram roads etc... And also takes care of the safety of the mine and miners.
Deputy Overman Coal mining A man who sets props, lays tram roads etc... And also takes care of the safety of the mine and miners.
Driver Coal mining The man who drives the horses pulling the large wagons (rolleys) from the crane to the shaft.
Drummer Retail A travelling salesman.
Duffer Retail A door to door salesman selling cheap goods.
Flatman Coal mining A man who connects individual tubs of coal together before they are transported to the shaft. This is the equivalent of a Craneman in mines where the coal is transported in tubs rather than baskets.
Fleshewer Retail A butcher.
Foal Coal mining A young boy who precedes a tram of coal being moved from the workings to the crane.
Furnace Coal mining A man who attends the furnace used for pit ventilation.
Furnace-man Coal mining A man who attends the furnace used for pit ventilation.
Half marrow Coal mining One of a pair of young boys. A half-marrow goes at each end alternately with the other half-marrow pushing trams of coal from the workings to the crane.
Hand-putter Coal mining The boy who would fill and then push trams of coal from the workings to the crane (see also Half marrow, Barrowmen, Putter and Foal).
Helper-up Coal mining A boy who is used to assist others (see putter) to push trams of coal where the track is inclined.
Hewer Coal mining The coal face worker who actually extracts the coal.
Horse Coal mining The man who drives the horses pulling the large wagons (rolleys) from the crane to the shaft.
Horse-keeper Coal mining A man who looks after the pit horses.
Kedger Retail A fisherman or seller of fish.
Keeker Coal mining The keeker checks that the hewers are working the coal seam to maximum advantage.
Kempster Weaving Combes out wool (similar to wool carding) for weaving or spinning.
Lamp-keeper Coal mining In charge of lamp maintenance including trimming and filling.
Onsetter Coal mining The man at the bottom of the shaft who is responsible for unhooking the coal wagons.
Overman Coal mining The overman is third in rank of the officers of the mine. He is responsible for everything underground, he allocates the workers, examines the ventilation, and keeps an account of all proceedings underground. Large mines may employ two or more overmen.
Pick-carrier Coal mining Carries the hewers' picks to the workshop for repair.
Putter Coal mining The boy who would fill and then push trams of coal from the workings to the crane (see also Half marrow, Barrowmen and Foal).
Rolley Coal mining The man who drives the horses pulling the large wagons (rolleys) from the crane to the shaft.
Screen-trapper Coal mining The operator for the screens (traps) used to sort the coal.
Shifter Coal mining An underground labourer who is employed as a shift worker. They would repair passages in the mine.
Token-hanger Coal mining A boy between 9 and 12 who arranges tokens on a coal basket to inform a hewer of its contents.
Trapper Coal mining A young boy who opens and closes doors to keep the mine ventilation working.
Trimmer Coal mining Responsible for spreading the coal in wagons or other transport so that the coal does not form peaks which would cause blockages.
Viewer Coal mining The viewer is second in rank in the mine. He is in charge of all surface and underground arrangements and as such instructs the Overman.
Wagon Driver Coal mining The man who drives the horses pulling the large wagons (rolleys) from the crane to the shaft.
Wailer Coal mining A boy employed to remove slate, pyrites or other impurities from the coal after screening.
Wasteman Coal mining Examines the state of the pit workings and ensures that they are properly ventilated.
Water Leader Coal mining A boy who removes water from horse-ways and other places.
Way-cleaner Coal mining Keeps tram or wagon rails clear of obstructions.
Wood Leader Coal mining A boy who carries pit props to various parts of the pit.

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