Odd occupation in 1911 Irish census

[JamesW]

In the 1911 Irish census Lewis Porter's occupation is listed as "singer in a bleach works". Was this some sort of rudimentary musak for the workers? I think it is probably a technical term, but I have not found it after a little googling. Lewis was my grandmother's first cousin.

 

[Tim]

Have you got a link the census? Maybe we can work it out?

 

[peter]

Could it be from 'singe' rather than 'sing'?

 

[JamesW]

The link to the record is http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001550790/

I did think of the possibility that the word "singer" is actually from "singe" but I can't find a reference to singe in reference to bleaching. I have made an assumption that the bleach works was processing flax, but this may be incorrect. It could have been producing bleach, for all I know. But on the assumption that it might be in relation to flax processing I searched and found an informative article at decktowel.com. I have sent a query to their info email. I'll post anything I find out here.

 

[JamesW]

Well that was quick. I have heard back from the president of the decktowel company who says:

Interesting, I have not heard of that position before. I am wondering if maybe something was misconstrued. A sizer in a fabric manufacturer back in the day was someone who applied sizing to the fabric. That’s about all I can think of. Conversely in the tobacco factories in Cuba there was position know as a reader. They read from literary classics to the tobacco rollers as they rolled cigars. Maybe a singer had a similar role in the bleach works!!
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The 1911 census was filled in by a household member, and in this case it was Lewis himself, so I'm pretty sure the word is "singer". The fact about the readers in Cuban tobacco factories does lend a little support to the notion that the factory might have paid for a singer to entertain the workers.

Or, maybe Lewis was a bit of a wag and described himself as a singer because he sang a lot as he worked.

 

[Tim]

Well it does look like singer
And it's not mentioned in this list.

 

[Sue_3]

It is in this list though!

 

[Heather]

It is in this list though!

Thanks Sue_3 I have four lists of occupations and it wasn't listed in any of those, always good to find another one and one with so much detail in it.