Minnie Posted April 25, 2021 Share Posted April 25, 2021 One of my family censuses from 1851 has occupations for members of the family as 'Spring Maker', 'Coach Maker' and 'Coach Lace Maker' They lived around the Pond Street area. I am confused - would they have worked on horse drawn coaches, or would they have been coaches for the railway by this time? Any information would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartshome Posted April 25, 2021 Share Posted April 25, 2021 Hi Minnie. This is a bit of a tricky one, as it seems it was at a period of time for both, as the same skills transferred. A Spring Maker/Coach spring Maker - made, repaired, cleaned and tempered coach springs - for either. A Coach Builder - did the framework and all accessories needed to be built-in/on + the body work again for either. A Coach Lace Maker - did the trimmings originally for the horse drawn carriages, then transferred to rail carriages. Apparently some of the same skills were also used on tram cars. See answers to the same question you are asking on 'ROOTSCHAT' Ok Heartshome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leksand Posted April 26, 2021 Share Posted April 26, 2021 On 25/04/2021 at 15:13, Minnie said: One of my family censuses from 1851 has occupations for members of the family as 'Spring Maker', 'Coach Maker' and 'Coach Lace Maker' They lived around the Pond Street area. I am confused - would they have worked on horse drawn coaches, or would they have been coaches for the railway by this time? Any information would be appreciated. Is there any indication of whether they lived at or near the Works? Pond Street would not have been convenient for the railways in 1851 as the ponds were still there and the Midland Station was not. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (in addition) from 1852 Whites Coach & Railway Spring Makers - GREEN Alfred - 86 Pond St GREEN Alfred - edgetool, tanners' and curriers' knife, surgeons' instrument, patent truss, file, steel, &c manifacturer - 86 Pond Street so probably no clarification if this is where they worked - sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie Posted April 26, 2021 Author Share Posted April 26, 2021 Thanks for your reply. The census doesn't give a number on Pond Street, but really they lived in a few houses in that area. In 1841 he lived in Pond Street , but was only aged 10, so not working. In the 1851 census it says they were living at 52 Pond Hill and he was a Spring Maker In the 1861 census the family were living at 14 Harmer Lane and he was still a Spring Maker, but by 1871 he was down as a railway Spring Fitter. (still at Harmer Lane) Does this cast any light? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartshome Posted April 26, 2021 Share Posted April 26, 2021 Hi Minnie. A Railway Spring Fitter would fit a Leaf Steel Spring on the axle, to act as a cushion, between the body of the train and the wheel. This was replaced later by a hydraulic system. Ok Heartshome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysanderix Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 Railway springs could be of the "laminated/leaf" or "coil" form. Pneumatic and hydraulics have, to an extent, replaced the spring which, incidentally, was defined as a "device for storing energy". The railways had their own specifications for springs and spring steels which were often different to those required for the car and lorry manufacturers. Despite all the precautions springs occasionally break and so a spring fitter would either replace a broken" leaf" of a laminated / leaf spring or fit a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartshome Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 7 hours ago, Lysanderix said: Railway springs could be of the "laminated/leaf" or "coil" form. Pneumatic and hydraulics have, to an extent, replaced the spring which, incidentally, was defined as a "device for storing energy". The railways had their own specifications for springs and spring steels which were often different to those required for the car and lorry manufacturers. Despite all the precautions springs occasionally break and so a spring fitter would either replace a broken" leaf" of a laminated / leaf spring or fit a new one. Nice one Lysanderix! it's good to learn about specifics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysanderix Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 My Dad was a spring maker and I grew up on a diet of springs! I then spent nearly 20 years of my working life involved in the manufacture of springs and spring steels....!🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leksand Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 On 25/04/2021 at 15:13, Minnie said: One of my family censuses from 1851 has occupations for members of the family as 'Spring Maker', 'Coach Maker' and 'Coach Lace Maker' They lived around the Pond Street area. I am confused - would they have worked on horse drawn coaches, or would they have been coaches for the railway by this time? Any information would be appreciated. Chanced upon some sales particulars from 1850 for the Ponds area (straight of the top of Pond St) listed in the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent. It includes some nice detail on the industry there, including "newly erected railway spring makers' shops". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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