Steel workers in the 40's

[parcher]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread but can someone help me out? Mr Parcher needs to recreate the outfit worn by a steel worker during the war. He remembers during his apprenticeship, a old chap who always wore old suit trousers, a waistcoat, shirt with neatly rolled sleeves and a bowler hat, which he thinks signified the fact that he was not a labourer. He also says that he had a "muffler" which apparently was used to stop the lips burning when dealing with hot stuff.

 

The question is, what was that muffler made of? I half suspect that it was a bit of old sheet, although Mr P says that this particular chap was always so smartly attired that he didn't think it was just any old bit of tatty material.

 

I also realise, of course, before anyone mentions it, that most men during the war were called up, but I also understand that older men still worked.

[retep]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread but can someone help me out? Mr Parcher needs to recreate the outfit worn by a steel worker during the war. He remembers during his apprenticeship, a old chap who always wore old suit trousers, a waistcoat, shirt with neatly rolled sleeves and a bowler hat, which he thinks signified the fact that he was not a labourer. He also says that he had a "muffler" which apparently was used to stop the lips burning when dealing with hot stuff.

 

The question is, what was that muffler made of? I half suspect that it was a bit of old sheet, although Mr P says that this particular chap was always so smartly attired that he didn't think it was just any old bit of tatty material.

 

I also realise, of course, before anyone mentions it, that most men during the war were called up, but I also understand that older men still worked.

 

Put rolling mill into picture Sheffield,

http://www.picturesheffield.com/index.php

[parcher]

Done that. Actually, we know what the scarf things looked like, but what were they made of? I doubt it was the wife's finest knitting!

[retep]

Done that. Actually, we know what the scarf things looked like, but what were they made of? I doubt it was the wife's finest knitting!

 

 

Cotton towelling.

[speedypete0]

my dad worked in steel industry in the 50`s his muffler was a white silk scarf type thing but it was heavy for silk

[Kidorry]

They were called sweat towels and made from cotton.

[tonio]

They were called sweat towels and made from cotton.

 

In 1961, when I took these pics, I was a chemist at Spear and Jacksons and three years later became a steelmaker. This was typical clothing worn at the time. Todays health and safety officers would go barmy.

The 1st pic is of the melter, Arthur Hilbert, shovelling additions into the 6 t electric arc furnace.

 

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc164/toniosf/iron1.jpg

 

The 2nd is tapping the furnace.

 

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc164/toniosf/iron3.jpg

 

The 3rd is teeming a 6 ton ingot. Sam French is the ladleman.

 

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc164/toniosf/iron2.jpg

 

The casting temp was approx 1550c

 

I left 1n 1968 and in all my 12 years there I cannot remember anyone retiring, only men going off sick and never returning to work.......

Hard times indeed.

[raymondo1952]

They were called sweat towels and made from cotton.

 

bit like mutton cloth

[Kidorry]

Not really they were thicker.

[parcher]

Gives me a bit of scope. Hubby remembered the scarf as being more silky than a chunk of towelling although I rather suspect it would have been left over towel rather than your very best terry towelling!