Brass Founder vs Brass Caster

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Brass Founder vs Brass Caster

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  • #501378
    Michael Gilligan
    Participant
      @michaelgilligan61133

      Mrs G. is working on the Family History

      Around Birmingham, in the 1850s … What would be the distinction between a Brass Founder and a Brass Caster ?

      My guess is that a Caster actually poured metal, and a Founder owned or managed the Foundry … but does anyone know for sure, please.

      MichaelG.

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      #27709
      Michael Gilligan
      Participant
        @michaelgilligan61133
        #501379
        Steviegtr
        Participant
          @steviegtr

          Founder

          I think you are correct. The word Founder without Brass is just that a FOUNDER.

          Steve.

          #501381
          Clive Brown 1
          Participant
            @clivebrown1

            I'd say that the terms are, to all intents and purposes, synonymous. Steve's link appears to support this.

            ie. "founder:- one who casts metals in various forms, a caster"

            Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 14/10/2020 15:20:39

            #501382
            Neil Wyatt
            Moderator
              @neilwyatt

              A foundry is a place where metal is cast which comes from the French but is related to the meaning of found as in establish, set up or put in place. That is where metal is 'put in place' so at root metal caster and metal founder have the same meaning, although Michael's assumption that the Founder owns the foundry could well be correct.

              Another distinction would be between a brass caster and a coppersmith.

              Neil

              #501383
              Neil Wyatt
              Moderator
                @neilwyatt

                Oh no, it seems it's more subtle than that, found (establish etc.), found (discover) and found (cast metal) all have different roots.

                http://www.etymonline.com/word/found

                Neil

                #501391
                Steviegtr
                Participant
                  @steviegtr
                  Posted by Neil Wyatt on 14/10/2020 15:21:09:

                  Oh no, it seems it's more subtle than that, found (establish etc.), found (discover) and found (cast metal) all have different roots.

                  http://www.etymonline.com/word/found

                  Neil

                  I looked at that link too. But found is not founder surely. 

                  Or is it.

                  Steve.

                  Edited By Steviegtr on 14/10/2020 15:41:33

                  #501395
                  pgk pgk
                  Participant
                    @pgkpgk17461

                    I would speculate that a 'founder' was a contraction of 'foundryman' and may have been a broader term than just casting. How was bar, rod, strip and sheet produced? Google under 'brassfounder' as one word finds it used.

                    Ifa founder was a fabricator then many roles: https://oldcopper.org/special_topics/casting_fabrication.php#_Toc432439726

                    pgk

                    #501397
                    Swarf, Mostly!
                    Participant
                      @swarfmostly

                      The French verb meaning 'to melt' is 'fondre'.

                      However did Kelly's Directory manage before the Norman Conquest? smiley smiley smiley

                      Best regards,

                      Swarf, Mostly!

                      #501400
                      Bill Phinn
                      Participant
                        @billphinn90025

                        Michael,

                        I'm not sure it would be easy to establish whether there was any consistent distinction in practice between a founder and a caster, and I don't think etymology is a useful place to start.

                        To gain some insight into whether there was any distinction, it might be worth searching old dictionaries of trades and commerce, such as the following:

                        https://archive.org/details/universaldiction01post/page/n839/mode/2up

                        #501407
                        Michael Gilligan
                        Participant
                          @michaelgilligan61133
                          Posted by Bill Phinn on 14/10/2020 16:35:12:

                          Michael,

                          I'm not sure it would be easy to establish whether there was any consistent distinction in practice between a founder and a caster, and I don't think etymology is a useful place to start.

                          To gain some insight into whether there was any distinction, it might be worth searching old dictionaries of trades and commerce, such as the following:

                          https://archive.org/details/universaldiction01post/page/n839/mode/2up

                          .

                          Thanks for the link, Bill … the entry for ‘Founder’ is useful; but as there is none for ‘Caster’ the mystery remains.

                          MichaelG.

                          #501412
                          Michael Gilligan
                          Participant
                            @michaelgilligan61133

                            Just found this fascinating archive about the Sheffield flood claims : **LINK**

                            https://www2.shu.ac.uk/sfca/indexOccupations.cfm?initial=B

                            Both terms are listed, and it appears that Founders made bigger claims than Casters

                            MichaelG.

                            #501413
                            Bill Phinn
                            Participant
                              @billphinn90025

                              This book might be worth a look as well, Michael:

                              https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000057652054&view=1up&seq=1

                              #501436
                              Bazyle
                              Participant
                                @bazyle

                                There couls also just be some element of local usage or differences more important to the workers than the public, like the difference between a joiner and a carpenter. Notably in a foundry things are cast but where's the castery where people found.

                                #501462
                                SillyOldDuffer
                                Moderator
                                  @sillyoldduffer

                                  Keynsham near Bristol is the home of modern British Brass making. It dates back to 1706 using imported Dutch experts and Mendip Calamine. Done in a Brass Mill, not a Foundry, and the 1851 Census identifies the staff as Brass Workers. I reckon Mrs G. is researching a bunch of Johnny Come Latelies who didn't know what they were doing. Always had my suspicions about Brummies!

                                  devil

                                  Dave

                                  #501464
                                  Michael Gilligan
                                  Participant
                                    @michaelgilligan61133
                                    Posted by Bill Phinn on 14/10/2020 17:39:03:

                                    This book might be worth a look as well, Michael:

                                    https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000057652054&view=1up&seq=1

                                    .

                                    Thanks again, Bill … I think we may have it this time yes

                                    I downloaded the PDF from archive.org and it makes explicit reference to Casters as the ones who do the actual pouring.

                                    On p131 it states, under ON THE SUBSIDIARY BOOKS OF THE WORKSHOP

                                    .

                                    THE CASTERS’ BOOK.

                                    Every morning the casters have their metals weighed out to them from the stove, and booked as follows:—

                                    […]

                                    So, I am reasonably satisfied that my original conjecture was correct.

                                    MichaelG.

                                    #501468
                                    Michael Gilligan
                                    Participant
                                      @michaelgilligan61133

                                      8c536b43-1f85-4715-8a48-35ec053366df.jpeg

                                      #501491
                                      larry phelan 1
                                      Participant
                                        @larryphelan1

                                        Big big difference between a joiner and a carpenter !!

                                        #501553
                                        KWIL
                                        Participant
                                          @kwil

                                          Micheal,

                                          If you have not already done this, you may find interesting to look within the Census data at occupiers of near premises. I have often found residents worked for the same employer/industry. For example sometime a large number of railway staff in close proximity.

                                          #501712
                                          Howard Lewis
                                          Participant
                                            @howardlewis46836

                                            To add nothing of consequence to the discussion

                                            The trouble with the English language is that it has evolved from so many others, as the land was invaded.

                                            So it will have words that sound the same, but have different meanings, depending on their roots.

                                            Some may be Roman, Scandinavian or French in origin, with Eastern additions, and even more, as travel across the world improved.

                                            And the rules of syntax seem to apply differently depending on the origin of the word, whether verb, noun or adjective

                                            Just look at MG's word "Founder". Originator, One who melts/pours/casts, Sink.

                                            No wonder that a couple of centuries on we have problems having a complete understanding.

                                            It would be interesting to know just how so many apparently similar words are / were derived.

                                            Howard

                                            #501747
                                            Nick Clarke 3
                                            Participant
                                              @nickclarke3

                                              Hi Michael –

                                              In the days of PD software for PCs (1985 – 90 ish) there was a disk with a street index of Birmingham in, I think 1818 available.

                                              If I can find a copy I will let you have it if you think it will help Mrs G in her researches.

                                              My own are difficult in Ireland as it is clear some relatives were bound up in the fracas that involved the burning down of the Customs House that included many records about those same relatives whom I should like to research. Life is never easy!

                                              Take care,

                                              Nick

                                              #501771
                                              Michael Gilligan
                                              Participant
                                                @michaelgilligan61133

                                                Many thanks to everyone for your further thoughts; and especially to you, Nick

                                                … I will send you a P.M. later this evening.

                                                MichaelG.

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