Tinner? Tanner?

February 2, 2012 11:09 AM

Please help me read this census entry: On line 61: what is this gentleman's occupation?
posted by Mr.Me to Grab Bag (14 answers total)

It does look like 'Tinner' which is someone who works in mining Tin.
Thats definitely a 'T' in front since its used a few lines above for 'Telegraph operator'
posted by vacapinta at 11:12 AM on February 2, 2012 [3 favorites]

Tinner. This could mean either someone who makes/repairs/coats items of tin, or a tin miner (more likely in Hennepin, MN?).
posted by slkinsey at 11:13 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

I vote for tinner too. It's mentioned multiple times in this listing of occupations from the 1900 Census.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:15 AM on February 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Tinner
posted by Mercaptan at 11:21 AM on February 2, 2012

Yes, tinner.
posted by Sassyfras at 11:21 AM on February 2, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks!! I've never heard the term Tinner before, but this makes perfect sense!!
posted by Mr.Me at 11:35 AM on February 2, 2012

I'm going to go with "Ginner" - a person who works a cotton gin. That squiqqly first letter looks more like an ornate "G' than a "T", to me.
posted by Decani at 11:56 AM on February 2, 2012

Decani, check line 55's occupation, as vacapinta mentioned. Unless that guy's a "gelegraph operator", then this guy's a tinner, not a ginner.
posted by Flunkie at 11:57 AM on February 2, 2012 [2 favorites]

No, strike that. It's definitely "Tinner". If you look up a few lines there's a "Telegraph Operator" and it starts with the same sort of "T".

Tinner.
posted by Decani at 11:58 AM on February 2, 2012

I agree with Tinner, especially since the T is the same in Telegraph operator.
posted by mareli at 11:58 AM on February 2, 2012

On non-preview: You are correct, Flunkie!
posted by Decani at 11:58 AM on February 2, 2012

Tinner. This probably refers to one who applies tin coatings to other metals. If he were actually working the metal itself, he would be identified as a tinsmith.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:09 PM on February 2, 2012

I've also heard "tinner" applied to sheet metal workers, like someone doing furnace ducts, but that was much later than 1900.
posted by Bruce H. at 6:55 PM on February 2, 2012

The OED on "tinner":
1. One who gets or digs tin ore; a tin-miner. [citations 1512, 1602, 1670, 1743, 1883]
2. One who works in tin; a tin-plater, tinman, tinsmith. [citations 1611, a1817, 1890]
3. One who tins meat, fruit, etc.; a canner. [citation 1906]
4. Local name for the pied wagtail. [citations 1880, 1904] ["because it builds its nest in the mouth of old mine-shafts"]
posted by stebulus at 7:33 PM on February 2, 2012