• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Old Occupation request

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
  • Start date Start date
W

Wendy

Guest
I wonder if anyone can tell me what a Balm Dealer was my ancestor is listed as one in 1871?
 
Wendy, Happy New Year, A dealer in Balms for soothing the body, also aromatic substances. (probably an early chemist)
 
As Alfred Bird was trading as a chemist in the 1830's, I would suggest that a balm dealer was not an early chemist (too late to be 'early'), but probably one who sold balms which were used possibly as both healing (liniments) and also for beauty. There was no recognised hand cream to soothe hands made rough by such chores as washing. A sort of health and beauty shop? Interesting, this one.
 
I could be wrong but I think it is most likely to have been in the brewing industry, as I believe that there was a balm man in the yeast house part of the brewery.
paul
 
Yeast cooling in Breweries (from GEAR)
In the yeast culture room, yeast is propagated to be
used in reseeding and replacing yeast that has lost its
viability. Subsequently it is stored in insulated tanks
equipped with cooling jackets. Reused yeast is carefully
handled to avoid contamination with bacteria and is
stored in the yeast room as a liquid slurry (yeast balm) in
suitable vats, kept at an appropriate temperature.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for your help. I think the baking and brewing would fit this person. Thanks Aidan very interesting as well.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hi all..i have a dictionary of old trades and accupations so if anyone would like me to look up anything you are not sure of just ask....

lyn
 
It is worth remembering that there are two 'balms'. Barm is a yeast or yeast product, and balm is an unguent. We all know that enumerators did not always get what we consider the correct spelling today, so there is a need to look further into this, I would suggest.
 
Yes, I think in the days before standardised spelling Balm & Barm were probably indistinguishable but I also provided evidence that Balm is still used as a Brewery term above.

I can also confirm that my Yorkshire ancestor branch always used the term Barm Cakes instead of Baps. The Great Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barm also suggests the term "barmy", slang for "crazy", may derive from a sense of frothy excitement.
 
It was purely because of the difference in spelling that I made my latest observation Aidan - I have seen this morning that a 'barm maker' was a yeast maker from an old occupations site and as there was no official standard in spelling until after the Education Act was passed, I felt it was worth mentioning. I have to say I love your explanation for 'barmy' - frothy excitement - well, that's glorious!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top