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Spade Tree Maker
- Thread starter spooner
- Start date
Louisa
master brummie
Hi Spooner
I have no first hand knowledge of what this occupation is other than reading on a rootsweb site some years ago that they thought it was a ' footrest that fits on top of a spade blade'.
I remember it because it was such an unusual occupation.
Anyway I found this connection for you as it mentions the Friendly Society of Spade Tree makers and the person running the website is obviously very interested in the old occupations and Trade unions of those times and they may well hold the answer to your query.
https://www.unionancestors.co.uk/AtoZ F.htm
Good Luck
Louisa
I have no first hand knowledge of what this occupation is other than reading on a rootsweb site some years ago that they thought it was a ' footrest that fits on top of a spade blade'.
I remember it because it was such an unusual occupation.
Anyway I found this connection for you as it mentions the Friendly Society of Spade Tree makers and the person running the website is obviously very interested in the old occupations and Trade unions of those times and they may well hold the answer to your query.
https://www.unionancestors.co.uk/AtoZ F.htm
Good Luck
Louisa
I have a long line of wood turners, timbermenchants and spade tree makers on one side of the family and Last tree makers on the other.
The word tree was synonmous with wood or wooden part. Thus a spade tree maker made the wooden bits (handle) for spades. A Last tree maker made the wooden lasts for cordwainers to build up their shoes and boots on. (Or to repair them.)
This use of 'tree' is also found in 'treen' the word for small wood items and common until just into the 20C in and around Birmingham. (May have lasted longer elsewhere.)
The word tree was synonmous with wood or wooden part. Thus a spade tree maker made the wooden bits (handle) for spades. A Last tree maker made the wooden lasts for cordwainers to build up their shoes and boots on. (Or to repair them.)
This use of 'tree' is also found in 'treen' the word for small wood items and common until just into the 20C in and around Birmingham. (May have lasted longer elsewhere.)