Braid Mechanic

[UKRetiree2009]

I have an ancestor who, in 1911, was classified as a Braid Mechanic. Can anyone tell me what this means, please. He lived in Leek, Staffordshire, and I am going to assume it has something to do with the Potteries.

Thank you in advance.

[skiver]

where I live a braider was a person who made fishing nets, I use to make braiding needles for them,

[Buenchico]

Thinking logically, a 'braid mechanic' should be someone who works on (or, more likely, maintains) a braiding machine:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braiding_machine

This modern patent refers to a 'braid mechanic position' which, as far as I can infer from the context, refers to a setting when the device is inoperative for the purposes of maintenance by a 'braid mechanic':
http://www.google.com/patents/CN102430905A?cl=en

This link shows the most common occupations of people with the surname 'Drakeford' in the 1881 census:
http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk/surname/drakeford/1881census
It also indicates that the name was particularly common around Staffordshire and Warwickshire, therefore within or close to 'The Potteries'.
http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk/surname/drakeford/1881census
The top occupations include 'Ribbon weaver', 'Trimming weaver', 'Cotton winder', 'Cotton weaver', 'Silk weaver' and 'Elastic web weaver', all alongside 'Braid mechanic'.

Putting all that lot together, my guess (and it's really nothing more than that) is that you should be looking away from potteries and towards the mills, with your ancestor working to maintain the machinery within them.

[stuey]

I remember reading that some towns in the Potteries area, especially Newcastle-under-Lyme which is not far from Leek, were known for making hats (I forget the correct term for this.) Perhaps he was engaged in this type of work.

[stuey]

The term I was looking for is "milliner". Perhaps he worked in a millinery factory in the area. I would think that some hats, especially ladies', were decorated with braiding.

[UKRetiree2009]

Thanks to all that responded. Sincerely appreciated. More research obviously needed.

[Peter Pedant]

remember in the nineteenth century censuses people just said they were such-and-such and may not have been employed as one

I am not sure if that was true for 1911

In one Yorkshire census - I found 'concubine'
and in another I found a note at the top of the page
'they say they have occupations but I suspect they are all hawkers and peddlers or those assisting prostitutes ' ==== = = oo-er !

[tonyav]

Thats a bit sexist, PP. No mention of gigolo's then ;-)