We seem to use the records of the 1864 Sheffield flood a lot to find out about makers at that time, as they all wanted compensation! Interesting, at least!
Here's a link.
Sheffield Flood Claims Archive | Postscript to the Sheffield Flood
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We seem to use the records of the 1864 Sheffield flood a lot to find out about makers at that time, as they all wanted compensation! Interesting, at least!
Here's a link.
Sheffield Flood Claims Archive | Postscript to the Sheffield Flood
"T.C. Fawley estimated that he had lost 2000 skins, ‘salted grains’ , ‘Chamose leather’ , ‘Spetches’ , also stocks of dog manure, packing cases and salt."
I surely hope my old English strops have nothing to do with the "dog manure"!
Your razor is sterilized, your brush has been sterilized, the soap has been made under the most rigorously controlled conditions and your strop has been smeared with dog poo!
Don't worry. If it wasn't the strops, it was the scales!
It could be worse. Beware vintage ales.
Also, I have an 1860's pocket scalpel that is still caked in blood. That's how I learned that yes, in fact, I can tell the difference between rust and blood just by looking.
Before hygiene theory came along, an implement that was gooey with stuff was one that had seen a lot of use and was therefore well suited to the task!
Yup, mediaeval tanning recipes included both urine and dog poop in the tanning process. It worked then, so I see no reason to think its use didn't continue until other alternatives became available. If it ain't broke, and all that... :)
BTW, how do you like "Vermin Destroyer" as a job title?!
Thanks for sharing that