A doffer
is someone who clears full bobbins and spindles holding spun fiber such as
cotton or wool from a spinning frame and replaces them with empty ones. In the textile mills this work required speed
and dexterity rather than strength and was often done by children. Modern textile mills now utilize doffing
machines.
(Image source: ehistory.osu.edu)
He seems like such a young fellow to be working, but I guess that was the reality at one time. Do you know in what year this photo was taken?
ReplyDeleteThe photo is from: The Child Labor Bulletin, August, 1914; OSU ehistory website.
ReplyDelete