These quite early photos I found online date from 1845-1860. They show people with the tools of their trade, and were all taken in America.
A Stonemason.
A Blacksmith.
A Surveyor.
A Cooper. (Barrel maker)
Carpenters.
A Butcher in his shop.
A Door-to-Door Salesman.
A Fisherman.
A Miner.
A young female Mill Worker.
beetleypete 
Thank you, Pete. Those faces speak volumes.
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They do indeed, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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They all look like they are hard workers. So serious. I don’t think I would open the door to that salesman however.
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His rig looks very strange.
Best wishes, Pete.
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wow, if you had to cast them in these roles in a film they look exactly as I’d imagine them
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Except for the mill girl, I agree.
Best wishes, Pete.
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yes, she was dressed fancy, maybe it was her one chance to have a photo taken
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It needed a candlestick maker and a baker. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Warmest regards, Ed
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There was a baker, but the photo wasn’t clear so I didn’t use it. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I was intrigued by the little girl getting dressed up in front of the loom. She certainly looks proud of herself.
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I suspect she was either dressed up to look good for the photo, or was the daughter of the mill owner, Elizabeth. There was no caption.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Daughter of the mill owner makes the most sense now that you have thought of that. She looked well cared for.
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This was a great find, Pete! I’ve never seen a photo series like it.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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(1) He’s hiding his chiseled chin with a beard. (He made a mistake during his apprenticeship.)
(2) Blacksmiths are serious workers. They never horse around. At least that’s what Ed Farrier tells me.
(3) “And tonight I’ll be at my rear window in Falkirk, surveying Kirsty Douglas as she stands naked in the blue light.”
(4) The cooper was later arrested for enslaving monkeys.
(5) Karen was not available for this photo with the Carpenters. (And wooden you know it? Richard wasn’t there either! But at least he saw the photo.)
(6) “I’m a butcher. I don’t cater to vegans!”
(7) After a long day, the door-to-door salesman was sore head-to-foot.
(8) After rubbing the lamp, a genie appeared. “I’ll give you three fishes!” (My advice to the fisherman: carpe diem!)
(9) I hate to be picky, but that guy’s too old to be a minor. (Whoops! I think I just made a miner spelling error!)
(10) That mill worker was the Miller’s daughter. Her full name was Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller, and she went to work at the mill in order to determine which one of multiple suspects had committed a murder. (A blunt instrument—the discarded fragment of an old millstone—was later auctioned off at Christie’s for £1,890.)
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(3) An accomplished crossover into my last serial, David! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you for sharing these pictures.
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I’m pleased you enjoyed them, Molly.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Interesting… 💕C
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Many of those trades are unchanged today of course. Most of these photos were taken over 100 years before I was born. That fascinates me.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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So many skills have been lost as more and more people are replaced by technology. I never thought it was a good idea but it’s all about $$$$.
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Yet many of those jobs remain unchanged, and are still done without excessive technological aids.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Fascinating….the facial expression are ominous…..chuq
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They worked hard, for little pay. I suspect they were not happy to pose, chuq.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The millworkers had it tough, those little girls. Picking out the bobbers, sometimes losing a finger. A hard life for so young. Of course, your British girls had the same bad luck. 😉
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Victorian-era children worked in British mills from as young as 5 years old, Cindy. Working conditions were harsh, and they often had to work for 10 hours a day, six days a week. I’m sure the girl in this photo was wearing her ‘good clothes’ for the occasion.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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History is the same for our two countries in this instance.
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Cotton was king, on both sides of the Atlantic. x
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That door-to-door salesman is hilarious. Would you trust that man? Amazing that we still have these amazing phots.
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With popular photography not really starting until 1840, these are rare indeed, Darlene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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HI Pete, interesting photographs. The one of the young girl working in a mill is quite sad for me because I know a lot about the dangers mill work posed to these youngsters health.
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They did indeed, Robbie. But she looks healthier than British children during the same period.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You are right, I think they were at least fed and clothed. It was the long term health affects that were so bad.
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These old photos are fascinating, especially that fisherman’s face.
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Considering how old they are, the quality of the photos is excellent.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I like the cross eyed barrel maker. Wonder what’s in the barrel?!
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Beer perhaps – might account for the cross eyes?
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