What was a Rag & Bone Man?

Discussion in 'Other Occupations & Trades' started by kernowmaid, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    I still use them now and then.
     
  2. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    I do have a dog Ma, but I'm afraid she misses out!
     
  3. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Hubby gets the knuckle but he has to hide from you know who.
     
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  4. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    :eek: throw away? nay. I have a full compliment of skewers used for kababs, checking 'done-ness of cooked food, rolled chicken roasts & old ones to poke through the holes of pizza tray when they get blocked & a myriad of other pokey uses.
     
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  5. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Wet cloth over top of skewer cleans the hard to get cracks in joins of stove and any other cracks where gunk gathers around the kitchen.
     
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  6. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    Use of skewers must be an Aussie thing :)
     
  7. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Aussies can make anything fit their purpose. We make do down here. Anyone who can make a ceiling out of stretched canvas for the possums and snakes to make a home and roofs out of bark can do anything.;)
     
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  8. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Haven't done that lately. o_O
     
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  9. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Well, no, nor I to be honest. I was speaking of the Aussie of old but our ingenuity passes down through the generations. Although of the upcoming generation I'm not too sure. Off piste again
    What did rags and bones end up being, apart from glue and fertiliser?
    Where did the rags end up? Just curious.
     
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  10. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    According to WIkipedia:
    "In rural areas where no rag merchants were present, rag-and-bone men often dealt directly with rag paper makers,but in London they sold rag to the local trader. White rag could fetch two-to-three penceper pound, depending on condition (all rag had to be dry before it could be sold). Coloured rag was worth about two pence per pound. Bones, worth about the same, could be used as knife handles, toys and ornaments, and when treated, for chemistry. The grease extracted from them was also useful for soap-making."
     
  11. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Thank you Sis. Sometimes it pays to just ask the question.
     
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  12. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    Plus it was a question I had never asked myself and was curious. So we have both learnt something new today AM!:)
     
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  13. MollyMay

    MollyMay Knows where to find the answers!

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    Rags used to be used in industry and commercially. Anywhere were something needed to be mopped up, or cleaned etc. Vehicle repair shops used to buy them by the sackful. Now-a-days purpose made rags, well cloths, are used:rolleyes:
     
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  14. mikejee

    mikejee Well-Known Member

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    Woollen rags were also "chewed up" and used to make shoddy
     
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  15. MollyMay

    MollyMay Knows where to find the answers!

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    I have not heard of 'shoddy' for years. :)
     
  16. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Sorry guys, but what is shoddy?o_O
     
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  17. Sis

    Sis Rootles out resources!

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    "An inferior quality yarn or fabric made from the shredded fibre of waste woollen cloth or clippings."

    Or:

    1.
    badly made or done.
    "we're not paying good money for shoddy goods"
    synonyms: poor-quality, inferior, second-rate, third-rate, low-grade, cheap, cheapjack, tawdry, rubbishy, trashy, gimcrack, jerry-built, crude
     
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  18. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Thanks Sis. We must have been reading at the same time. From the company of Shoddy and Mungo of Dewsbury, originally. I hope thats right. Please correct me if not. :)
    No that's wrong. They were shoddy and mungo manufacturers, not the name of the company :rolleyes:
    I'm sure our old dining chairs were stuffed with it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
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  19. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    What ever that question may be. 'tis why we are here, eh?
     
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  20. Eve

    Eve Well-Known Member

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    I remember the rag and bone man from when I was very young and staying with my Nan. He used to have a horse and cart and would ring a handbell and also gave out goldfish in exchange for "rags. I would often hanker for a goldfish and I'm sure I often had my poor Nan scuffling around for something to give him - probably something she would rather have kept !I dread to think how many poor goldfish came and went !
     
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