A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921.

ORDER IX.—ELECTRICAL APPARATUS MAKERS AND FITTERS (NOT ELSEWHERE ENUMERATED) AND ELECTRICIANS

Sub-order 1.—Electrical Apparatus Makers and Fitters (not elsewhere enumerated) and Electricians

311.—Wiremen, Linesmen, Cable Jointers

* Term officially obsolete. Classed by the Post Office Engineering Department as a skilled workman (311).

cable hand (electric conduit tramways) ; conduit railman: (i) is one of a gang of men who periodically examine connections (low tension cables supplying current to contact or conductor rail), joints, insulators, etc., by inserting a mirror through slot between rails; report defects or worn parts in conductor rails (T-bars), insulators, "bonds" (copper wire connections between rails), electric cables, and their connections, and do preliminary repairs thereto, if possible; are responsible for repair and maintenance of conductor rails, insulators, and "bonds" (but not of , cables); repair bonds by fixing new strand of copper wire in holes in each of two rails, and fixing it with a portable jack;; (ii) is usually employed in cleaning out manholes, etc.; but in case of a breakdown becomes one of a breakdown gang, sent up to repair conductor rails, bonds, etc., as described above.
circuitman, electric light: see electric light attendant.
conduit railman (electric conduit tramways): see cable hand (electric conduit tramways).
conduit railman (electric railways): as for cable hand (electric conduit tramways).
contact railman (electric railways): as for cable band (electric conduit tramways).
cord examiner (telephones): examines and tests (by observation and/or by various electrical tests with voltmeter, ammeter, etc., or by connecting to switchboard) flexible wires used in electrical work, to detect faulty material or workmanship.
cord repairer (telephones): a cord examiner q.v. who visits telephone exchanges to examine instruments and flexible cords used on switchboards; tests by visual examination and/or with help of battery and buzzer; replaces or renews defective cords, using pliers, screwdriver, and other hand tools.
electrician ; wireman, electrical wireman: (i) instals wiring in conduit, steel tube, lead sheath. or other form of mechanical protection; may affix plain insulated wire without other protection; fixes switches, by hand, by screwing base on to walls, using screwdriver, pliers, bradawl, hammer, etc.; fits up lighting fittings in same way, but does not fix meter (see meter fixer); fixes fuse boxes: runs wires for motors and control gear;; (ii) in mines and, quarries , has statutory duties under Coal Mines Act in connection with maintenance of electrical plant in and about mine or quarry.
electrician, house: see electric light attendant.
*electric light attendant ; electric Tight circuitman, house electrician, light and hell attendant: attends to electric light fittings, switches, and fuses in a house or other building; does repairs; keeps electric bells in order; sometimes also maintains electric cookers, heaters, kettles, irons, etc., in good condition.
fitter, electric light: as for electrician.
fitter, telephone: as for lineman.
*jointer (electric cables), cable jointer, electric jointer, jointer-plumber ; cable splicer, plumber-and-jointer, splicer, wire-worker (electric cables): (i) makes joints in overhead or underground or submarine electric cables by "stripping " (untwisting) ends of cable; then joins each wire or conductor to corresponding wire or conductor of other cables; insulates each wire or conductor, and binds whole with tape and waterproof covers; solders or brazes junction, and replaces insulating covering;; (ii) makes joints by hand in heavy cables or cores; insulates them, and completes them (if cable is lead-covered) with plumber's watertight lead joints; also makes connections in underground boxes.
jointer, electric conduit jointer (electric railways): a specialised cable jointer q.v. who is responsible for repair and renewal of low tension cables (technically known as "connections") carrying electricity to different sections of contact rail, and for joints between cable and cable and between cable and contact rail; connects wires, and makes "plumber's joint" therein; is in charge of job, and has a number of men working under him, in cases of renewal, or of laying of new cables.
jointer, gutta percha cable jointer, gutta percha jointer: a cable jointer q.v. mainly employed in submarine cable work, for which gutta percha is largely used, either on a cable ship or in a factory.
jointer, wire: joins, by brazing, two lengths of electric wire; (in telegraph cable works) sometimes also operates a stranding machine.
light and bell attendant: see electric light attendant.
*lineman, linesman, overhead linesman: draws up and fixes overhead electric wires; repairs and makes good, breakages of wires; traces and searches along lines of wires for "live" spans, and re-insulates them; attends to section pillars; may also instal telegraph or telephone apparatus, and remove faults, if any.
lineman, chief (railways): has charge of maintenance of overhead telegraph and telephone system, in connection with railway signalling system, throughout a specified area; directs telegraph linemen q.v. and also works as a lineman if necessary; similarly employed on erection of new lines; cf. chief lineman (261).
lineman, electric signal (railways): an electrician or wireman q.v. who maintains in repair electric lighting installation; wires and lays pipes carrying current, fits insulators, adjusts electrical instruments and electrical locking apparatus.
lineman, telegraph; telephone lineman (railways): a lineman q.v. who under direction of chief lineman fits up, overhauls and repairs as necessary, overhead lines and signal box instruments for telegraphs or telephones in connection with railway signalling system, within a specified area; works either alone or assisted by lineman's assistant q.v.
lineman's assistant, under lineman (railways): assists telegraph lineman q.v. either rendering personal assistance in execution of jobs or himself performing jobs when so instructed; in process of becoming qualified for promotion to grade of lineman.
linesman, overhead power: carries out outside constructional work for overhead wires or cables conveying electric power; erects and maintains high pressure transmission lines; runs service lines and branch wires; erects lanterns and lamps; fixes and connects street switch boxes and lamp circuits.
meter fixer: fixes meter boards and meters, and connects them up to supply cables and to consumer's wiring, by hand, using screwdriver, pliers, and, if necessary, soldering bit, etc.; in some firms partly engaged as electrician or wireman q.v.
motor fixer: an electrical fitter (306) q.v. engaged in fixing electric motors.
plumber and jointer: see jointer (electric cables).
skilled workman (G.P.O.): general term covering all men. employed in Post Office Engineering Department on skilled work; see those terms marked with asterisk.
splicer, cable splicer: see jointer (electric cables).
welder: (i) cable welder places two wires to be welded together in slots in electric welding machine and switches on current;; (ii) see wire mounter.
wireman, electrical wireman: see electrician.
wireman, indoor: an electrician q.v. mainly engaged in indoor work e.g., wiring interiors of houses, as distinguished from outdoor wireman or linesman.
*wireman, telegraph or telephone: a member of a gang engaged in erection or repair of overhead telegraph or telephone wires and wiring work, and in -jointing, regulating, binding, and terminating of these wires.
*wireman (telephone exchanges): strips, forms, and laces switchboard cables, and connects them to tags on apparatus racks and switchboards.
wireman, telephone switchboard: does routine erecting and wiring tip of telephone switchboards.
wire mounter, wirer (electric lamps) ; welder: (i) joins and welds short ends of connecting wire to filament before mounting in bulb;; (ii) joins together wires making up leading-in wire of lamp.
wire repairer: as for linesman.
wire worker (electric cables): see cable jointer.

From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016. This text is in the Public Domain.