* What job? Help, please!

[themoudie]

Please may I ask if anybody can give a sensible interpretation for the job/occupation that Janet Sinclair, aged 22, is employed as in this entry to the 1891 Census?

It appears to be "Plahoner's Shop Keeper", but what or who a "Plahoner" was in 1891 Edinburgh, I do not have a clue! I have underlined the mysterious word with a red line for clarity, on the attached image.

Thank you for your time, interest and assistance.

My regards, Bill

[LornaCraig]

I'd like to think it was 'Stationers' but that first letter just doesn't look like an 'S'!

[DonF]

I think Lorna is right. There is so much variation in the way this census collector writes his P & S that it could well be an S. And given her mother is a 'Printer's wife' a job as a Stationery shop-keeper sort of connects to the family business....

Don

[David2416]

I read that as Stationers before seeing other two replies. The S looks vaguely corrected and the t lack bars.

[Gowermick]

Without a doubt Stationer’s. Not every enumerator took the time and effort to make their writing legible, so dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s wasn’t a priority. Just look at Annuitant, a few lines above, with an identical t. This, to me, is quite legible under the circumstances
I’ve certainly seen a lot worse.

[themoudie]

Thank you Lorna, Don, David and Mike, I understand your reasoning behind the suggestion of the word being "Stationer's" and will use this interpretation.

As an aside, Don's interpretation of Janet's Mother's (Jean) occupation is incorrect. Jean's husband was a "Painter (Master)" or "Housepainter - Master" in other Census entries and his Death Register entry. He does not appear in this 1891 Census entry, as he is working in Glasgow at the time. The adage "Get on your bike!" held true in late Victorian Scotland.

Reminder to self, more handwriting practise so that mine isn't as illegible as that enumerators!

Good health and my regards, Bill