Swedish Occupation: Tegelslagare

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Direct translation: brickmoulder, or tiler



The occupation "tegelslagare" is referring to a person who works at a brick moulding table. To help explain this, here is a description of brick moulding from 1850 (references B, and D, can be seen in the diagram.)

"In the process of moulding the moulder takes in his hand, from the basket, a portion of sand, and dusts upon that part of the table where he rolls the clay into the form necessary to mould; also upon the moulding board. The water-box or trough, B, is used by the boy to wash the mould in, and is lower than the table, so as to be convenient for that purpose. The water-box, D, is level with the table, and is used to throw the strike in after each time of using."

As a side note, tegel in Swedish means brick or tile, and slag is to hit or smack. The two words were brought together as a occupational title for the person who throws the strike as mentioned above.