"polygonum" wrote in message
...
My partner's grandfather is shown to occupy premises in Bethnal
Green in 1921 as an electrical engineer. There is no family left who
can explain what he did but there was mention in the whispers and
memories of something to do with electricity so it makes some
sense - and I cannot help but wonder what the term meant then. Can't
imagine that any sort of electrical installer would need any form of
shop premises,

It was a cheap way of advertising his presence. His wife or one
of the children would be in the back room and could answer any
questions and make appointments with callers if he was out on a
job. And maybe sold the odd item as well. Having his name on the
shop along his trade would create word of mouth recognition in the
district. This was in days before most people had telephones and few
people probably bought local papers simply to scour them for
advertisements for electricians or electrical engineers. He
possibly made himself known to and had reciprocal arrangements with
any local gas fitters who often doubled up with other trades. Bethnal
Green may have had factories using newly introduced electric sewing
machines band saws etc. Expansive as electric power may have been for
home
use it probably caught on sooner for commercial use.

michael adams

....




the area was
very poor so unlikely to attract many retail customers, what is
left? Selling lamp bulbs? Charging radio batteries? Fixing
appliances?

--
Rod