Genealogy Forum UK

I have several ancestors in my tree (early 19th century) who give their ocupation as 'Trace Maker'. Many of their descendants are listed as chain makers. I believe that Trace makers made the chain that was used on the harnesses of draught and carriage horses but I can't find anything to confirm this. Any thoughts / references gratefully received.

Trace Maker/Tracer Worked in a draughting office, copying engineering diagrams, using tracing paper. In the days before photocopying, plans and diagrams for mining and manufacturing industries were copied by hand. It required accuracy, patience and a knack for using the pen without producing ink blots

I'm sure that you are right. Traces could be either chain or leather, so if they were around the chainmaking community they probably made chain ones

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-se ... rs-needles

mentions the term but not much more, and this one is from the US I think and shows which bits of the tack they are

https://www.ruralheritage.com/new_rh_we ... tion.shtml

Also this.

A trace maker was an individual who worked in the field of harness making. Specifically, they crafted traces, which were leather straps or chains used to connect a horse’s harness to a vehicle, such as a cart or carriage. These traces helped distribute the pulling force evenly and allowed the horse to pull the load more efficiently. The occupation of a trace maker was essential during times when horse-drawn transportation was prevalent1. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask!

Thank you both for your comments. Apologies for the delayed acknowledgement - Mum's been in hospital for 2 weeks and I've had my mind on other things.

No problem! I hope your Mum is being well cared for