Thos Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 I just wondered whether our US friends or indeed anyone under middle age knows what a chimney sweep is, and that youngsters (children) were made at one time to climb chimneys and sweep out accumulated soot.In my youth, sooty-faced men would ride around on bikes carrying bundles of chimney brushes. Sweeping was necessary because if the soot accumulated it could, and did, catch fire. Chimney fires were quite common.Still, there is a firm of sweeps in Stoke-on-Trent, George Massey & Son; a man of late middle age and his elderly father and they have on their business card "established 1772". Can you believe it? Sweeping chimneys since before the US of A existed.Just a bit of trivia. :huh: Thos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 I also remember the first vacuum sweeps. The first time that one came to our house, he told my mother 'half a crown for the sweeping, and a shilling for the electricity please'. She was about to pay him when he burst out laughing. He could have got away with charging her for her own electricity, and NO she was not a blonde. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The most common cause of death amongst chimney sweeps is scrotal cancer cause by particles of soot becoming lodged in the skin folds and not being removed successfully. These lodged particles cause irritation which sets up an immune reaction which in turn allows the carcinogenic elements (polycyclic compounds) to be absorbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The most common cause of death amongst chimney sweeps is scrotal cancer cause by particles of soot becoming lodged in the skin folds and not being removed successfully. These lodged particles cause irritation which sets up an immune reaction which in turn allows the carcinogenic elements (polycyclic compounds) to be absorbed.Remind me NOT to sweep any chimneys. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The most common cause of death amongst chimney sweeps is scrotal cancer cause by particles of soot becoming lodged in the skin folds and not being removed successfully. These lodged particles cause irritation which sets up an immune reaction which in turn allows the carcinogenic elements (polycyclic compounds) to be absorbed.It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The most common cause of death amongst chimney sweeps is scrotal cancer cause by particles of soot becoming lodged in the skin folds and not being removed successfully. These lodged particles cause irritation which sets up an immune reaction which in turn allows the carcinogenic elements (polycyclic compounds) to be absorbed.It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush? :yahoo: :yahoo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 There are six Sooty's in our area and all do quite well. They have been at it since they left school and one of then is seventy eight years old and still at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 The most common cause of death amongst chimney sweeps is scrotal cancer cause by particles of soot becoming lodged in the skin folds and not being removed successfully. These lodged particles cause irritation which sets up an immune reaction which in turn allows the carcinogenic elements (polycyclic compounds) to be absorbed.It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush? :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:There are six Sooty's in our area and all do quite well. They have been at it since they left school and one of then is seventy eight years old and still at it.Does he scratch a lot ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysness Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 I have a fireplace (which I am just about to light as it's been very cold here and the cost of electricity keeps going up :angry: ) and lots of homes here have them, so I'm sure many young people know what a chimney sweep does. We get warnings every fall from our local fire department about making sure the chimney is clean.And Mary Poppins is still a favorite moving for our youngsters so D ick Van Dyke made the sweep a pretty popular fellow. ;) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 D ick Van DykeIs this the name of the medical condition to which pops was referring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysness Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush?Oh, I don't know - depends, really.................... :rolleyes: :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush?Oh, I don't know - depends, really.................... :rolleyes: :PI think you should sell your story, it might have to go on the very top shelf but so what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush?Oh, I don't know - depends, really.................... :rolleyes: :PI think you should sell your story, it might have to go on the very top shelf but so what. :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r4may Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 It seems a very funny thing with which to sweep chimneys. Why could they not use a brush?Oh, I don't know - depends, really.................... :rolleyes: :PI think you should sell your story, it might have to go on the very top shelf but so what.Haven't seen or heard of a sweep for ages :P :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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