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Rag pickers in New Brighton, no date. What the hell are rag pickers doing in New Brighton

A Rag-picker, or Chiffonnier, was a 19th- and early 20th-century term for someone who made a living by rummaging through refuse in the streets to collect material for salvage. Scraps of cloth and paper could be turned into cardboard, broken glass could be melted down and reused, and even dead cats and dogs could be skinned to make clothes. The rag-pickers did not recycle the materials themselves; they would simply collect whatever they could find and turn it over to a "master rag-picker" (usually a former rag-picker) who would, in turn, sell it—generally by weight—to wealthy investors with the means to convert the materials into something more profitable.[1][2]

Although it was solely a job for the lowest of the working classes, rag-picking was considered an honest occupation, more on the level of street sweeper than of a beggar. In Paris, for instance, rag-pickers were regulated by law: Their operations were restricted to certain times of night, and they were required to return any unusually valuable items to the owner or to the authorities.[1] When Eugène Poubelle introduced the garbage can in 1884, he was criticized in the French newspapers for meddling with the rag-pickers' livelihoods.
India is home to 1.7 million rag pickers, earning $1 to $2 per day searching through the country’s “trash mountains”. Most rag pickers are Muslims from impoverished central Bihar state or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

What about 'The Rag and Bone Man'
Any-body know the differance?

Nice one Raven

Interesting Raven. These pics Pablo are educating us all. Thanks. Never heard of rag-pickers before. Did they stay in the same town or where they moved on to other places, as they had a 'master'?

I did this as a kid. I seperated rgs from woolens in a scrap yard.

Ha, I've come a long way...

rag pickers worked at a place called wirral wool, in chapel street birkenhad oppisite the job center now in price street. in the early 60s. max

Going back to Pablo's picture though, why would so many of them have been out together in one place? Were they 'litter picking' the beach?

Perhaps they'd just come off the ferry, or were heading over to Liverpool.

not so sure why? perhaps a works outing lol?

Or maybe they're all mature students from Liverpool Uni out enjoying their Rag Day...

well they certainly look happier than some other workers iv seen in old photographs