Sargood, Son, & Ewen from Stone's Otago and Southland Directory

1890

Permission of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

Dunedin: Stone, Son & Co. Ltd

In about 1888 or 1889 Mellor began work at the Sargood , Son and Ewen boot factory. His job was either a ‘boot clicker’ – cutting the uppers for shoes or boots from a sheet of leather – or, according to A.H. Reed – a ‘finisher’, who rubbed down soles, blackened and waxed boots for protection and appearance. Mellor was already setting his educational goals. A foreman called him ‘studious’ and recollected that Mellor pondered ‘over mysterious books during lunch hour and whenever the factory was at a standstill’ (Reed).