This index is a summary of key information relating to permits of exemption issued to workers who came within the scope of the Tin Box Trade Board - individuals who were regarded as being "affected by any infirmity or physical injury which renders [them] incapable of earning that minimum time-rate". The data is taken from summarised applications for permits of exemption submitted to members of the Board. Click on the case number to see a digitised version of the original source - this can include more information.

Archives at the Modern Records Centre include historical terminology used to describe medical conditions or aspects of disability. This language reflects the context in which the material was created, and may be considered offensive today.

Number	Date	Age	Gender	Employer	Reason	Other info
X1946aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	38	Male	Bartlett & Clayton Ltd., Bristol	"Deformity of left hand from bullet wound rendering it practically useless"	The worker was "quite satisfied" with offered wage, which would supplement his pension
X1476aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	17	Male	Hudson Scott & Sons, Carlisle	"Badly deformed dwarf" (4 feet high), "chronic hydrocephalus since birth"	"A special soldering iron has to be provided". "The firm are prepared to raise his wages later on and to make a career for him in the works".
X2233aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	18	Female	The Self Opening Tin Box Co. Ltd., Barking	"Defective eyesight... (mystagmus)"	"Physically weak". "Daughter of an employee".
X2182aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	66	Male	J.F. Farwig & Co. Ltd., London, E.C.	"Age"	Came to the firm in May 1915 from the Infirmary. Had previously been "a labourer in Ireland and… employed by the Church Army".
X1187aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	38/39	Male	North London Tinware Co., Hoxton, N.	"Very deaf & does not quickly understand orders when they are given to him"	Previously did "odd work at the docks" & "employed on power press work at a tin box factory". Had been rejected by the army as "unfit for any service".
X1780aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	60	Male	Keen Robinson & Co. Ltd., London, E.	"Injury to hip and chronic bronchitis"	-
X1678aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	19	Male	Saunders & Sons, London, N.E.	"Undersized, under 5ft."	Employed by firm for 4 years "but can do nothing but the simplest work". Includes information about schooling from worker's father, who wanted the permit to be granted.
X2237aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	73	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	-
X2238aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	57	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	-
X2239aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	44	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Tuberculous disease of the spine etc" ("dwarf & terribly deformed")	-
X2240aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	27	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Tuberculous disease of the spine etc" ("hunchback")	-
X2241aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	70	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	-
X2242aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	74	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	-
X2148aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	18	Female	Traish Bros., Hackney, N.E.	"Undersized & not very strong" (under 5ft)	"Her mother does not wish her to do soldering as her chest is not strong enough"
X2096aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	21	Male	Traish Bros., Hackney, N.E.	"Dull minded & unable to grasp anything when he has to use his wits"	-
X1795aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	49	Female	George J. Saunders, Hackney, N.E.	"Weak heart and constipation"	"A panel patient". "Had been taken on owing to the difficulty of getting young girls".
X2549aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	33	Female	Hall & Lane, Birmingham	"Lack of power of concentration" / "nervous debility"	"She says she could not possibly go on a machine". Includes comment from previous employer.
X2483aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	61	Female	Hall & Lane, Birmingham	"Old age and deformed hands - Rheumatoid Arthritis & Pyorrhoea Alveolosis"	"Looks more than her age & is very infirm".
X268aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	52	Male	Mazawattee Tea Co. Ltd., New Cross, S.E.	"Partial loss of ulna bone through accident"	-
X269aLink opens in a new window	29 Sep 1916	67	Male	Mazawattee Tea Co. Ltd., New Cross, S.E.	"On account of age"	"Too feeble & slow to do heavier work". "Is in appearance older than his age".
X2506aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	18	Female	Victoria Stamping Works, Aberavon	Nerves	"Left the firm's employment in August but her parents begged for her to be taken on again & she was reinstated two days later" when permit was applied for. "Has been employed in the trade some considerable time". Worker stated that "her "inside was bad" & she was afraid of any machine", & that wages were "quite as much as she was worth".
X2237aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	73	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	"In the firm's employment upwards of 20 years"
X2238aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	57	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age" / "nervous debility"	"Has been with the firm for about 20 years". "Recently underwent 9 months electrical treatment at the Royal Berks Hospital." "Very old & stone deaf".
X2239aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	44	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Tuberculous disease of the spine etc." ("terribly deformed and a dwarf")	"In the firm's employment 19 1/2 years"
X2240aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	27	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Tuberculous disease of the spine etc." ("hunchback")	"With the firm 12 1/2 years"
X2241aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	70	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	"With the firm upwards of 30 years"
X2242a	Nov 1916	74	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Infirmity of age"	"With the firm from 50 years upwards". "The firm wish it to be remembered that they are the oldest in the trade (86 years) & therefore have a legacy of these old men whose employment dates from the time when women did not work in the trade".
X2549aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	33	Female	Hall & Lane, Birmingham	"Lack of power of concentration" / "nervous debility"	"She says she could not possibly go on a machine". "She has no home or people & lives in lodgings in one room. She likes to stay in the evenings as late as possible".
X2483aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	61	Female	Hall & Lane, Birmingham	"Old age and deformed hands - Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pyorrhoea Alveolosis"	"The firm say she is failing rapidly. The doctor said 2 years was the outside of the time she could live".
X2182aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	66	Male	J.F. Farwig & Co. Ltd., London, E.C.	"On account of age" / "Old, undersized and of poor physique"	Came to the firm in May 1915 from the Infirmary. Had previously been "a labourer in Ireland and… employed by the Church Army".
X1780aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	About 60	Male	Keen Robinson & Co. Ltd., London, E.	"Injury to hip and chronic bronchitis"	Dislocated hip. "He takes frequent rests & often works holding his hip". Includes comment from employer.
X1187aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	38 / 39	Male	North London Tinware Co., Hoxton, N.	"Very deaf & does not quickly understand orders when they are given to him"	Not "mentally or physically fit to do any responsible work". Previously did "odd work at the docks" & "employed on power press work at a tin box factory". Had been rejected by the army as "unfit for any service".
X1795aLink opens in a new window	Nov 1916	49	Female	George J. Saunders, Hackney, N.E.	"Weak heart and constipation"	"A panel patient". Taken on before "outbreak of war at her own request having been unable to get work anywhere else and being in a miserable condition. She looks far older than her years & is undersized." "She has lately tried to get work at Munition factories & elsewhere but none would employ her."
X3246aLink opens in a new window	29 Jan 1917	34	Male	E. Illingworth & Co., Shipley	"Deformity of the legs... extreme knock-knee with impaired development"	"He could not bear the strain of being continually on his feet… we arrange for him to sit at his work as much as possible".
X3247aLink opens in a new window	29 Jan 1917	22	Female	E. Illingworth & Co., Shipley	"Deformity of spine and both lower limbs" ("dwarfish in stature")	"She could not bear the strain of being continually on her feet, & we arrange for her to sit at her work as much as possible".
X1678aLink opens in a new window	29 Jan 1917	19	Male	Saunders & Sons, Hackney, N.E.	"Mental" / "very undersized, under 5 ft."	Employed by firm for 4 years "but can do nothing but the simplest work". Includes information about schooling from worker's father, who wanted the permit to be granted.
X1795aLink opens in a new window	8 May 1917	50	Female	George J. Saunders, Hackney, N.E.	"Heart trouble"	"A panel patient". Taken on before "outbreak of war at her own request having been unable to get work anywhere else and being in a miserable condition. She looks far older than her years & is undersized." "She has lately tried to get work at Munition factories & elsewhere but none would employ her."
X1909bLink opens in a new window	17 Sep 1917	29	Female	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Very low mental powers"	"Intellectually weak though not actually of unsound mind, the probable cause being a fall while a child".
X677bLink opens in a new window	17 Sep 1917	24	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Defective mentally"	"Rejected by Medical Boards three times".
X678bLink opens in a new window	17 Sep 1917	77	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Old age"	-
X1146bLink opens in a new window	17 Sep 1917	16	Female	West Glamorgan Canister Co. Ltd., Clydach	"Mentally deficient"	"In addition to her low grade of intellect she exhibits physical signs associated with that condition. Her case is a "borderland" one".
X1187aLink opens in a new window	17 Sep 1917	39	Male	North London Tinware Co., Hoxton, N.	"Deafness. Does not quickly understand orders given to him."	Not "mentally or physically fit to do any responsible work". Previously did "odd work at the docks". Had been rejected by the army as "unfit for any service".
X1780dLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	65	Male	Keen Robinson & Co. Ltd., London	"Injury to hip and bronchitis"	Dislocated hip. "In the habit of taking frequent rests & often worked holding his hip". Includes comments from employer.
X2238aLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	61	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Low physical standard" / "Asthenia & Nervous Debility"	"Suffered from a form of nervous debility & had undergone 9 months' electrical treatment at a hospital. He looked very much older than his age." "He was extremely nervous when spoken to & his handwriting was clear evidence of the state of his nerves."
X583cLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	41	Male	W. Appleby & Co., London	"Mental deficiency"	"Does not know how long the War has been on, who is fighting for us, who is fighting against us; he does not know the time of the year." Inspector's view: in his speed of work "he was little, if at all, inferior to a worker of ordinary capacity". "A good deal of supervision must be exercised... to see that work & tools are not spoilt".
X269aLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	70	Male	Mazawattee Tea Co. Ltd., New Cross	"Old age"	Employed "out of consideration for his two sons who, previous to entering the Army, were in the employment of the firm". "Allowed to work very much as he likes and not subjected to the ordinary discipline".
X1187aLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	41	Male	North London Tinware Co.	"Chronic deafness"	Not "mentally or physically fit to do any responsible work". "Kept on in spite of his increasing deafness owing to scarcity of labour." "The worker is deaf,… his eyesight is very bad, &… his intellect is weak".
X2516dLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	76	Male	Wilkie & Paul, Edinburgh	"Old age"	"Has been with the firm for 14 years… anxious to remain with the firm".
X668dLink opens in a new window	6 Oct 1919	18	Female	Shields Ice & Cold Storage Co. Ltd., North Shields	"Complete amputation of index, middle and ring fingers of right hand"	Injury result of accident earlier in the year. Had received £200 compensation & "is now anxious to resume employment".
X4801/1924Link opens in a new window	[1925]	18	Male	Caldicot Tin Stamping Works, Caldicot	"Right hand badly deformed as a result of an accident on a railway"	"The refusal of a Permit would result in his being unemployed. The only alternative employment in the district, which is rural in character, is the railway service, building or agriculture. He would be of little value in any of these".
X4496/1924Link opens in a new window	[1925]	56	Male	J.G.C. Garrick & Co. Ltd., Glasgow	"Defective eyesight"	"Blind in one eye & can see fairly well with the other". Soon to have an eye operation.
X408cLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	62	Male	Crosse & Blackwell Ltd., London	"Heart disease, chronic bronchitis & inguinal hernia"	"Has been with the firm for 34 years".
X583cLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	40	Male	Appleby & Co., London	"Mental deficiency"	"Does not know how long the War has been on, or who are fighting for us or who against us, he does not know the time of the year." Inspector's view: in his speed of work "he was little, if at all, inferior to an ordinary worker of full capacity". "In the firm's employment for over 20 years."
X982cLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	72	Male	A.E. Thompson, Bolton	"Heart trouble, staxy & senility"	-
X2096aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	22	Male	Traish Bros., London	"Dull mindedness"	-
X1146bLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	18	Female	West Glamorgan Canister Co. Ltd	"Mentally deficient"	"In addition to her low grade of intellect she exhibits physical signs associated with that condition. Her case is a "borderland" one". "Questions put to her with regard to her age, wages, hours of employment were answered quite incorrectly & in a manner difficult to understand". She "was taken on & is kept on for the sake of her sisters who are employed by the firm".
X269aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	69	Male	Mazawattee Tea Co. Ltd., London	"Old age"	Employed "out of consideration for his two sons who are now in the Army but were previously in the employment of the firm"
X2486aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	63	Female	Hall & Lane, Birmingham	"Deformity of hands & defective eyesight"	"The firm stated that she was failing rapidly, the doctor being of the opinion that 2 years was the outside of the time she could live". "Becoming very feeble & her sight is failing, owing apparently to cataract".
X1780aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	64	Male	Keen Robinson & Co. Ltd., London	"Injury to hip also chronic bronchitis"	"In the habit of taking frequent rests & often worked holding his hip". Includes comments from employer.
X2238aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	59	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"General debility"	"Suffers from a form of nervous debility & had undergone 9 months' electrical treatment at a hospital. He looked very much older than his age." "He is extremely nervous when spoken to & his handwriting is clear evidence of the state of his nerves."
X2241aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	72	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Age, deafness & general debility"	-
X2240aLink opens in a new window	6 Jul 1918	29	Male	Huntley, Boorne & Stevens Ltd., Reading	"Anatomical deformity [Kyphosis], anaemia & general debility"	"Suffering from tuberculosis disease of the spine". "He is a cripple with a humped back and deformed chest & his body is supported in an iron framework".