FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Ye Olde Help Wanted
Quiz about Ye Olde Help Wanted

Ye Olde Help Wanted Trivia Quiz


Help wanted classifieds you might've seen in the past. Or maybe not. Americanisms abound.

A multiple-choice quiz by nutmeglad. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. General Knowledge Trivia
  6. »
  7. Mixed 10 Questions
  8. »
  9. Mixed 10 Qn Tough B

Author
nutmeglad
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
186,121
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
933
Last 3 plays: boombaby (10/10), Guest 176 (5/10), wellenbrecher (10/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "Help Wanted: Sober, God-fearing assistant who knows how to keep his nose to the grindstone. See William Shay for particulars." Who might have placed this classified? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "Drummer wanted. Assigned territory. Must provide own horse and wagon. Contact B. Goodwin Dry Goods". What might a drummer do for Mr. Goodwin's business? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. "Hard working, sober man. 15 cents a day. Must provide own adz. See Snuffy at the Anderson Works, Bay Street." What business might have placed such an ad? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "Tom the Farrier seeks an able-bodied lad to assist in daily chores. Sabbath off. 10p daily." What does a farrier do? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "Nimble fingered boy to apprentice under Master Fletcher Christian. Food and room in stable provided. Chapel Street." In what activity would the apprentice be involved? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "Learned scholars of high moral character to provide a university education to local men of good standing. Contact by letter Mr. Elihu Yale at College Street." In what year did this advertisement appear? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "Experienced scrivener required. See Mr. Thomas, Owner, at the bank." What does a scrivener do? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. "Wanted: drover, experience preferred but will train. Must provide own horse and be able to travel. Apply in person to Mr. Watkins, Foreman, 3Z Ranch, Bunkhouse 12C." What would a drover do under the direction of the foreman? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. "Wanted: fine lad with steady habits and pleasant disposition. Must have proficiency with the abacus. Visit Mr. Norville, Draper, at 14 Main Street. No Irish need apply." What is Mr. Norville likely to sell? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "Needed: young girl of good repute to work as a scullery maid. Excellent references required. For an appointment visit Dr. Scott at the Elmswood". In what part of the estate will you find the scullery? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 09 2024 : boombaby: 10/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 176: 5/10
Feb 21 2024 : wellenbrecher: 10/10
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 41: 6/10
Feb 17 2024 : Guest 175: 6/10
Feb 13 2024 : Guest 4: 3/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "Help Wanted: Sober, God-fearing assistant who knows how to keep his nose to the grindstone. See William Shay for particulars." Who might have placed this classified?

Answer: a miller

The expression "to keep one's nose to the grindstone" comes from grain mills. Two large stones rotated to mill the grain. By raising the upper stone, a coarser grain would be produced. But, if the two stones were too close together, the friction would actually start to burn the grain, so the upper stone would be raised a bit if you kept your nose to the grindstone.
2. "Drummer wanted. Assigned territory. Must provide own horse and wagon. Contact B. Goodwin Dry Goods". What might a drummer do for Mr. Goodwin's business?

Answer: traveling salesman

A drummer is an early term for a salesperson, most often a salesman. Many traveled regular routes selling housekeeping essentials to the rural folk. A drummer might also wait on customers in the store.
3. "Hard working, sober man. 15 cents a day. Must provide own adz. See Snuffy at the Anderson Works, Bay Street." What business might have placed such an ad?

Answer: ship builder

An adz is a sharp, broad-faced, shaping tool designed to shape wood to specific sizes and shapes. Early carpenters used the adz to shape the wide support beams in colonial homes, and of course, the tool was used to shape a wooden ship's support structure.
4. "Tom the Farrier seeks an able-bodied lad to assist in daily chores. Sabbath off. 10p daily." What does a farrier do?

Answer: shoes horses

Farriers traveled from farm to farm replacing broken shoes and tending to the health of the hooved animals. Today, because so few choose this line of work, good farriers are in demand and earn very good money.
5. "Nimble fingered boy to apprentice under Master Fletcher Christian. Food and room in stable provided. Chapel Street." In what activity would the apprentice be involved?

Answer: making arrows

A fletcher is one who makes arrows. This one just happened to be named Christian.
6. "Learned scholars of high moral character to provide a university education to local men of good standing. Contact by letter Mr. Elihu Yale at College Street." In what year did this advertisement appear?

Answer: 1701

Yale University was founded by Elihu Yale in 1701. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale is part of the Ivy League.
7. "Experienced scrivener required. See Mr. Thomas, Owner, at the bank." What does a scrivener do?

Answer: hand copies documents

Scriveners were men with excellent penmanship who would hand draft important documents (deeds, e.g.), write letters and perform chores now handled by a word processor and a Xerox. Herman Melville wrote a tale called "Bartleby the Scrivener" for those interested in learning more about this one-time, important occupation.
8. "Wanted: drover, experience preferred but will train. Must provide own horse and be able to travel. Apply in person to Mr. Watkins, Foreman, 3Z Ranch, Bunkhouse 12C." What would a drover do under the direction of the foreman?

Answer: drive cattle to market

Drovers move cattle and other livestock in "droves", i.e., herds. In this case, Mr. Watkins is looking to hire himself a cowpoke.
9. "Wanted: fine lad with steady habits and pleasant disposition. Must have proficiency with the abacus. Visit Mr. Norville, Draper, at 14 Main Street. No Irish need apply." What is Mr. Norville likely to sell?

Answer: cloth

A draper is a seller of cloth. The reference to the Irish stems from the large Irish migration to America during the 1840s and '50s. Irish immigrants in the US at this time were seen as the drinking, brawling underclass and signs stating "No Irish need apply" appeared at factories, retail outlets and other places of employment.
10. "Needed: young girl of good repute to work as a scullery maid. Excellent references required. For an appointment visit Dr. Scott at the Elmswood". In what part of the estate will you find the scullery?

Answer: near the kitchen

A scullery is a room near the kitchen where dishes, pots and pans are washed. A scullery maid would also likely wash fruits and vegetables, polish silverware and help the kitchen staff.
Source: Author nutmeglad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor sunfloweruk23 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. Why The Long Face? Average
2. Miscellany of Trivia Average
3. Generally Speaking Average
4. Not Many People Know This Average
5. Hard Questions, Easy Answers. Average
6. A Quizzical Quiz Tough
7. Trivia Facts Tough
8. Trivia Spectrum Tough
9. Total Trivia 3 Tough
10. The Quiz Not Taken Tough
11. General Tough
12. General Nuisance Seven Tough

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us