bitt maker

[Mallyjam]

Just wanted to add that I found a list of trades for Birmingham 1770 and it includes 5 bit-makers in Bloxwich. Had to look up where that was of course and it's not all that far from Birmingham. Seems there were bit-makers and smiths in Bloxwich way back to 1540.

So it seems either spelling was commonly used.

As an aside - there's an amusing story in the Bloxwich Tallygraph about the awl makers there who were famous world-wide.

[Coromandel]

He could have been making bits as in drill bits. The Oxford English Dictionary has this among other definitions of 'bit':

The biting or cutting end or part of a tool; spec. the movable boring-piece of a drill (e.g. brace and bit, stock and bit), or a similar tool for use with the ratchet, drilling machine, boring machine, etc.; the borer for clearing the vent of a gun; the cutting-iron of a plane, the nipping parts or jaws of tongs, pincers, and similar tools...

The OED goes on to give an early (1594) reference to interchangeable bits: 'A long Auger or Percer, with severall large bittes which he may put on and take off at his pleasure.'

[Mallyjam]

Yes had thought of that Coromandel. Hard to know what he might have been doing. I have a choice LOL.

Have discovered the term 'bitt' in relation to ship 'furniture' refers to 2 posts that secured ropes. A bollard on the other hand was 1 post. It also refers to the posts erected at the end of a street to stop through traffic.
Interesting isn't it. I think I will always remember the difference between a bollard and a bitt now LOL

And as you say there is the metal bitt that drills a hole.

And the metal bitt for a horse's mouth which is where we started.

I think perhaps he could have been making any. Must look up when these metal drill bits were first made. That might eliminate one option.

Thanks for your interest Coromandel.