I often thought of what our ancestors did when they worked at a rag shop. That is what I have seen on the census. So, I asked the master expert, my father, about the rag shops. Here is what he has to say:
===========================
Subject: RAGS----BOTTLES----SACKS !!!!!


Yes, Nancy, my mother was very proud and happy that she once worked "na trrr--yap--kee" (iterally "on rags")...as if to show off her "independence" that she also contributed to the finances of the household by working sorting all types of rags which were used as oil and grease "wipes" by mechanics and others in industry...cotton in one batch..woolen in nother...so forth and so on. A lot of bales of rags were sent overseas from what I gather. There was a large group of women from the Hill who were employed in the same place...can you see my mother and the other ladies sitting down or standing while working and talking ( with shawls over their head) at the same time....it must have been a sight to behold...
Dear Mom. What a gal!! Her place of employment was someplace below the northern slopes of Potrero Hill. It had to be a walking distance from her home on the Hill for there wasn't public transportation on Potrero Hill at that time ....to the best of my knowledge.