Tinsmith
A tinsmith is a person who makes and repairs things made of tin or other light metals. The profession may sometimes also be known as a tinner, tinker, tinman, or tinplate worker; whitesmith may also refer to this profession,[1] though the same word may also refer to an unrelated specialty of iron-smithing. By extension it can also refer to the person who deals in tinware, or tin plate.[2] Tinsmith was a common occupation in pre-industrial times.
Unlike
In Hungary, the rich history of tinsmithing can be traced back to the 15th century when the craft was first established.[3][1]
Training of tinsmiths
The tinsmith learned his trade, like many other artisans, by serving an
After his apprenticeship was completed, he then became a journeyman, not yet being a master smith employing others. Many young tinsmiths took to the road as peddlers or tinkers to save enough money to open a shop in town.
Raw material
Tinplate consists of sheet iron coated with tin and then run through rollers. This process was first discovered in the 16th century, with the development of the British tinplate address in 1661 with a patent to Dud Dudley and William Chamberlayne.[5][page needed] Previously Great Britain had imported most tinplate from Hamburg.
The British
Pure tin is an expensive and soft metal and it is not practical to use it alone. However, it could be alloyed with lead and copper to make pewter or alloyed with copper alone to produce bronze. Today's tinplate is mild steel electroplated with tin. Tin's non-rusting qualities make it an invaluable coating. However, the tinplate's quality depends on the iron or steel being free from rust and the surface being in an unbroken coating. A piece of tinware may develop rust if the tin coating has worn away or been cut in the metal. The respective properties of the metals mean that corrosion once started is likely to be rapid.
Tinsmithing tools
The simple shapes made by the tinsmith require tools similar to those of a coppersmith. In addition to the big shears anchored in a hole in his bench, he used hand snips and nippers for cutting. The tin was flattened on an anvil made of a block of steel. Straight and curved anvils (stakes) were used to turn and roll the edges of the tin. Solder was then used to join the pieces together; a soldering iron and fire pot were needed to do this.
Hammers are essential.
History of tinsmithing
Tinwares were being produced in
The tinsmith has been plying his trade in America since 1720. Colonial tinsmiths used tinplate, wire, solder, and a few simple tools to produce their wares. When tinplate was finally produced in America in the early 19th century the products of the tinsmith became more widely available. They in turn saw an increase in demand and a need to speed up production. This brought about the development of many ingenious hand-powered machines which sped up production and helped the tinsmith meet the demands for his products. The goods were "brought to market" by peddlers.[8]
Tinware was a popular folk art in colonial Mexico and New Mexico, and continues to be made there by local artisans today.
An annual tinsmith convergence is held every year in June.[9]
The Tinsmith Museum of America preserves the history of tinsmithing.
References
- ^ Susan Hanway Scott (2012), "Whitesmithing", The Hunt Magazine, vol. Summer 2012
- ^ "tinsmith definition". dictionary.com.
- ^ Zarabi, Hossein. History of tinsmithing, 1992. trade union (syndicate).
- ISBN 1-883294-22-3
- ISBN 978-1-84524-125-4
- ^ Lelegren, Shay. The Complete Tinsmith & Tinman's or Tinner's Trade. Tinsmith Museum of America, 2016. www.hotdiptin.com
- ^ Minchinton, Walter E. (1957). The British tinplate industry: a history. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. p. 3.
- ^ "E Pattison - Tinsmith". Ulster American Folk Park. National Museum of Northern Island. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "Tinsmith". www.tintinkers.org.