Tinsmith

A tinsmith at Old Sturbridge Village
Tinware desk lamp, late 1930s, Bandelier National Monument. Made by a Civilian Conservation Corps tinsmith.
Tinsmiths on the roof of Storkyrkan, Stockholm, 1903

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 blacksmiths (who work mostly with hot metals), tinsmiths do the majority of their work on cold metal (although they might use a hearth to heat and help shape their raw materials). Tinsmiths fabricate items such as water pitchers, forks, spoons, and candle holders.

In Hungary, the rich history of tinsmithing can be traced back to the 15th century when the craft was first established.[3]

  1. ^ Susan Hanway Scott (2012), "Whitesmithing", The Hunt Magazine, vol. Summer 2012
  2. ^ "tinsmith definition". dictionary.com.
  3. ^ Zarabi, Hossein. History of tinsmithing, 1992. trade union (syndicate).