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| About Tinsmithing |
History
The
first tinshop in Colonial America was opened in 1740 when the Patterson
brothers, William & Andrew emigrated from Ireland and set up
for business in Berlin, CT. They made tin cups, pie pans, milk pails,
and different size pots. After their first year, they hired tin
peddlers to travel down the East Coast with horse drawn carts loaded
with their shiny "poor man's silver".
Early American housewives loved the tinware. It was
light, unbreakable, easy to clean and cheap. The tinplate was imported
from England where it was made of sheet iron that had been dipped
in molten tin and run through rollers to create a flat sheet approx.
2 feet square.
Today's tinplate is
steel electro-plated with a tin coating. |
| Glynn's Tinware has taken this metal
to a new level by creating a look of old pewter. This unique process
requires many steps to achieve this special patina and once created
it is treated with two coats of a special lacquer to create a soft
luster and prevent rusting. |
Tools
In
1740, a typical set of tinner's tools consisted of a large bench
shear, several smaller hand shears, steel and leather hammers, shaping
anvils or stakes, and a soldering iron
Glynn's Tinware has a collection of these
antique tools and still uses them today in recreating the lanterns,
sconces and chandeliers of the Colonial Period. |
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