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The

Tin

Peddler

By Judy Gonyeau, managing editor

n the early 1800s, tin peddlers were out and about selling their
wares to the westward-leading people of the United States. Soon
Iafter, the tin peddler’s role became much more than selling tin; they
recycled goods to feed the growing industries in the Northeast and
brought news, finished goods, and opportunities to make a dollar or
two to the outliers putting their stake in the ground to create a home.

Making Tin Goods in America
There was and still is no tin to be found in America, but there was Myers, photographer, Occupational Portrait of a Peddler, Full-Length, Standing,
plenty of iron for making tinplate. England had tin and needed iron to Facing Front, With Two Bags Held at His Sides by a Harness, Neck Brace Visible
make tinplate. So, as the French and Indian War (1754-1763) was Between Legs, ca. 1840-1860.
revving up, England imported iron from the Colonies but discouraged
them from manufacturing finished wrought iron goods and tinplate,
forcing the Colonies to purchase finished goods from England. This
remained the law until after the Revolutionary War.

The First Peddlers?
In 1740, prior to the Iron Act, two Irish immigrants by the name of
William and Edward Pattinson were importing sheet tin from England
to make utilitarian tools for their home in Berlin, Connecticut. The
sheet tin was expensive, but these simple products were lightweight and
easy to make allowing the pricing to stay low.

William Ayres Hurlbut with his peddler’s cart. The cart financed the purchase of
farms for William and his two brothers, ca.1870s. Town of DeKalb, NY.

After their home market had been supplied, the Pattinson brothers
began traveling by foot to other nearby settlements carrying their goods
on their backs. This was the kernel of the idea for the traveling peddler.
Other families in Berlin began to make tinware and travel to other areas
to sell their products. Soon enough, they were going by horseback and,
where roads were being made and improved, with wagons.

Traveling Men
It only took a handful of tinsmiths (also called “whitesmiths”) to
make enough product for several peddlers to distribute across a
wider and wider area. These peddlers were not roaming independent
ne’er-do-wells. In the early 1800s, they were hired by the tinsmiths and
sent out to sell their goods along the early frontier and then report back
to give the tinsmiths the money they were paid for the goods, settle up
accounts, restock, and hit the road.
Typically, the peddler would carry items including candlesticks (one
of their best sellers), whistles, pans, lamps, coffee pots, dinnerware, and
Yankee Peddler, 1870. /Nwood Engraving, American, 1870.

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