Page 22 - joa-3-24

A 19th Century Tinsmith

at Old Sturbridge Village

Photos by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor

eet Richard Eckert, Interpreter, Tin Shop, at Old Sturbridge and kitchen tools were made in the 19th century. Many of the demon-
Village (OSV) in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. OSV’s Tin Shop strated items crafted in the Tin Shop are sold at OSV’s Village Store
Mis a reconstructed early 1800s shed brought to the Village in within the village. We took a tour of the Tin Shop and had a chance to
1985. Inside this small, dimly-lit working tin shop are all the hand tools speak with Eckert back in December where he was showing off his craft
and early machines Eckert and the other “tinners” at OSV need to turn to a group of school children. In these pictures, he shares with us what
tinplate into everyday objects the old-fashioned way. goes into turning sheets of tinplate into objects still in use today.
Here, tinsmiths in period costume play historical interpreters and
demonstrate for guests how everything from traditional lanterns to pans

Take a look at the soldering stove. Prior to the 1850s the only fuel used was
charcoal. Tin shops would make the stove themselves out of sheet iron.
When using the tools to solder copper to tin, the tip of the tool would
be placed in a fire hot enough to melt the solder.

The tin plate worker’s workbenches were constructed similarly to other workbenches in other
trades. These would have square holes in them to hold such tools as the one laying on the
bench called swages or stakes which are similar to anvils.

Here, the body of the cup was shaped and has been
soldered to keep its shape and to make it watertight.
The tool in his right hand is the soldering copper which has
been heated in the charcoal fire to melt the solder.

Far left: Making tin items often required forming a rolled edge. If
the edge is straight, the tinplate worker uses a bar folder to fold the
edge. Here a handle’s edge is being folded 180 degrees over.

At left: By the 1830s rotary machines like the one used in the photo had replaced
hand-crafted methods, increasing production. Here, a wire is being inserted through
the fold to strengthen a handle for a cup that had already been folded over.

20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles