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Publisher’s Corner

Tin Types journalofantiques.com

Publisher
hile tin might be considered the antique of President James Monroe in 1825,” Maxine Carter-Lome
metals, remnants of its dominant presence in according to the Can Manufac- journalofantiques@gmail.com
Wthe world since its extraction and earliest use turers Institute. But it was the Civil Maxine Carter-Lome Business Manager
during the Bronze Age are evident today in everything War that really paved the way for Jeffrey Lome
from such everyday objects as soda cans and food tin’s long-lasting association with food as soldiers jeffreylome@gmail.com
containers to our modern vernacular (think: “Tin Pan received their food rations packaged in tin cans.
Alley,” “Tin Cup,” Frank Baum’s “Tin Man” character). With the U.S. patent of the can opener in 1858, Managing Editor
Although tin plays a more supportive and less dominant canned goods quickly went from the battlefield to a Judy Gonyeau
role today in the fabrication, use, design, and making of cupboard staple after the war in homes across the editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
utilitarian products and decorative objects, it is 100 country. By the end of the Civil War, tin can production Art Director
percent valued in all its forms for the collectible artifacts increased from 5 million a year to 30 million, and tin, Lynn Cotterman
time has left behind, from toys to bakeware, spice cans, in all its forms, continued to dominate the American
and even condom containers! marketplace through the end of the 19th century. Production
For this issue, we start in the 17th century and the use The use of tin in the design and manufacture of every- Lynn Cotterman
and manufacture of tinplate in the making of everyday day household goods and decorative objects fell out of Judy Gonyeau
utilitarian objects across mainland Europe and especially consumer favor in the early decades of the 20th century.
Britain. This early rolled iron tinplate, considerably In the 1910s, the federal government strongly encour- Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
heavier than what we are used to today, was made by aged Americans to show their patriotism by canning their
rolling slabs of charcoal iron into thin sheets and dipping own food to preserve limited resources such as tin for 508-347-1960
them into molten tin. The advantage of tinware was that canning and delivering food to the troops during the Toll free:
the tin coat prevented air and moisture from contacting War. The call for at-home canning led to widely reported
the iron and so prevented rust. cases of food poisoning and death and left the American 888-698-0734
Demand for tinware extended to the American public anxious about and distrustful of tin-canned food. Fax: 508-347-0911
Colonies but in 1750, Britain banned production of tin- Tin was also being displaced in the making of Mailing:
plate and tinware in its Colonies to encourage depend- consumer goods by such new materials as speckled P. O. Box 950
ence on imports. Because of this, tin had to be imported graniteware (steel with a porcelain-enamel coating); Sturbridge, MA 01566
until after the American Revolution, and the ban on pro- Britannia (a combination of tin and antimony with
duction was lifted. small amounts of zinc, brass, and copper) for showier
Soon, every town or early settlement had a tinsmith items such as teapots and coffeepots; silver plate (silver- journalofantiques@gmail.com
shop offering an endless array of everyday goods, from coated iron or copper); aluminum; and galvanized or
mugs, dinnerware, and coffee pots to cookware, lanterns, stainless steel. UPS and FedEx
Shipping Address:
and chandeliers. Customers also brought in broken items, In this issue, we explore the evolution and collect- 113 Main Street, Unit 2
whether made of tin or another material, to have them ibility of tin in all its forms and iterations. We also Sturbridge, MA 01566
repaired. You can see inside the working Colonial Tin introduce you to a new monthly column and its colum-
Shop at Old Sturbridge Village on page 20. nist, Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. Dr. Mueller is known Journal of
To supplement their family’s income, the tinsmith for her expertise in Chinese export porcelain and neuro- Antiques and Collectibles
often made more items than were needed to service their science. Her unique knowledge in these two areas is published monthly in digital
community and teamed up with itinerant peddlers to motivated her to explore the neuropsychological aspects and quarterly in print by
carry their goods to the frontiers beyond. You can learn of collecting, both to help herself and others as well. Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
more about the tin peddlers of early America in Judy This guided her to write her landmark book, Inside the
Gonyeau’s article on page 17. Head of a Collector: Neuropsychological Forces at Play. In it, 113 Main Street, Unit 2
To make their tin wares more appealing, tinsmiths she uses the new field of neuropsychology to explain the Sturbridge MA 01566
turned to decorating their goods by japanning (coating often-enigmatic behavior of collectors; a topic Dr. Periodicals postage paid at
with a resin to produce a dark, glossy finish), painting, Mueller will continue to explore in her column for Sturbridge MA
or using pierced designs. By the late 18th century, most the Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, “The Psychology
tinware sold was also decorated and referred to as tôle or of Collecting.”
toleware. You can learn more about the history and art of In this issue, we also welcome Laurence Carpenter to POSTMASTER:
Toleware on page 31. our pages with his new bi-monthly column, “The Beat.” Send address changes to
In addition to tin’s dominance as the go-to metal for Carpenter is the CEO of Rock Solid Investments and an The Journal of Antiques
early American household goods, it also found a place in over 30-year collector, investor, and dealer of culturally and Collectibles
the food chain. important memorabilia. Carpenter has traveled the world ISSN: (1539-5618)
In 1795, the French government, led by Napoleon, buying and selling guitars, costumes, handwritten lyrics,
offered a 12,000-franc prize to anyone who could invent and awards owned and used by both rock and roll P.O. Box 950
a method of preserving food for the army and navy. legends and more contemporary music icons. He not Sturbridge, MA 01566
Feeding troops on the move and at the front had been a only specializes in representing musicians, collectors, The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
complicated undertaking for military supply chains for and their estates in the sale of their archives to research reserves the right to reject any advertising that
centuries. Tin was the answer! As it turned out, tinplated institutions and museums but also curates pieces for the does not comply with our standards. The
Journal will not be liable for any errors or
cans provided the perfect vessel for canning, preserving, Grammy Museum, sourcing the rarest rock artifacts for omissions but will print a correction in the
02/23
and transporting food. Tin also prevented rusting, was display. His column will address music memorabilia as an following issue if notification of such error is
sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
food-safe, less prone to breakage, could be rapidly cooled investment and share more about the musicians and manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
by placing it in cold water directly after processing, and items he features. writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
provided a long shelf life.
Tin cans became widely popular here in the U.S. in Copyright 2024
the 1820s when two New Yorkers were “awarded the All rights reserved
U.S. patent for preserving food in ‘vessels of tin’ by Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
4 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles