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- Circle Shear - Tinplate, or tin, was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. To help meet demand, tinsmiths added new machines to their more traditional set of hand tools. Using such machines, tinsmiths could produce large numbers of uniform pieces quickly and cheaply. This hand-cranked circle shear, patented in 1860, cut circles of tin up to 20 inches in diameter.
- Collections - Artifact
Circle Shear
Tinplate, or tin, was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. To help meet demand, tinsmiths added new machines to their more traditional set of hand tools. Using such machines, tinsmiths could produce large numbers of uniform pieces quickly and cheaply. This hand-cranked circle shear, patented in 1860, cut circles of tin up to 20 inches in diameter.
- Lithograph, "Tinsmiths," circa 1840 -
- circa 1840
- Collections - Artifact
Lithograph, "Tinsmiths," circa 1840
- Printing Office & Tin Shop - The Printing Office was built in Greenfield Village in 1933. For decades, the building served as a utilitarian print shop for Greenfield Village. At one time, the building housed a recreated 19th-century small town newspaper print shop and tinsmithing studio. Now, only the print shop remains.
- 1933
- Collections - Artifact
Printing Office & Tin Shop
The Printing Office was built in Greenfield Village in 1933. For decades, the building served as a utilitarian print shop for Greenfield Village. At one time, the building housed a recreated 19th-century small town newspaper print shop and tinsmithing studio. Now, only the print shop remains.
- Sconce, 1974 - Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- 1974
- Collections - Artifact
Sconce, 1974
Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- Blacksmith Shop (Village Playground Entrance Building) -
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Blacksmith Shop (Village Playground Entrance Building)
- Tinsmiths with Their Work Tools, circa 1875 -
- circa 1875
- Collections - Artifact
Tinsmiths with Their Work Tools, circa 1875
- American Tinsmithing Machines: Revolutionizing an Industry - Until the first decade of the 19th century, tinsmiths in both Europe and America manufactured virtually all tinware by hand, using a wide range of specialized tools. But as tinware became more popular, American tinsmiths developed a unique set of equipment that included patented cast-iron geared machines.
- January 09, 2023
- Collections - Article
American Tinsmithing Machines: Revolutionizing an Industry
Until the first decade of the 19th century, tinsmiths in both Europe and America manufactured virtually all tinware by hand, using a wide range of specialized tools. But as tinware became more popular, American tinsmiths developed a unique set of equipment that included patented cast-iron geared machines.
- Deer Cookie Cutter - Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- Collections - Artifact
Deer Cookie Cutter
Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- Ladle - Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- Collections - Artifact
Ladle
Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This 20th-century example was produced in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.
- Make-Do Pitcher, 1973 - In 19th-century America, local tinsmiths produced new goods and offered repair services. Customers might bring a broken article of tin or another material, such as pottery or glass, to be repaired with a tin replacement part. "Making do" was much less expensive than purchasing a new item. The modern handle seen here was made in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing techniques.
- 1973
- Collections - Artifact
Make-Do Pitcher, 1973
In 19th-century America, local tinsmiths produced new goods and offered repair services. Customers might bring a broken article of tin or another material, such as pottery or glass, to be repaired with a tin replacement part. "Making do" was much less expensive than purchasing a new item. The modern handle seen here was made in the Greenfield Village tin shop using historical tinsmithing techniques.