TIN vs. COPPER

[PA.1740]

In the mid 1700 was tin or copper more common in a backwoods farm house ?

 

[Black Hand]

Of the two, tin (tinned iron) would have been most common during the time. In the back-country house, treenware (wood), pewter and pottery could also have been used. Depends on the status and wealth of the owner.

As best as I can tell, copper was very uncommon.

 

[Birdman]

like Black Hand said tinned iron ware would have been a more common comadity, and if confused I mean the thin sheet type stuff not the heavy cast iron, which would have been pretty scarce as well actually. At least in any quantity, one large pot would have done most of the cooking. Ya need to remember on the frontier folks didn't eat the same way as in towns n cities

 

[Rod Lassey]

Tin plate would have been far and away the most common, depending of course on the time frame. Copper seems to have been common earlier [1600s], but it was largely replaced by tinned iron and brass throughout the 1700s--into the 1800s. The main exception to this is the covered copper pot that was sold by the Hudson's Bay Company, but that really was an anomoly. Brass was pretty popular also, for kettles and the like. There are a startling number of modern-day coppersmiths these days, which can kind of give us a skewed idea of the popularity of copper at the time. One can also get into the whole hot-dipped versus electro-plate in tinwork--one's obviously traditional, the other not so much.

Here's a couple of great sources of correct tinwork:
http://www.hotdiptin.com/ http://cunninghamtinner.com/#axzz1m6UPEapq http://www.cg-tinsmith.com/

And a good source for brass kettles:
http://www.highhorsetrading.com/



Rod

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes I agree, and part of the problem is that for tin to last, it needs a bit more attention to keep off the rust, than the copper, so folks seem to opt for the copper, which creates a need for it, and thus more copper smiths than tin smiths.


LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

Yes I agree, and part of the problem is that for tin to last, it needs a bit more attention to keep off the rust, than the copper, so folks seem to opt for the copper, which creates a need for it, and thus more copper smiths than tin smiths.


LD

Perhaps a digression from the topic, but IMHO, worth reminding.
If you plan to buy any copperware from a maker do ask what kind of solder (if any) he uses. Of course, with lead you are taking a serious health risk. Insist on only lead-free solder. Not PC but safer.

 

[Birdman]

I think as well as the upkeep I guessing most folks just think that copper/brass has that more old timey look and like already posted will be alot less work to keep in good condition

 

[Loyalist Dave]

In my case I needed some large covered kettles fast, and the only ones made in the sizes I needed were copper, or brushed stainless steel. I opted for the copper.

LD