Tin Men

For centuries, the history and lore of tinkers, tinners, tinsmiths, and their contemporary counterparts--sheet-metal workers--have been represented through the creation of figurative sculptures known as tin men, crafted from sheet metal and scraps into likenesses that include clowns, knights, cowboys, and L. Frank Baum's Tin Woodsman of Oz.In this vibrant exploration of tin men and their creators, labour folklorist Archie Green interviews craftspeople, gallery owners, collectors, and Sheet Metal Workers' International Association officials, linking tinsmith artistry to issues of craft education, union traditions, labour history, and social class. Enhanced by numerous illustrations, the volume also includes an inventory of tin men located in sheet metal shops, galleries, and museums.

Archie Green is the author of Calf’s Head and Union Tale: Labor Yarns at Work and Play and many other books.