Subject: Re: Whitesmiths again

From: [email-masked]
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 10:22:43 -0400

There seems to be a bit of confusion in the craft regarding a whitesmith.  

Those who worked in pewter were pewterers
tin   tinsmiths
lead  plumbers
repairers of all of the abover  tinkers

But those who made fine ironwork, like finished spatulas, pipe tongs, etc.
were called whitesmiths.  I've never seen historical references to a
whitesmith in other than those above and the dictionary reference mentioned.
 ( But, I expect that there must be some.)

Hope this helps

Kent  :o)
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 15:14:17 -0400

I found an old business card of Peter Ross, the blacksmith at the
Williamsburg restoration.  It is from when he had a smithy here in New
England.  He calls himself a 
Whitesmith.  He is one of the demonstrators at this weekends ABANA meeting,
and as a family medical emergency will keep me from attending, perhaps one of
you on this list will ask Peter where he came up with "Whitesmith".
Mike Schermerhorn