THE TIN-PLATE WORKER.

Tin-plate, or tin sheets, as they are usually called, is a composition of iron and tin, not melted together, but the iron in plates is dipped into a vessel of melted tin, or the iron in bars is covered over with tin, and then flatted or drawn out by means of mills. The Tin-plate worker makes a great variety of culinary and other domestic utensils of this material, too well known to need being described.

In the year 1681, tin-plates were made in England by Andrew Yarranton, who was sent into Bohemia to learn the art, although it was not brought to perfection for more than fifty years afterwards , but since the middle of the last century, it has been carried on in these islands in so perfect a manner, that scarcely any have been imported from the continent. Our plates are of a finer gloss or coat, than those made beyond sea. The latter being chiefly hammered, but ours, according to the plan of which we are now speaking, are always drawn out by the rolling mill.

On the affinity which there is between tin and iron, is founded the art of forming what is commonly called tin-plates, which is properly termed iron, or, as it is denominated in Scotland, and also on the Continent, white iron. The process in manufacturing these plates is simply this : thin plates of malleable iron, thoroughly cleared from all rust, or oxide, are dipped into a vessel of melted tin, the suface of wnich fluid metal is protected from oxidation by the air, by a thin layer of melted tallow, the tin unites with the iron at each surface, but whether the two metals actually combine is not yet ascertained. The iron thus acquires a white colour, is rendered less liable to rust, and its durability is scarcely at all impaired; hence the plates can be easily bent, aud from the alloy of tin at the surface can be easily worked. These plates have beea sometimes called fatten, and in remote districts of England the term is still in use.

The tin-plate worker receives the tinned sheets in boxes, containing a certain number. It is his business to form them into various
articles, such as kettles, saucepans, canisters of all sorts and sizes, milk pails, lanthorns, &c, &c,

The instruments that be makes use of, are a large pair of shears, to cut the tin into a proper size and shape, a polished anvil, and hammers of various kinds. The joints of his work he makes with solder. which is a composition of what is called mock-tin and lead ; this he causes to unite with the tin by means of rosiu and the application of heat, by an instrument of metal, formed for the purpose.

The business of a tin-plate worker is very profitable to the master ; and the journeyman, if sober and industrious, can with ease earn from tbirty five shillings to two guineas a week. The principal manufacturers in London, are Jones and Taylors' in Tottenham court- road, and Howard's in Old Street. These seldom employ less than one hundred or a hundred and fifty men each. Those who manufacture tin-ware on a smaller scale, may be found in every part of the metropolis ; and one of the chief sources of profit, which
these smaller tradesmen enjoy, is that of lamp lighting.

This business does not require great strength ; but if a person would carry it on upon a large scale, it requires a very considerable capital : journeymen's wages may amount to between two and three hundred pounds a week : for on tbe Wednesday night a bell is rung, which announces to each workman that the master, or his chief clerk, is ready in the counting-house, to lend money to those who cannot wait till Saturday-night. These plans are, however, rather overgrown exceptions, than the usual routine of the trade.

The large houses have constantly travellers to different parts of the kingdom ; and as they cannot cany the articles of their trade in saddle-bags, they have drawings of all the works of taste, such as moulds for jellies, puddings, &c.

Although tin is not the immediate article under our consideration, perhaps it may be amusing, as well as instructive, to the juvenile
reader, to be informed, that tin in blocks resembles silver, but is darker. It is softer, less elastic and sonorous, than any other metal,
except lead. It is easily extended into leaves and melts more readily than any of the metals..

A composition of eight parts of bismuth, five of lead, and three of tin, will melt in boiling water. When tin is made pretty hot, it will
break with a blow. In the ore, tin is mixed with arsenic.

Tin being less liable to rust than iron, copper, or lead, is advantageously used for the inside covering of metallic vessels. An amalgam of tin and mercury is used to cover the back surface of looking-glasses.

The chief tin-mines in the known world are those in Cornwall. It is a fact well ascertained, that the Phoenicians visited these islands for the purpose of getting tin, some centuries before the Christian aara. In the time of King John, the Cornwall mines produced but little, the right of working them being at that period wholly in the King, as Earl of Cornwall. Their value has fluctuated at different periods : about a century ago, they did not yield above thirty or forty thousand pounds per annum ; but of late years, they have pro duced is stamped and worked at the mill, and is then carried, under the name of block tin, to the melting house, where it is melted and poured into blocks or bars, and carried to the coinage town. The coinage towns are Leskeard, Lestwithiel, Truro, Helston and Penzance, being the most convenient parts of the county for the tinners to bring their tin to every quarter of a year.