The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-28
What Is Tn,care2-Ine care Of IT

1t does not appear TO be generally known
that the article so commonly used for
household utensils, for caDs, for roofing,
etc, called ''tin, really contains very lit
tie tin, seldom more than one part in forty
or fifty. Tin-pure this silvery white
metal and is the Iightest and easiest melt
ed Of all the metals in common use, it be
ing only about five eighths as heavy as
lead, and requires only about two thirds
the heat to melt it. Pure tin is called
"blOck-tin,' but it is rarely used pure, the
utensils, said to be made Of block-tin being
alloy with other metals. Our common tin
ware is really tiH-plat.-a thin sheet of
iron, coated with film Of tin. Plates Of
iron of the proper size and thickness are
secured with sand and acid, until perfectly
clean, and then dipped several times in
melted tin coating Of tin, OF variable
thickness, adberes to the iron. The object
of coating iron with tin in this manner is
to protect the iron from rusting. Tin
when exposed TO the air does not rust nor
even tarnish, while iron readily does so,
but the thin coating Of tin completely pro
I
ers will be ready to assert that tinuare
does Tust-2nd they are correct-tiu rare
does rust, but tin itself does not 50 long
as the coating of tin is perfect no rusJiug
can take place, The knowledge OF the
fact that all our tinware is only tin upon
the surface, but that the body is iron,
/ should lead to greater care IN the purchase
Il
the fact that the iron plate to be covered
! with tin may be good or bad, there is a
great difference in the coating of tin for
cheaper ware not only is the tin sdulterated
I With lead, but this is put on in the ihinnest
possible coating, various expedients being
used to quite cover the iron and yet make
the coating as thin as possible mere film
or wash. In this, as in many other cases,
the purchaser muss rely upon the honesty
of the manufacturer, for in this as in sill
er-plste the bad looks equally well with
the good /; the maker Of the ware can buy
tin plate on which there are three or foui
times as heavy a covering of tin as on the
cheapest. 1t Is important 10 have good
ware at the start. 1t will be understood
exposed to the edges in making up uteu
sils careful manufacturers tin these edges
i. G., cover them With a film OF tin. Tht
neglect to do this is what makes cheaI
ware show rusty spots after a few days use
With the best Of ware the tin will in timt
wear off and expose the iron, but thi
is often hastened by improper cleaning
Some persons, especially help, pride hem
selves upon their bright tinwaTe, which j
I furiously secured with soap and sand on
such securing will remove the timing from
I cheap ware, and the best cannot stanr
many repeiitions unharmed. Nothing coaI
ser than whiting should be used upon tin
ware, unless in the rare cases when som
D accident has made it necessary care j
it's use, and the knowledge that the tin
: like beauty, ''is but skin deep''-that tn
t articles are really iron, with thin cover
: ing of a very soft metal-tin-shOuldl lea
to more economical treatment of thes
e most useful household convenieuces. =
american Agriculturlst.