1) A worker specialising in making tin items.
It is evident in early records of the Cutlers Company that tin was used by the Sheffield cutlers in a variety of ways, not all of them within the rules. In 1625 brass, lead and pewter were linked with tin as metals that should not be ‘intermixed’ with gold and silver so as to deceive potential purchasers but that did not halt the practice. A few workers later specialised in making tin items and in 1731 John Walker of Sheffield Tin-man had Tinn Ware made up 2 19 0, a Box with Tinn ware in 15. 0. in his inventory. George Close was described as a tinman in 1738 and as a tinworker in 1742. 'Tinner' was an occasional alternative: 1771 Thomas Hessay, tinner, St Crux, York.