His 45-year-old profession is in danger of disappearing: ''My health is not good enough, I can't find an apprentice''
Explaining that there used to be more than 20 tinsmiths and coppersmiths on the street in the past, Topatan said that these shops were demolished over time and the tradesmen turned to other areas.
Topatan said, "Shops were demolished due to street widening works, those who did not want to continue this business elsewhere left the profession. Some moved to another city, but I stayed here. Now I am the only tinsmith on this street."
Stating that his hopes for the future of the profession have diminished, Topatan complained about not being able to train apprentices and said, "There was no interest even in the courses I opened in cooperation with the Public Education Center. If there is coppersmithing, there will be tinsmithing. This culture continues in the Eastern and Southeastern provinces, but in Giresun, there is no copper or tinsmithing anymore. With the advent of aluminum and then steel pots, this profession fell out of favor. Although there has been a return to copper, tinsmithing is over."
Complaining about the lack of young people interested in the profession, as well as old age and health problems, Osman Topatan noted that he was helpless as the last representative of the profession, saying, "I cannot continue due to my illness and old age. I did my best to train apprentices, but no one is interested in this profession anymore."
ntv
