Metal Spinning
Metal spinning is the art of forming sheet metal disks into contoured
forms of great variety by turning on a lathe (See photos). It is said that
the Egyptians and Chinese originated metal spinning. Most of our
present day knowledge of the metal spinning craft has come from the
Greeks and the Romans, who spun many of their household utensils
from pewter.
"Spinning metal into complicated and elaborate shapes, is an art fully
as difficult as any craft, and the man is truly an artist that can make
artistic and graceful outlines in metal, the forms being made by skill and
manipulation of hand tools alone"
C. Tuells 1909
During the reign of Edward III (1327-1377), metal spinning was
introduced into England as a trade. They formed their own guild
systems to protect the craft against inferior workman ship. The guilds
imposed penalties on craftsmen for substandard workmanship and who
did not use the alloys prescribed. A craftsman's first infraction was
followed by a warning not to repeat the offence; his second, by
confiscation of all the objects he made; his third, by exclusion from the
guild. The repeating offender now had little choice but to retreat to a
rural, uncontrolled area where he continued to make substandard
products. For obvious reasons, he usually neglected to identify his
products with his mark.
The photographs to the right show Tynan spinning a prototype
Aluminum bell shaped lamp shade from a flat disk to finished part. The
prototype is spun first and checked for dimensions. Once approved the
mandrel will be used to spin brass bell shades.
forms of great variety by turning on a lathe (See photos). It is said that
the Egyptians and Chinese originated metal spinning. Most of our
present day knowledge of the metal spinning craft has come from the
Greeks and the Romans, who spun many of their household utensils
from pewter.
"Spinning metal into complicated and elaborate shapes, is an art fully
as difficult as any craft, and the man is truly an artist that can make
artistic and graceful outlines in metal, the forms being made by skill and
manipulation of hand tools alone"
C. Tuells 1909
During the reign of Edward III (1327-1377), metal spinning was
introduced into England as a trade. They formed their own guild
systems to protect the craft against inferior workman ship. The guilds
imposed penalties on craftsmen for substandard workmanship and who
did not use the alloys prescribed. A craftsman's first infraction was
followed by a warning not to repeat the offence; his second, by
confiscation of all the objects he made; his third, by exclusion from the
guild. The repeating offender now had little choice but to retreat to a
rural, uncontrolled area where he continued to make substandard
products. For obvious reasons, he usually neglected to identify his
products with his mark.
The photographs to the right show Tynan spinning a prototype
Aluminum bell shaped lamp shade from a flat disk to finished part. The
prototype is spun first and checked for dimensions. Once approved the
mandrel will be used to spin brass bell shades.
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| Photos right Various stages of the spinning |
Photo left
Inspecting the prototype
Inspecting the prototype
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Terry Tynan was offered a position as an apprentice at the age of 15
with a metal spinning company based in his home town of Halifax in
northern England. Six years later he left the company to complete a 4
year art and design course. After graduating, he worked for a brief
time as a graphic designer, but within 3 months he took a position at
another metal spinning workshop. In 1995 he started his own metal
spinning business mainly producing aluminum and copper cookware,
as well as supplying local craftsmen with their metal spinning needs.
In 2002 he moved to the USA and worked briefly with a Philadelphia
company spinning custom parts using manually operated, hydraulic
assisted lathes. He has spun a multitude of custom parts for many
commercial fields, in sizes from ½” to 132” diameter, using some of the
most difficult materials to spin. From complex Titanium Jet engine
parts to simple funnels.
Today, with over 23 years experience (all his working life) and a
fascination for the clean art deco, machine age movement, it wasn’t
long before he started to design & produce handmade lamps and
other objects in those styles, from a small studio in Bucks Co PA.
Inexpensive imitations of these styles differ from Tynan pieces,
through the use of inferior material, but above all, they are the result
of industrial mass production stamping. As early as the 1920s, copies
of leading designers and manufactures like Markel Lighting Co. Were
massed produced in poor quality materials. The lamps shown on this
website are hand-crafted in limited numbers. Solid brass, copper &
aluminum are the exclusive manufacturing materials, unless specified.
The surface may be polished, chrome/nickel plated, brushed or
lacquered in any style. He will make custom handmade lamps &
lighting and other objects to your specifications, photographs &
drawings (see photo’s left).
with a metal spinning company based in his home town of Halifax in
northern England. Six years later he left the company to complete a 4
year art and design course. After graduating, he worked for a brief
time as a graphic designer, but within 3 months he took a position at
another metal spinning workshop. In 1995 he started his own metal
spinning business mainly producing aluminum and copper cookware,
as well as supplying local craftsmen with their metal spinning needs.
In 2002 he moved to the USA and worked briefly with a Philadelphia
company spinning custom parts using manually operated, hydraulic
assisted lathes. He has spun a multitude of custom parts for many
commercial fields, in sizes from ½” to 132” diameter, using some of the
most difficult materials to spin. From complex Titanium Jet engine
parts to simple funnels.
Today, with over 23 years experience (all his working life) and a
fascination for the clean art deco, machine age movement, it wasn’t
long before he started to design & produce handmade lamps and
other objects in those styles, from a small studio in Bucks Co PA.
Inexpensive imitations of these styles differ from Tynan pieces,
through the use of inferior material, but above all, they are the result
of industrial mass production stamping. As early as the 1920s, copies
of leading designers and manufactures like Markel Lighting Co. Were
massed produced in poor quality materials. The lamps shown on this
website are hand-crafted in limited numbers. Solid brass, copper &
aluminum are the exclusive manufacturing materials, unless specified.
The surface may be polished, chrome/nickel plated, brushed or
lacquered in any style. He will make custom handmade lamps &
lighting and other objects to your specifications, photographs &
drawings (see photo’s left).
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Terry Tynan is the author of the
first ever visual tutorial produced
on the craft of metal spinning.
Metal spinning workshop
first ever visual tutorial produced
on the craft of metal spinning.
Metal spinning workshop
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