Still soldering on!

People in their '60s and over will well remember the time when tinsmiths plied their trade at street corners.

Well, they have almost completely disappeared from the Maltese streetscape today, except in Pietà where a 74-year old man is still carrying on with the trade.

The man, Joseph Cassar, plies his trade in Marina Street, overlooking the sea. He is a retired government foreman of tinsmiths.

Of course, he knows only too well that his trade has died out. He thinks he is the only one in Malta still carrying out the trade in the open. He knows of only two others stills practising the craft - two brothers in Victoria.

At this time of year, his work would usually consist of making star-shaped decorations for Christmas. And in November, he gets orders for small lanterns.

"And I still do wind vanes, colourful butterflies, windmills and decorative items for gardens... and the occasional order for knights in armour for hotels ".

He learned the trade from his elder brother, Karmenu, now aged 88.

Some 12 years ago, he made a colourful tin luzzu which had placed second in a competition. It had cost him Lm45 to make.