Didn't Expect It! These Old Shops In Jiading Are Still In Business, Have You Been There? ④

Didn't expect it! These old shops in Jiading are still in business, have you been there? ④

There is a small shop in Loutang Old Street in Jiading. It is not very eye-catching and has no formal signboard. There is a sign for white iron processing and a key hanging at the door. The owner is Tang Junchang. He is 75 years old. More than 30 years have passed since he opened the shop here. If you include his early studies in crafts, he has been dealing with tin for more than 60 years.

Old craftsmanship in jingle bells

Galvanized on the surface of tinplate, its thickness is less than one millimeter. It is lightweight, rust-proof and low-priced. In the past, every household loved it. At the age of only 14, Tang Junchang learned skills from a master, specializing in repairing agricultural and household appliances such as aluminum pots, buckets, and potion dispensers. Cutting iron sheets may seem simple, but it is actually not easy to make a straight cut. If you have not practiced, the scissors will go crooked and you will not be able to do it at all.

In the 1980s, the efficiency of the valve factory declined, so he decisively stepped out and founded a new business on his own. Every day he kept polishing in the shop until late at night. When he got home, he lay down directly to sleep. In the process of manually folding white iron, it is necessary to achieve straight lines and flat surfaces. However, behind this is the process of hundreds of tempering. His right arm muscles are a whole circle thicker than his left arm.

Real Kung Fu within a few millimeters

You didn’t expect it when you were doing the processing! These old shops in Jiading are still in business, have you been there? ④. Tang Junchang first drew a pattern on the tin sheet, and then used a large iron cutter to cut out the shapes. Square, round, straight, and curved shapes all depended on the feel of his hand. Next comes the work of crimping, hammering, and splicing. This entire process basically does not require welding or rivets. It is possible to create a seamless and leak-proof container solely by hand.

His skills were not only used to make ordinary daily necessities, but he also did amazing and important work. When Shanghai Volkswagen first started producing Santana, the first batch of car wheel hub molds were made by this 75-year-old craftsman. He had never made anything like this before, but he had an idea in mind. He repeatedly calculated the size according to the shape, cut, shaped and adjusted it, and completed it smoothly and smoothly.

Reassurance for Neighbors

Over the years, Tang Junchang has been sending customized kitchen utensils, high-end sinks and trash can liners to high-star hotels, and his orders are at a steady state. He has also done some personal customization, such as a plane specially made for left-handers, or a chopstick cage that can be disassembled, which are rarely seen on the market.

He relied on his neighborly humanity to support his perseverance for decades. The tinkling sound on the old street has never stopped, like a seemingly silent declaration that actually contains some profound meaning: Even though the times have changed, there are still people who are willing to engage in and complete certain things at a slow pace and with a serious attitude.

Manual temperature control cannot be learned by a machine

When processing white iron, we rely entirely on manual folding and pressing. Every cut and every beat must be done carefully. Machines can perform mass production, but fine work still relies on human hands and rich experience. Tang Junchang's right arm is thicker than his left arm. This is the mark left by more than sixty years of constant hammering.

Today, the number of people who master this craft continues to decrease, and young people are reluctant to learn it. The experience can be boring and difficult. However, he holds the idea that as long as there are people who need it, he will always insist on doing it. This is not just to make a living, but in a deep sense, it is his affection for this craft.

The old times hidden in the old streets

This small shop on Loutang Old Street only covers an area of ​​50 square meters. The walls are covered with various kinds of tin products, including spatulas, planers, air ducts, and sinks. This little shop is not a time-honored one, but it has been quietly sitting on the corner of the street for nearly half a century.

It is every old store that has the power to travel through time. Times are constantly changing, but the fireworks on the old streets have never dissipated. The tinkling sound is the most solid sound in the memory of old Jiading people.

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