Tinkerer - Ikakeya

Ikkake is a casting technique in which damaged copper or iron containers are repaired by melting the same metal or white solder (a tin and lead alloy, solder), and the craftsmen who do this are called ikakers or ikakershi. They are specialized craftsmen who evolved from casters. They became professionals only during the Edo period in the 17th century, when the use of white solder became widespread and the common people became more thrifty and smarter about life, so they were probably later than ikakershi. While ikakershi were employed at home, ikakers were employed on the move. They put their tools in two boxes and carried them around town on a long 7'5" (about 2.3m) balance pole. It was forbidden to use fire under the eaves unless the height was 7'5" (about 2.3m). They blew air with a blowtorch, but most people had small bellows.

[Motoo Endo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鋳掛は鋳物技術の一手法で、銅や鉄の容器の破損を同質の金属または白鑞(しろめ)（錫(すず)と鉛の合金、はんだ）を溶かして継ぎ掛けることであり、その職人を鋳掛屋または鋳掛師という。鋳物師(いもじ)から分化した専門職人。専業化は、白鑞の利用が広まり、また庶民の節約の意識と生活の知恵が高まってきた17世紀の江戸期になってからであり、鋳掛師よりも遅れてであろう。鋳掛師が居職であるのに対して鋳掛屋は出職である。二つの箱に道具を入れて7尺5寸（約2.3メートル）の長い天秤棒(てんびんぼう)で担いで町中を歩いた。軒下が7尺5寸なくては火を使うことは禁じられていたので、その高さを測るためであった。火吹き竹で送風したが、多くは小さいふいごを持っていた。

［遠藤元男］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例