He is carrying on the family trade in his one and a half square meter shop.

Ahmet Telefoncu, who lives in Gaziantep, has been continuing the tin smithing profession passed down to him from his grandfather and father for half a century in his one-and-a-half square meter shop.

Ahmet Telefoncu, 58 years old, passionately carries on the tin smithing craft, which was once among the most sought-after professions in Gaziantep, shaping tin in various forms for nearly half a century. He prepares orders from customers in his one-and-a-half square meter shop located at the entrance of the historic Almacı Pazarı in Şahinbey district, continuing the profession as the third generation. Learning the craft from his grandfather and father, Telefoncu is among the last representatives of tin smithing in Gaziantep, one of the oldest handicrafts that strives to resist developing technology. In his small shop, he produces many items such as sweet pumps, diesel funnels, tea samovars, and kebab grills.

“The profession of tin smithing has been on the verge of disappearing over time.”

Indicating that he is the third generation in his profession, Telefoncu stated, “Since my shop is small, some laugh as if mocking, while others feel proud. But for me, it doesn’t matter if anyone laughs or feels proud. Our shop is small, but our hearts are wide. I started learning the tin smithing profession when I was in the third grade of elementary school, alongside my father and grandfather. When we say tinsmith, we do not mean a tin can thrown in the trash. We make various products from the soft material we call tin. I make sweet pumps, diesel funnels, tea samovars, and kebab grills. Tin smithing is an art. With the advent of plastic in our lives, the profession of tin smithing has been on the verge of disappearing over time,” he said.

“You cannot master a job you did not apprentice in.”

Stating that he is saddened by the lack of new apprentices to continue his profession, Telefoncu said, “The state needs to do something to advance our profession. However, unfortunately, we continue our profession as the last generation with our own efforts and resources. I enjoy my profession and have been providing for my family’s livelihood with it for years. Currently, everyone is chasing easy earnings. However, there is no food without labor. We cannot get anywhere without effort. You cannot master a job that you did not apprentice in,” he expressed.

“I continue the profession as the third generation in this shop.”

Telefoncu explained that he is trying to continue the profession he started as an apprentice with his father during his elementary school years in the one-and-a-half square meter shop inherited from his grandfather and later from his father, saying, “Considering the smallness of our shop, it is a place where a person can hardly turn around and sit. However, since this shop is a workplace where my grandfather and father worked hard for years, and we are the last generation, we continue to carry on our profession. This place has been a tinsmith shop since 1959. I continue the profession as the third generation in this shop. Due to the small size of my shop, some laugh as if mocking, while others feel proud. For me, it doesn’t matter if anyone laughs or feels proud. What matters to me is my work and my earnings. We need to work to avoid being dependent on anyone,” he stated.

Telefoncu noted that due to the effect of developing technology, the demand for tin items is decreasing day by day, and he continues to produce some items using traditional methods to stay afloat.

A citizen named Kerim Kıssa, who expressed surprise upon seeing Ahmet Telefoncu’s one-and-a-half square meter shop, said, “We saw Master Ahmet and liked him very much. He is actively passing down the family trade to us, but the sad part is that there is no one else to carry on this profession besides him. We need to support Master Ahmet and train assistants beside him. Let’s send our children to Master Ahmet.”