English The cooper and his trade
The cooper trade was introduced to the country by merchants during the era of commercial monopoly. Most of the main shops used the services of coopers. They made barrels, troughs and other containers for shops. In addition to this, fish, cod liver oil and other export goods were packed in barrels for transport across the ocean. Flour and other necessities were brought to the country in wooden barrels. The cooper craft was thus the most important trade at each commercial centre. Subsequently, specialised coopers worked in the herring industry, dexilmenn, well-paid artisans during the season. Coopers, house-builders and boat builders all worked in wood.
Detail
Tradesmen are the heart of any urban community. They constitute an independent profession between merchants and civil servants and between labourers and seamen. They often sought their education abroad or were newcomers to the town. They brought customs from foreign cities, new working practices and also ideas on clubs and associations and the rights of citizens to have influence.
When Ísafjörður was awarded municipal rights for the second time in 1866 resident tradesmen were five carpenters, two coopers, three blacksmiths, a sail maker, shoe smith and bookbinder. Some were permanently employed by merchants, for example coopers, while others worked independently.
Myndir með Ítarefni
