For many fans of the fantasy genre, an interest in the lowly tinker may come from the mythology built up in the Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss. Others may have been intrigued by the title of John Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (I preferred watching the mini-series to the movie, but one had Sir Alec Guinness). Some may have grown up with tinker toys to fuel their imaginations. Okay, I'll admit it, that's where my interest comes from. Patrick ('cause we're so close) has certainly fleshed out the role of these men of the road, but is that picture accurate? Did he completely invent the mythology surrounding them? Damn, got me. I don't know the first thing about these people. I guess I'll have to do some research and find out.
Wikipedia gives us an interesting starting place, as always. Here we find that tinkers were itinerant smiths who mended household utensils (of tin, brass, iron). The title is apparently 13th Century in origin. It is thought that this occupation was often adopted by the Travelers (similar to the Gypsies) native to the UK. The term was subsequently used in disparaging fashion. More interesting, in this article, is the origin of the term "tinker's dam" (note: not "damn"), which refers to the temporary hole filler used as a mold for solder when repairing a pot or pan. Thus clarifying the phrase, "Not worth a tinker's dam." (for those of us especially confused by the curse connected to ignoring Mr. Rothfuss' characters).
As we begin to dig deeper, we find that a tinker would not only mend pots and pans, but sell them as well, though still traveling from place to place. They might have large packs or drive carts to transport their wares. Dictionary definitions suggest that the word is connected with a jack-of-all-trades. "To tinker," has come to refer to amateurish work. Nobody seems to have respect for these gentlemen (though it's unclear if it's because of their occupation or their heritage). Strangely, the name Tinker does not derive from the same place as the occupation, so The Admirable Tinker (Jepson 1903) and its ilk are of no help to us.
Further trades are attributed to the tinker in different texts. They seem willing to branch out into related fields. In Pioneer Life (Wright, Corbett 1940), we find that Colonial era tinkers would create new metal-ware, even carrying molds to this end. Knife sharpener is added to the list of services by various sources, including Tinker Aesop (Vickers 1869). In this specific story, the title character may be a thinking man, but he mentions that the others of his calling are drunks. Furthermore, one can glean from this specific text that because of his profession he can dress plainly, his profession is not heavily taxed and that tinkers are in general congenial to each other (though they don't often travel together). Our image is now taking a little more shape.
Tinkers appear rather poor and disreputable, according to stories and legends. In "The Tinker's Hut," the titular building is located on a desolate windswept mountainside. The contents of the home are also described in a rather negative light. The King and Tinker Pub takes its name from a ballad in which James I gets separated from his courtiers, but makes his way to a pub where he befriends a tinker. When the courtiers show up, the King is apparently embarrassed (the story is unclear exactly why, but it appears to be the specific "tinker" that is at issue). Songs seem to give the tinker a lascivious bent, much like the idea of the traveling salesman taking advantage of lonely housewives, but some of these refer to the Tinkers as a people (Gypsies/Travelers) instead of the occupation specifically.
I must say that this quest, while entertaining (especially the songs), has been largely fruitless when compared with my research into other occupations. The tinker's role seems to be one which everyone understands, but few bother to mention at any length. Wandering from town to town they sold small goods, repaired metalwork and sharpened cutlery. Their reputation was generally negative, for a variety of reasons (warranted or not), though their services were widely utilized. It seems that, for now, these people will remain in large part a mystery to me. Do let me know if you have any knowledge to share.
basic - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker
list of old occupations and connected duties - http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/t.html
"The Tinker's Hut" - http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3940&context=ocj
King and Tinker Pub - http://www.enfield.gov.uk/info/200044/about_enfield/1793/historic_enfield
fiddle music about tinkers - http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/TIN_TOL.htm
"The Tinker" - http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/irish-songs-ballads-lyrics/the_tinker.htm
"The Jolly Tinker" - http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/tommy_makem/the_jolly_tinker-lyrics-1130971.html
"The Jolly Tinker" (different version) - http://home.comcast.net/~jfwtm/JTlyrics.html
"The Drunken Tinker" - http://www.bluegrassnet.com/lyrics/the-drunken-tinker#.Uw6-9oWXDKc
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