He is one of the few boilermakers still practicing this craft. It makes cauldrons, stills for alcoholic beverages, buckets, various other containers from aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel. He has been working since the age of 10, learning the secrets of this occupation from his father. In the past, together with other families, he traveled through areas of the country to practice the craft; they left in the spring, returning in the fall. 8-10 families would gather, leaving with horses, mules and carts to look for work; they were going to various areas of the country, especially fruit growing areas where the demand was higher. They lived in tents, paid small taxes (even for the grazing place for the horses) at the town hall and legally practiced this craft. They were led by a boss, a "bulibaşa", as Mr. Stănescu says, who took care of these formalities. They bought the materials from the areas where they arrived and also made or repaired the respective containers there. During his journeys, the craftsman Stănescu Ion reached the communes and villages of Brăila, Vrancea, Buzău counties (here he had a lot of work, being an area with numerous fruit trees), Bistrița Năsăud and even Maramureș, these being only part of the regions traversed by him in his peregrinations. The money earned was invested by the boilermakers in gold; they bought gold coins. He also went through unfortunate periods, such as the one in which the state confiscated their agony (gold) or the one in which he had to serve 5 months of isolation in the penitentiary (in Deva, between 20.12.1983 - 20.05.1984) from because he didn't have a job. However, he was also a state employee, for about 14 years, at the "Agricultural Directorate" (boiler plant) as a team leader; even under such conditions, Mr. Stănescu does not benefit from a pension today, as would have been normal, admitting, however, that this fact is due to his own negligence. Today, he is the only boilermaker from Vlașca who still works on metal vessels, even if he is approaching the age of 70 (he says he still has orders); his younger brother also does similar work, but he lives in another locality. Regarding his religious confession, we make it clear that he and his wife, Mia, are also Pentecostals since about 6 years ago, the decision being taken due to the health problems suffered by Mrs. Stănescu. They did not have their own children, but they adopted a boy (Romanian) from the age of one and a half; they also adopted a girl (Roma) when she was one week old. Neither of them wanted to follow their father's trade. He has lived in Vlașca for 50 years, before living with his parents in Ciochina.
