Day 113 – Cheese Cutters

Set of Cheese Cutters. Pretty New. Pretty Colours. Pretty Unused. A gift, as was the first set, which has seen some use, or at least there is evidence of use on the other set as the handles are wooden and the veneer is chipping off.

It’s funny, as cutter rhymes with clutter. Gift with lift and rift.

Status: There is something fetching about these colours. Give them one more attempt at being used (within the next 18 days) and otherwise out the door they go.

Kill-ratio: 21:3 or 7:1

Lazy.

For Kate: These are also not truly obsolete, just obsolescing in my drawer, never seeing the light of day. Although I do wonder if the formality of having such specific cutlery for occasional use isn’t on the wane in general?

Day 112 – Tongs

Ice Tongs. Silver Plate? A little rusty on the inside.

Missing the matching bucket, which I’m certain they were once married to.

Lloyd Groff Copeman, a very busy man, with almost 700 patents in his lifetime invented the ice cube tray in 1928. The idea came to him while getting some maple syrup.  He seems to be somewhat of a forgotten inventor, and has a bigger claim to fame as Linda Ronstadt’s grandfather. Those patent royalties might have come in handy. [Sales from this invention earned Copeman approximately $500,000, equivalent to $10 million today.- Wikipedia]

Status: These were neglected in the drawer until I started shuffling stuff around, seeking out the next Obso gem. Day 112 here folks, the supply is thinning out! Another item for use in Mad Men party. Find matching bucket first – probably on Etsy.

Kill-ratio: 3 takes on 3 different days. Not so lazy.

~ 68:3 or 22:1

Thinking of ice, a shout-out to Mr. F cannot go by, published in December of 1920 only 8 years before Mr. C invented his tray.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

 

Day 111 – Sunbeam Toaster

Sunbeam Radiant Control Toaster. Model T-40-1. 1960s

There is a website (surprise!) to help you date your Sunbeam toaster, as apparently there’s been some controversy on eBay about dating. That’s how I know this is from the 1960s, I might have been tempted to say 1950s.

“T-40, T-40-1, VT-40. Model number stamped on bottom. Darkness control is now a sliding lever on front. “Radiant Control” … name plate above the darkness control lever.“  Date yours here.

It works. Sort of. If you don’t mind a little buzz. I asked the owner (my partner) if it works and he said “It works – it just needs a little tinkering”. Famous last words.

Status: Another prop for the Mad Men party. Or maybe the Obsolescence Gods will be kind and allow it to be pushed out the door.

Kill-ratio: 28:3 or 9:1 Another lazy day.