Accession Number

E135

Alternate Name

Rotary knife cleaner

Description

Large round rotary knife cleaner made of cast iron, wood and brass. A ceramic label indicates the maker and brand: “Warren’s Rotary Knife Cleaner. Sole manufacturer, with improvements. The Premier WJB.” The round, wooden body is supported by a cast iron stand, with four feet. The feet each have a screw hole. Fragments of two paper labels are pasted on the front of the device. One of the labels gives instructions for use. At the top of the circular body, there are three brass slots, through which bristles are visible, plus another slot on the side with the word, ‘CARVER’ stamped into the brass. On the opposite side, a round opening exposes the interior mechanism. A short, dangling chain here indicates that a removable cover for the hole is missing. Inside, rotating disks with bristles and leather are activated by the S-shaped handle in the centre of the wooden body. The cast iron plate around the centre crank has the embossed lettering ‘Warren’s Reg’d Premier’. The number 6910 is also stamped on the upper rim of the knife cleaner. On the stand, embossed lettering reads ‘Rd. 423746’.

Narrative

This type of knife cleaner was found in kitchens of wealthier families in the 19th and early 20th centuries and will aid in interactive interpretation of the Dunsmuir era kitchen at Craigdarroch.

Knife cleaning was an essential and time-consuming process prior to the invention of stainless steel in 1913. Before this innovation, knives were usually made from iron or carbon steel and would quickly corrode, rust, or stain if not meticulously cleaned after use. Mrs. Beeton’s Cookery Book (1901), as well as other similar publications on household management, instruct that knife cleaning must be part of the daily routine, ideally to be completed before breakfast. Without a rotary knife cleaner such as this, the person responsible would have to treat each knife individually using a knife board and knife cleaning powder (see 2019.003). This rotary knife cleaner allowed for three knives to be cleaned at once and with less effort than polishing by hand.

Once the knives were washed and any food and grease residue removed, the blades would be inserted into the slots at the top of the machine. The carving knife had its own designated slot and had to be cleaned separately. Emery powder, an abrasive material, was then poured into a large hole on the side of the drum and the handle on the front would be slowly turned. Inside the device, two large disks covered in bristles and leather strips rotated and rubbed over the knives, distributing the emery powder and thus polishing the blades.

The rotary knife cleaner was invented by George Kent in 1844 and many other makers and models soon emulated and improved on the design. This model, made by Warren manufacturing, was probably produced between 1883 and 1900. After the First World War, once stainless-steel utensils for the home became readily available, there was no need for knife cleaners such as these and they ceased to be produced.
 

History of Use

Unknown. Purchased at public auction in 2024.

Date

circa 1893

Dimensions

47 x 42 x 46 cm
Depth includes handle. The 'drum' is 11cm in thickness.

Material

Wood; Brass; Metal, iron; Bristle; Leather

Brand Name

The Premier WJB

Serial Number

6910

Patent Number

423746