George's Triangle is all done, and Hermes is delivering it to Manchester. Thank you to the nice chap in Halfords who gave me a strong cardboard bicycle box for packing. I was able to tuck some of the other family Christmas gifts in the spaces.
But now Bob is short of a project. Like me, he appreciates having something to work on, as a relaxation. He mended and repainted the handle on one of his hammers. "Oooh! can you do something about this, it is looking rather tired". I said, handing him one of my kitchen utensils.
It was a wedding present - so that makes well over 40 years old. It was a gift from Helen. She was a young teenager in my Sunday Bible Study Group. Her elder sister was one of my bridesmaids, and our links with the family went right back to the mid 1960s. The family gave us a lovely Le Creuset Casserole [still in use] but Helen insisted on buying us her own gift from her pocket money. They had one of these in their kitchen, and she felt it would be a Very Useful Gadget, and so it has been. Bob has indeed refurbished the item.
But then I began to doubt myself, so I went and checked it up. I was wrong - it is a Kitchamajig. This was the actual name under which it was marketed in the USA and you can read all about the company here. The earlier models even had the name and suggested uses engraved on the front -
- mashing potatoes
- straining food
- beating eggs
- serving food
Do you have one of these? Is there another 'retro' bit of kitchen kit you use regularly?
I've never heard of a Kitchamajig, but, yours looks great with the refinished handle! The only possible retro kitchenware I have are two Pyrex mixing bowls; both were discarded by other people and picked up by my mother and I. I've found out that they are considered collectibles! But, I still use them all the time.
ReplyDeleteI love Pyrex - oven, microwave, dishwasher AND freezer safe. I'm reducing my collection though - I sold a lot at my last Yard Sale, to a young Mum assembling a 'Retro Kitchen'
DeleteI have quite a few old bits of equipment I inherited that I wouldn't be without, like the 1950s aluminium pan my mother always used for pasta. It has a very tight fitting lid, making it perfect for cooking rice, and is so light, something I'm appreciating more and more as I get older. I also have loaf tins inherited from my grandfather, who used to run a bakery, with long-lost brands of wholemeal bred stamped on the side, and fancy sponge tins with fluted edges that produce very decorative, scallop-edged cakes. They are so old they have a fantastic patina and never stick. And then there's my old metal fish slice which doubles as a cake server, so sharp it'll cut through most things. I've tried switching to plastic implements but it's just not the same. I wish I had someone as handy as your husband to refurbish it - after 70 years some of my implements are looking a bit the worse for wear.
ReplyDeleteOh how I'd love to see your bread tins! I have a tiny Hovis tin - I think it was a tradesman's sample - with the name imprinted on the side. It is too small to use for baking - but I keep bag-clips in it. You are right about the weight of things - a friend recently said she had to give up using her heavy Le Creuset as her wrists didn't have the strength for lifting anymore.
DeleteI have a little gadget called a Parsmint. Do you know of it??
ReplyDeleteI never owned one, but I do remember one of the women used to bring hers to the church kitchen sometimes when they were preparing meals. She guarded it preciously - it was useful and important to her. It did chop the parsley etc very efficiently.
DeleteMy mother asked me to get her a replacement tin opener a few years ago, and I found it on eBay under "vintage"! That was a Prestige Skyline.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this item but I love that you have something useful that you have cared for over time and that it has had plenty of love and of course that it has prepared many a dish.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've just put a "flat whisk" on my 'to buy list' and this kitchamajig would do very well, if it was still in stores. I agree with how heavy pans have gotten. I looked at the Pioneer Woman's Le Creuset once but couldn't lift it easily. I enjoyed reading about this kitchen utensil and its refurbishment!
ReplyDeleteI have watched Pioneer Woman's cookery show. I mistakenly thought it would be about making simple meals on a camping stove behind the covered wagon. I didn't realise PWs husband is a rancher worth $200million!
DeleteWell done Bob! It looks wonderful! I'd LOVE to have a husband that could do that! It's lovely to know that things are still being used well and have lasted. I'd like to see Fifitr' s bread tins too!
ReplyDeleteYour husband has other amazing skills. Take care of him well, and he will last too
DeleteKitchamajig was produced by A&J Manufacturing Co until 1929 when they were purchased by Edward Katzinger Co.
ReplyDeleteThey continued to produce it with no branding change until the Son renamed himself to Keating & the company to EKCO in 1945.
The brand on mine has both A&J & EKCO so I assume mine was made near 1945.
Head on mine looks same shape as Yours but has a thick sturdy wire handle that makes a U shape & welded to head over an inch apart so handle is very wide, comfy & sturdy. LOVE IT!
The line You spoke of got the wooden handles & branded only ECHO & then quickly moved to plastic handles.
Then ECKO was bought out much later but Kitchamajig is still made & sold today.
Too bad we don't have many ppl interested in cooking all their meals at home much any more so not much call for all these grand utensils. Very sad.
PS - mine says 6 things on it -
ReplyDelete* STRAINS * BLENDS
* DRAINS * WHIPS
* BEATS * MIXES