Obsolescence Project

Day 151 – Nutcracker

Nutcracker

The humble nutcracker. Largely unused due to purchasing nuts that are already cracked. Again, it’s back to that labour thing. The era of siting around the hearth with a bowl of walnuts or hazelnuts (really tough) and ceremoniously opening them is pretty much a thing of the past.

Nutcracker

Status: Consider reviving ritual of cracking nuts. Idleness is soon to be the new busy.

Kill-ratio: Tricky little object to photograph. Not 100% satisfied but the blog must soldier on. ~58:3 or 19:1

Alt Title: Ode to An Untitled Nutcracker No. 151

Happy Independence Day to my American buddies.

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 150 – Oil Can, Made in U.S.A.

Oil Can

Oil Can. Made in U.S.A.

Very small. 3.5″ high. A very portable oil can.

I’m not sure the era. I do wonder if that oval held advertising at some point, in the vein of Day 68’s Valve Spout Oil Can. My  intense research at that point led me to discover that oil cans were made of metal until WWII. So this could be from the 1940s.

Oil Can

Oil Can

Status: Another borrowed item. Have I cleaned all my personal clutter out?

Kill-ratio: 18:3 or 6:1

RIP Andy Griffith

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 149 – Box of Garden Hose Washers

Garden Hose Washers

Dumaco Garden Hose Washers.

Garden Hose Washers

Garden Hose Washers

The box says they are red, but they are green.

Status:  Borrowed from Mr. OP’s toolbox, so no action required on my part. I have however mentioned that we don’t have a garden hose. Well, technically not quite true, there is the community garden plot, which has a complex system of hoses, but I doubt they are in need of these.

Kill-ratio: 30:3 or 10:1

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 148 – Knife Sharpener

Knife Sharpener

Knife Sharpener. Had to dig out something red for Canada Day!

Purchased at a garage sale and for a long time, we didn’t know how it worked. When that hurdle was passed, found out it does indeed work, if requiring a certain amount of labour. That’s the thing about all all these vintage kitchen tools – they are all pre the labour-saving device era.

And yet, they are very respectable and made (surprise) to last.

Knife Sharpener

Status: Keep. Mr. OP has managed to use this at least once.

Kill-ratio: 18:2 or 9:1

Happy Canada Day!

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 147 – Potato Ricer

Potato Ricer

Potato Ricer. Made by Handy Things, Ludington, Washington

This object is heavy. Try ricing cauliflower through it and you’ll know what I mean. That’s the funny thing about this baby, it’s been pulled back from the brink of full obsolescence by my new found interest in cauliflower pizza crust. Truly much tastier than it sounds. The original recipe calls for mashing it up with a Cuisinart. Our house is bereft of such a clever device (one that has replaced many a kitchen utensil), so innovative things happen with a potato ricer.

Potato Ricer

Potato Ricer

Status: Keep. It’s actually being used. I had to photograph it for here anyhow.

Kill-ratio: 31:3 or 10.1

Untitled Alt 1: Untitled Utensil No. 147

Untitled Alt 2: Untitled Ricer for the Buddha of Suburbia
For the David Bowie Week going on at The Future is Papier Mache and Cardinal Guzman’s blogs

Posted on by Deanne in Objects