Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Kitchen Gadgets

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

I have a love for kitchen gadgets. Some of the ones I have belonged to family members, some of them, I have acquired over the years. Most of them, I do use.

I love these measuring spoons. They remind me of the one's my mom and grandma used when I was small. When I see these at estate sales, I always buy them. They are not that easy to come by around here, even if you think they would be. I also love a vintage cheese grater. I have seen my mom and grandma grate lots of cheese using one exactly like this one. No food processor for them.

This my friends, is a real vintage thingie. Can you guess what it is used for??? I am sure you know by the photograph exactly what this is.......but can you guess it's use??

 My grandma, mom and aunt all had these and they were used for chopping nuts. Talk about fancy.

In fact, I don't think I ever saw my grandma use anything other than this can for chopping. This is her "nut chopper" from her kitchen. I also have my aunt's as well. And...yes....I do use it.

Just look at the top of the can.

See, this is how this complex gadget works......nuts on a plate or pan, and whack away.

See, it works rather well. How's that for a vintage thingie!! I really do treasure this old can. I can still see my grandma's hands holding that very can and chopping pecans for a pecan pie. Great memories.

Have a great week!!!


Posted at 4:45 PM
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45 comments:

  1. Musings from Kim K.March 9, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    I adore vintage kitchen items and your measuring spoons are delightful. I linked up to my recent post on vintage aprons.

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  2. DonnieMarch 9, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    I'm still using the spoons and a cheese grater that look like those. Wish I had me a great can like that though. Really cute post.

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  3. Blue Ridge Altered ArtMarch 9, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I love old kitchen items too. I have my Grandmothers mixing cup that has the attached beater with it and her old sifter. I still use both. I am in awe of that nut chopper. I love how older generations used what was on hand for every aspect of their lives. ~~Sherry~~

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  4. Linda @ A La CarteMarch 9, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    For all the fancy gadgets we now have the simple can works great as a chopper! Love your measuring spoons. My Mom had a set like that also.

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  5. RachelDMarch 9, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    I just look my eyes full of these wonderful old things at Flea Markets and stores. And I often just sort of accept that the things were slightly shopworn even then, in the days of use-it-up, wear-it-out. Our Mothers and Grandmothers seldom bought a second of an item they already had; they polished it up, filed off a rough patch, and somehow, I can almost see the former owner of that grater, maybe with a stiff brush and a can of Old Dutch or maybe Bon Ami, scrubbing away at the metal til it brightened up a bit.

    And I look at the egg-beaters and big spoons and ladles, those painted ones, with the slick paint chipped from the handles, and just assume they kept sanding down the sharp spots and keeping that aging spoon in use.

    I just LOVE your hand-me-downs and discoveries every week.

    rachel

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  6. LVMarch 9, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    We all have known for a long time you had gone to the dogs. Now, you have gone nuts. Whatever works, regardless of the age, use it.

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  7. Blondie's JournalMarch 9, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    I LOVE the nut chopper!! Funny how you had to make do way back when! Sometimes I like the old methods rather than having to clean up the food processor after 1 minute of use!

    XO,
    Jane

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  8. quiltingnanaMarch 9, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    I have some vintage kitchen gadgets too...old sifters, graters, and even a grinder that attaches with a clamp to a table. I can remember my mother and grandmother using it to make sandwich filling from left over meats.

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  9. JMarch 9, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Love that nut chopper!

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  10. Lynn at Cottage and CreekMarch 9, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    I love the word picture you created of your grandma chopping nuts with her hands curved around the metal chopper. Beautiful. She would be tickled by your blog and the lovely way you remember her. Thanks for sharing and for hosting this fun party, Suzanne.
    Lynn

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  11. Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresMarch 9, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    So simple and this is all we really need. Just think of all the time you can save without having to clean out the food processor.

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  12. Susan FreemanMarch 9, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    I love all of your vintage kitchen gadgets, but I especially like the can. Not only is it a vintage family heirloom, but it is a multi-tasking implement. While you are chopping your nuts you get an upper body work-out and stress relieving action at the same time. Those old gals had some pretty clever ideas! Thanks for VTT ~ I always enjoy it!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

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  13. Donna@Conghaile CottageMarch 9, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    I Love all those kitchen gadgets too, AND I have a whole canister of vintage measuring spoons! Thank you for sharing AND Hosting!
    Hugs, Donna

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  14. marianMarch 9, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    yep, i LOVE kitchen gadgets too, can't resist them!! btw i think you're nut chopper is ingenious LOL!!:)

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  15. JocelynMarch 9, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    I LOVE your nut chopper!! Who needs new fangeled things?? I think I have the same measuring spoons too :-)

    Jocelyn
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

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  16. very merry vintage styleMarch 9, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    You can never have enough measuring spoons, I buy them wherever I see them. love all your vintage thingies!

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  17. By the BluegrassMarch 9, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    Thanks for hosting...I linked up again. What a great idea picking up vintage measuring spoons. I always need more of those.
    xo,
    Sena

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  18. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I had no idea what that was for. And if it works, why buy a fancy one? Thanks for hosting.

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  19. bjMarch 9, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    I love all your olden kitchen gadgets.
    Thanks for hosting.

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  20. Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorienMarch 9, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Oh wow!!! I love vintage kitchen thingies and I LOVE the nut chopper! Awesome!

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  21. Deborah Kay at The Paint SplashMarch 9, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Love your vintage today. Anything with a story is so much better than just another dust collector. Blessings, Debbie

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  22. Amanda LeeMarch 9, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Thank you for hosting! I actually have those measuring spoons -- they were from my grandmother's house :)
    ~Amanda

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  23. Danylle McLainMarch 9, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    I LOVE that nutcracker! What a great story and treasure to pass down!
    Happy VTT!
    ~Danylle

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  24. JuliaMarch 10, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    Such wonderful memories!

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  25. Grannys AtticMarch 10, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    I just about cracked up over the nut cracker. My first guess was a can of Pet Milk! I love the measuring spoons, I have my mama's too, just like yours and use them all the time. Blessings, Vicky

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  26. Tanya March 10, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    LOVE the nut chopper...looks like they also used an old "church key" to punch the triangle holes in the lid, before they cut the bottom off. GREAT post! Thanks for letting me play along on VTT! Happy Thursday - Tanya

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  27. LeslieMarch 10, 2011 at 4:14 AM

    That's great.. I have a love for kitchen gadgets as well. Maybe I'll post one of my more vintage like gadgets soon... That can is a riot! A great way to burn off some stress and chop nuts at the same time! :)

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  28. JeanneMarch 10, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Hi Suzanne, the can was condensed milk, I think. My mom had one too. I also have the metal measuring spoons and the grater. I think we love the same things. HA! I do have vintage kitchen stuff and I too use it very often. In fact I once decorated my kitchen wall with this stuff but when I moved I couldn't find just the right place to do it again. I did sell some of it when I sold antiques. Lets face it, I love vintage everything.

    I have missed doing your meme and I am back.

    Have happy days and tomorrows.
    Hugs, Jeanne

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  29. AnnMarch 10, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    We can never underestimate the ingenuity of those before us. I'm sure it works and worked pefect on chopping nuts. Now we have all the fancy choppers with all the parts and comfortable handles!! I love your 3 step directions--too cute. How wonderful you have this old can (I mean complicated piece of equipment)
    Ann

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  30. JeanneMarch 10, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    All I can think of is Gram! And how much I miss her! Thanks for the warm, used and well loved gadgets. Home.

    xo Jeanne.
    http://beeskneesbungalow.blogspot.com/

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  31. PAINTORDIG.blogspot.comMarch 10, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    How ingenious. This would be much simpler than dragging out the food processor-and cleaning it afterwards! I am joining in for the first time today. I love looking at everyones treasures.

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  32. VintagesouthernlifeMarch 10, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Love your vintage kitchen gadgets. My mom had spoons and a grater just like them. I still have the grater.
    Thanks for hosting.

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  33. Life Goes OnMarch 10, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    I love your old vintage kitchen tools I use to have some and they were fun displayed in my kitchen at the time. Will have to hunt for some again one of these days.
    have a great day..grace

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  34. Janet,March 10, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    I love you vintage kitchen items. I also collect them. I use those measuring spoons all the time. As for the nut chopper, I think they also used a can like that to chop cabbage when they made kraut. I didn't connect to Vintage Thingie Thursday today, but I could have, because I posted about being a dish-a-holic. Go over to my site and check it out if you want.

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  35. UnknownMarch 10, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    I have had trouble linking up lately. It says my image is too large. I have tried to resize it nothing helps. Love your post today. Could not identify what you used the can for but it is very inventive. Necessity is the mother of invention. Pop over and visit and I will keep trying to figure how to link up. I hate not being able to join in.Of course I will visit all.
    QMM

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  36. NanEMarch 10, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    You know, women were so ingenious! We just run to Wal Mart or Bed, Bath and beyond when we need a gadget instead of thinking of what we could use around us. I would never have thought to use a can for chopping.

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  37. Tallulah's Antique ClosetMarch 10, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Thank You for hosting today! it is always a pleasure to join in......Julian

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  38. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    I love that nut chopper, it looks very therapeutic!

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  39. Simone @ Doberman's by the SeaMarch 10, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    Thanks for hosting-cheers.

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  40. Curtains In My TreeMarch 10, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    Your post reminds me of some old tins I bought at an auction once. I am going to look for them tonight and I know where the measuring spoons are I use them.
    I am glad to know other ladies keeps old items like yours and mine

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  41. ~Lavender Dreamer~March 10, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Love this post! And I just now linked! Better late than never! Thanks! I'm off to go visitin' now! Hugs! ♥

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  42. MaureenMarch 10, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    You know more often than not, simply is soooo much better!

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  43. Sherry HicksMarch 10, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    I do love that your nut chopper was used by several people in you lineage and that you still use it today. Funny the less "electronical" things are the longer they last..............Love the post and glad I found your blog!
    Sherry

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  44. Simple Life JourneyMarch 12, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    Wow! That is so interesting. I love learning about things of the past.

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  45. Kymberly Foster SeaboltMarch 12, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    You had me at "Vintage Thingie Thursday."

    I haunt thrift stores and yard sales, forever on the hunt for a nut chopper like the one owned by my Great Gram.

    Love your blog and looking forward to following you for more!

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Sometimes someone says something really small, and it's like it fits into this empty space in your heart!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughts here, they really mean a lot to me!

Suzanne

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