reubenstump - Posted - 03/23/2026:  07:41:10

The thread about throwing away tools made me think of some family heirlooms (cough). Specifically, kitchen tools.  Both sets of grandparents were poor.

Remember the space race?  Everything was a rocket back then, even bottle/jar/can openers.

When tongs were tongs, and grandma knew how to use them.  I think that these are for lifting jars out of boiling water when making jam or canning for the winter.

From the Burpee Seed Company.

Grandpa's initials.  Maybe Burpee engraved this for free?  Maybe granny won some sort of contest?

Mom's old baster.  Not sure if it belonged to her mom or not.  I hardly ever use it, but I like having it.

Edited by - reubenstump on 03/23/2026 07:41:32

Owen - Posted - 03/23/2026:  08:10:08

That ^^ style/type of peeler is by far the best I've come across; but, but, but ... I've only been peeling vegetables for about 70 years*, so YMMV.

However, it raises a VERY IMPORTANT issue .... peel by moving the blade (?) toward your body, or away from??

* not continuously ... I do take occasional breaks. 

Edited by - Owen on 03/23/2026 08:11:48

Texasbanjo - Posted - 03/23/2026:  08:12:01

Gee, have most of those kitchen tools and still use them today. Guess us old folk don't go for the new fangled items.

donc - Posted - 03/24/2026:  08:32:32

This reminds me of the lady who had 10 full sets of silverware. She pointed out her grandmother's initials. 'C.P.R.' [Canadian Pacific Railway].

Owen - Posted - 03/24/2026:  08:40:00

Apparently this stuff belonged to somebody else's granny: vancouver.ctvnews.ca/vancouver...he-woods/

Buddur - Posted - 03/24/2026:  09:39:18

I have so many hand-me-down kitchen tools that I don't even know what some of them are used for.

Dean T - Posted - 03/24/2026:  15:31:25

I left home with one of several Phillips screwdrivers, that had been in my parent’s kitchen junk drawer my whole life. So it’s at least pre 1960, and possibly much older. It went in my aviation tool box, and worked in the Cessna Factory, and followed me into the military, and spent 22 years in my tool kit there. It is in my home tool box to this day, and I still smile every time I use it.