Knife cleaner (1993.68)

This knife cleaner was made by Follows and Bate Ltd in around 1880. The company specialised in making household and gardening implements. It was based in Gorton, Manchester.

Knife cleaners were often found in the kitchens of large Victorian households. They are designed to clean several knives at once. When the handle is turned a series of buffers inside the wooden drum move over the surface of the blade. Before the introduction of stainless steel, it was important to clean knives regularly so that they did not go rusty.

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