Junk Drawer

This old potato cutter in the original box would be considered an antique, and more of a collectible than a junk drawer item. So, why was it chosen as a find of the week?
Well, its partly that I like potatoes, but that’s another story. Basically, this find was not at an antique shop, and never had been considered much of a worthy antique by the previous owners. I found this at an estate sale, and although the sales people recognized its value ($4, seemed like a good deal), it was sitting there like a junk drawer relic. It was stowed up in an old wooden kitchen cabinet, among aged plastic trays, and glass serving bowls. Its box was still with it, not because it had been considered valuable, most likely, since the people who had lived there had saved many things in boxes. The box was simply a convenient way to store this potato cutter, and in storage is probably how it had spent most of its time. There is no date to be found, and the box is only marked PRINTED IN ENGLAND. This at least would explain the use of the word “chips” on the box instead of “fries.” The lithograph printing suggests it must be at least early 1950’s. If it was purchased back then, that was a time when frozen French fries were not available at the regular grocery store. So, if you wanted fries at home you had a to slice them yourself, and what better way to do it than with a potato cutter like this.
Despite the appeal of fresh fries, it doesn’t look like this potato cutter ever had much use. Even so, it was considered worthy enough of keeping. You never know when you’d want fresh fries, or chips (if you’re British). So, it’s not that it outlived its usefulness, since it could very well be used, although I probably won’t. What’s interesting is that it went from kitchen junk drawer item to culinary collectible, just by sitting in a kitchen cabinet for several decades. Kitchens always seem to have good junk drawers, or junk cabinets, and this potato cutter is one item that is now more visibly stored in my own kitchen.