General Chat

OMG Gwyn - I had a glass one and used to lose my knuckles on it regularly - first washing machine I had was a Parnell with an electric wringer and was that wringer good - better than a spin dryer.

Chris
I have a shoe last for the same purpose.

Anyone still got a wash board?
Mum's was metal with wood surrounds. I well remember taking it to school for our skiffle group.

Gwyn

Foggy mentioning irons - have a flat iron use as ornamental - however have a shoe last and that is used as a door stop each summer. Very useful and so heavy - ideal for the job.

Fountain pen, yes a sheaffer lever filler which I do not use anymore.
Don't have any fish knives or forks.
I have a bread knife, a modern one in set of knives.
Tea caddy, yes a domed top rosewood Tunbridge ware one which again I do not use as antique about 1850.
Have caddy spoons., various.
Do not have a tea cosy...lol.

No teapot stand or darning wool, wouldn't know where to start with that..lol
Clothes brush, yes.
Leather, yes for car.
Colander and like for cooking No, cant cook.
Have a collection of old Victorian irons, again don't use...lol.

I use a lot of these. Got a brand new fountain pen, but now can't seem to find the cartridges to fit boo hoo. Also have side plates and bowls from the 1930's just love to use them. I also use my mums serving dishes from the 60's. I love original bowls too for baking and have a nice collection of things in the kitchen.
:-D

Don't forget the emb. runners on every chest of drawers/sideboards/tables etc. Still have two I made for bottom drawer!

LOL Ann in Glos!!
I agree, these days I hope a teacher wouldn't get away with such a negative attitude.
But also, I was such a mouse in those days I accepted it, didn't even tell my parents as I knew Mum would be straight up the school embarrassing me with a scene :0
If I had been more the sort of person I am nowadays I'd have gone to the Head and appealed ;-)

K

I have a darning mushroom and wools, sometimes use a piece of wool to mend a woolly.

Re tray cloths, of which I have a huge number, I cut pieces of that table felt to fit under them, for OH and I to use, they are too pretty to just keep in a drawer.

Karen, daughter says can you imagine that today? she thinks she had him for Geography and she adds "Definitely wet"!

I do have a handmade lace tray cloth made by my Great grandmother.

P.S.
With ref: Island's post about fountain pens v ball point pens....
I remember receiving a big fat 0 for my physics homework once because I'd written in ballpoint and not fountain pen. How utterly MEAN was that teacher :-P :-P especially since I tried to explain that I'd run out of ink. In fact so mean he deserves to be named and shamed -it was Mr Riddy at Lydney Grammar School.

Ooooh what a lovely thread this is :-)

Fountain Pen.
Yes, I had a Parker fountain pen for my 21st and I still use it with Quink permanent blue ink!

Fish Knives and Folks.
Don't have fish folks :-0 but occcasionally use fish knives, as well as soooop spoons, pastry forks, butter knives, cheese knife, sauce ladles & gravy boat, olive forks/pickle forks, cake/serving slices etc along with side plates and linen napkins plus linen table cloth - when we're 'avin posh guests that is - pauses to draw breath - I don't get that lot out just for me and 'imself!!!

Bread Knife.
Yes, what else to cut bread with?

Tea Caddy.
Yes, for the tea bags!!

Tea Cosy. No. Tea Strainer. No, I use bags. Caddy spoon. No.

Teapot Stand.
No, but use trivets for hot dishes on the table.

Table Cloth./Tray Cloths.
Yes, a table cloth for when we have peeps round, otherwise I use table mats just for me and 'imself. I've got some lovely tray cloths made by my mother's great aunt, just haven't got a tray to put them on!

Clothes Brushes.
Yep, deffo.

Darning Wool.
Hmmmm, no but for some reason I've got granny's mushroom.

Block Washing Soap.
No.

Starch.
Yes, spray starch for linen things.

Window Leather.
No.

Colander.
Yes, definately.

Guest towels & guest soaps for 'guest loo'. Yes ;-)

K

Ballpoints were regarded with disdain by one tutor when I was at college and refused accept work by anyone who used one. Mind, ballpoints weren't neat writers then.
That is not as long ago as you might think!

If you look on e-bay some old fountain pens can sell for as much as £250.

Carol :-)

However you can have your fountain pens refurbished if you wish to use them, my brother had one done. I still have mine, but haven't used it since sixth form.

I have a pretty full collection of tableware I've accumulated from various rellies, don't use most of it, but for special, get it all out, white linen napkins with silver rings, side plates and knives, butter and cheese knives etc.
Always use a teapot though, and a stand, and colanders.

Brenda - I'm with you - how on earth could anyone manage without a colander - I have a few

Brenda I used a 'blue bag' - they were in all the rinse water of anything item which was white from sheets down to handkerchiefs.

ah sorry to read that Julia as Pastimes here is a smashing shop and I bought my Mother's journal album there for the familys' history.

Another one bites the dust :-(

Whilst talking about things from the past, have read on the Tele this morning that the shops 'Pastimes' has gone into receivership.
Shame, I liked these shops when they first opened years ago, but the one I went into was terrible.

Julia in Derbyshire

Oh 'eck- I still use a fountain pen, spray starch, when needed, and I always use fish knives and forks, and pastry forks.

The reason I use the fish knives and forks is that my mother had some given as a wedding present in 1935. She used them, because she had them. I grew up thinking all people used them and was puzzled when I saw my aunt using ordinary cutlery for fish. We weren't posh by any means

.I still have the brass toasting fork from the days before my parents had a grill on the oven.-jl