New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
GOOD TOOLS NEED
GOOD CARE TO LAST
Women Must Learn the Structure and Care of
Fine Tools Before They Will Get Their
Moneys Worth from Kitchen Utensils.


average woman. She buys device,
clamps It on the table and expects II TO
give 100 per cent efficiency. If 1t does not
she blames the tool or the manufactures.
but hardly ever blames herself
Take a device Ike a meat chopper II
depends for its efficiency on the sharp
ness OF the blades cutting down on the
foodstuff. Where do eleven women out
Of ten keep these delicate wheel blades
when not in use? They cheerfully let
them lie in the kitchen table drawer.
where they are banged and hit by the
knives the can opener and the apple
corer or allowed to accumulate dust and
grease at the bottom OF a knife basket.
When they come TO use them they COM
plain of their dulness, whereas they
should have hung them on nail where
they would never be touched by other
sharp edges.
Not every woman knows, either, that
= meat chopper and other heavily timed
articles of various kinds arc put into an
acid bath just before leaving the factory.
on account Of this, when two timed sur
faces come together in the turning OF
chopper there is considerable friction.
and the device does not work we'll"
This acid reaction and grating could be
entirely avoided by rubbing the works"
of a new chopper straiucr or coffee mill
thoroughly with melted paratfine before it
is used the first time and oiling il month
~ with paraffine or lard
When there is time for really literary
pursuits a book should be written on
The Sorrows of a Breadknife.' OF all
mistreated, malisned dumb dishes knives
receive criminal care at the hands OF the
average housewife. She will buy really
beautiful Sabatier knife costing 81 25 or
a brcadknfe whose serrated edge is
marvel of workmanship, bang il into
drawer with our friends the can opener
the nutmeg crater and the apple corer.
and then the knife gets dull or she
equally mistreats il by soaking il in dish
water, which loosens the blade from the
| handle. Has the housekeeper never seen
| the workbench of a mechanic. even the
humble cobber? Above his bench are
strips of leather or grooved wood, into
which is slipped every single knife and
| sharp-edged tool. so that its blade will be
| neither scratched, banged nor bunted.
| What is true of knives should be true OF
the can opener. apple corer. cleaver, etc.
which each deserves it's own nail, IL 1t Is
TO stay sharp.
Beautiful aluminium and other pieces ara
unnecessarily furnished by Pumping them
into wash water containing alkalis.
Careless placing Of utensils on the Hra
| is another big reason why they don't
give long service. Where is the enamel
| saucepan which will stand being placed
over a gas burner turned on full before
the pan has had time to heat up lituel
OF course, the enamel Chips" Porcelain
and casserole baking dishes ara also
glazed unnecessarily by putting them
into too hot an oven or standing them in
a draft when very hot.
Many Of the improved labor savers IA
which housekeepers are turning are mada
of extremely complicated parts too lit
tie understood by the women using tho
device. Washing machines, vacuum clean
| ers, Wrngers, ETC., have parts which
should be given greater care. How many
women loosen the screws Of the wringer
| when 1t Is not In use, so that the rolls
| will not be under pressure and become
fiattened in tho mean time? How many
| women lay away the coil of their electric
| iron or other electrically equipped APP
paratus, so that the cord will not become
twisted and bent at one place which will
mean frequent renewal? Where is tho
woman who constantly oils the bearings
| of her humble carpet sweeper?
Even in the care Of that important de-
vice, the fireless cooker. woman often
ruthlcssly neglects TO dry the radiators
and the wells, so that the compartments
and radiators rust and need replacement.
The housekeeper who has an oil can on
her kitchen shelf has learned the first
principle of being a good mechanic. A.
drop of oil on the screw of the bread
mixer. the cogs of the egg beaten, etc.
will give the device another three months
service. Good tools. like good servants,
require intelligent care and handling il
they are going TO be worth their cost. IN
intelligent principles by women have,
more than anything else, deprived house,
work of improved mechanisms and labor
savers utilized by men.