Kerosene Iron
As early as in the 14th century hunks of iron were forged into flat, pointed irons
and placed in a fire until hot (charcoal iron). The hot irons then, when removed
by their handles using a padded cloth, were used for ironing fabrics.
Gasoline and kerosene irons came along in the late 19th century. They used gasoline or kerosene as fuel used to heat the iron. The picture shows a kerosene and porcelain coated iron with a wooden handle and a chrome plated tank at the back of the iron. The tank contained kerosene, a wick placed on the top of the tank and a knob used to control the flame.
and placed in a fire until hot (charcoal iron). The hot irons then, when removed
by their handles using a padded cloth, were used for ironing fabrics.
Gasoline and kerosene irons came along in the late 19th century. They used gasoline or kerosene as fuel used to heat the iron. The picture shows a kerosene and porcelain coated iron with a wooden handle and a chrome plated tank at the back of the iron. The tank contained kerosene, a wick placed on the top of the tank and a knob used to control the flame.
Makutra (Mortar and Pestle)
Makutra is a clay bowl used for grinding, grinding, pulverizing, or crushing
poppy seeds, dough, cream or butter. This clay bowl has equally spaced grooves along its inside wall. The substance to be ground is placed in the mortar and ground, crushed or mixed with the pestle. This mortar and pestle was
donated to the Canadian Polish Historical Society by Gizela Plachcinska, who received it from her mother. The bowl was in her mother's possession since 1914.
Coffee Grinder
This is a vintage and hand made cast iron grinder used for grinding coffee beans or pepper. This grinder was received as a gift by Gizela Plachcinska in 1937.
Antique Food Chopper
This decorative food and meat chopper has a stainless steel blade and a wooden handle enforced by stainless steel plates at both ends of the handle.
This vintage kitchen appliance was used for chopping food and meat. It was donated to CPHS by Gizela Plachcinska. She received this tool as a wedding gift in 1939.
Soda Bottle
This style of the soda bottle was invented in nineteenth century and remained popular well into the twentieth century. This soda bottle replaced a dry cork bottle and was the first successful method of keeping the bubbles in the bottle with carbonated drinks.
The bottle has a heavy wire bail with a rubber gasket attached to the bottle's neck.
The rubber gasket serves as a sealing mechanism.
Kerosene Lamp
This vintage kerosene lamp is a lighting device that burns kerosene as a lighting fuel. The first kerosene lamp was constructed by the Polish chemist Ignacy Lukasiewicz in 1853 in Lvov. The lamp contains a glass fuel container located at the base of the lamp and used for storing kerosene, and a flat cotton wick which is partly submerged in the fuel. The cotton wick, by a capillary action, draws up the kerosene for combustion. The top portion of the wick extends out of the lamp burner equipped with adjustable knob to control the wick and the flame size. This top portion of the wick is surrounded by a glass chimney used to protect the flame and provide correct amount of air required for combustion. A framed round mirror located at the back of the lamp helps to reflect the light thus increasing the intensity of the light.
Lighting this kerosene lamp requires filling the fuel tank with kerosene and allowing time for the wick to absorb the fuel. The glass chimney is then lifted off the lamp, the soaked wick is lit with a match and the lamp chimney is lowered . Extinguishing the lamp is done by turning down the wick and blowing out the flame.
Lighting this kerosene lamp requires filling the fuel tank with kerosene and allowing time for the wick to absorb the fuel. The glass chimney is then lifted off the lamp, the soaked wick is lit with a match and the lamp chimney is lowered . Extinguishing the lamp is done by turning down the wick and blowing out the flame.
Vintage Bottle Opener
This brass finished kitchen tool was used in a antique kitchen as a beer bottle opener. It is made of brass and has a rounded hole in one end for removing bottle caps.
Vintage Kitchen Cabinet
This kitchen cabinet was a popular piece of furniture in an ancient kitchen. It is an oak, hand made cabinet used in the antique kitchen for storing dishes and utensils. Doors of the cabinet are decorated with carved by hand designs.
Spindle (Polish: Kołowrotek)
This spindle is a manual device from the end of 19th century used for spinning fibers into yarns. It is a wooden, revolvable device that consists of a drive weel and a spindle. A spinner
collects fiber strands with fingers being careful not to break the band of fibers and presses the foot pedalto put the reel in motion The fibers are twisted together to form yarn and the twisted yarn is then wound onto the spindle. The thickness of the yarn depended on
the amount of collected fibers.
Vintage Tobacco Pipe
It is a XIX century pipe. It has an ornamented steel chamber called the
bowl for the combustion of tobacco and a thin, made with clay and curved tube called shank ending in the mouthpiece.
The tobacco was packed in the bowl and pressed down with a metal
plug attached to the bowl. The pipe came from a southern region of Poland called "Podhale".