‘A Victorian Dishwasher’

OK Not quite a dishwasher! But…

Went to Hopetoun House today and found this rather intriguing contraption in the kitchen! 

It was a Victorian invention designed to cut down on cleaning time of cutlery.

An open fire was a constant source of soot so most cooking utensils had to be cleaned daily.

Knives were set in slots around the drum and, as the handle was turned, a rotary arm swept an abrasive powder across the knives and polished the blades and handles.

More information about the Kent’s Knife Cleaner - that I found for sale - is here, though the one at Hopetoun is a later ‘new, improved’ version!