The All-in-One Invention from 1881 You Need to See!
July 16, 2024
Source: Etsy
The Versatile Wonder:
The Thayer’s household combination tool of the year 1881.
Among various collectibles, there are not so many objects that can be appraised by different categories of collectors as the Thayer’s 1881 Household Combination Tool. This small hand-held device, patented by William Henry Thayer of Cleveland, Ohio, on May 24, 1881, is a much sought after collectible among cast iron, tool, gadget, and trivet enthusiasts.
A Multifaceted Marvel
This 10-ounce tool made of cast iron and standing at 5 1/2 by 4 inches is a very simple yet incredibly useful piece. It was intended to fulfill several functions, which is why it became an essential tool in the kitchen at the end of the nineteenth century. Its uses include:
Trivet
Ironing board, or a pot holder for a coffee pot
Stove lid lifter
Meat tenderizer
Pie-plate lifter
Innovativeness of the Tool
Thayer filed the patent application on the 22nd of December 1880 and was issued the patent on the 24th of May in 1881 with the United States Patent Number 241,893. In his patent description, Thayer outlined his vision for the tool:In his patent description, Thayer outlined his vision for the tool:
”The purpose of this invention is to design an easy to use, affordable and reliable tool for use in the kitchen to move and manipulate other objects in the kitchen as well as other functions by making the implement have a handle with fingerholes through which the implement can be held in any manner without slipping or rotating in the hand.
Currently, Thayer’s Household Combination Tool is a very collectible item. This is because it has a historical background and at the same time has a rather functional design as a piece of kitchenware. The tool’s design not only captures the creativity of the time but also gives an insight into the use of the multiple tools in the daily life of the people.