Posted 10 years ago
yeastybeasty
(1 item)
This item is made mostly of cast iron, with a steel cutting blade, and a rotating steel disc. It is 180 mm long, 38 mm wide. Appears to have been Nickel plated originally. As can be seen on the cutting knife, is dates from 1902, and is branded Victor. The can opener was operated by piecing the curved point though the centre of the lid, then pushing the knife point through the outer edge of the lid, then simply pulling the handle around to cut the lid off. Ingenious, I think! The tools on the other end seem to be bottle and jar openers, and a hammer to tap the lids back on.
However, something is missing. The steel disc must have had a purpose, but I'm not sure what. My guess would be that it once had a corkscrew which folded into the handle, but I can't see how it was mounted. The little punch mark on the disc appears to be a stop, as the disc only rotates about 200 degrees. I've owned it so long I don't know where I got it, but it was like this when I got it. I'm in Australia.
Oh, I was thinking the pointed end would be an ice pick. Well, dual purpose I'm sure. I really like this & glad you posted it. Thanks. Oh, I just noticed that you're an FNG, so welcome to CW.
This style of opener can be found online by different manufacturers, sometimes referred to as a rotary opener. I have seen a patent diagram of one with the same point, but a knife that runs horizontally, cutting the lid completely off.I think an icepick (which I'm old enough to remember) would be a 3-4 inch long point, and steel rather than cast iron. Many thanks for your comment and your welcome.
Thanks to the kind help of Rob at What is it? http://55tools.blogspot.com.au/ the mystery is solved. He thought the steel disc was a knife sharpener. He tracked down the patent information, and it is not only a knife sharpener, but a scissors and ice skate sharpener as well! 102 years old, and every implement on it still works.
I have the same item. The clip on mine states BERK BROS NEW YORK U.S.A. I am surprised at its use solely as a can opener. It has been with my Mother's sewing stuff and before that probably her Mother's too. I have often used the hammer to place press studs and the spike also on this end for ubpicking seams. I never even thought of opening cans. This name plate slides. I figured this could must be a hem aligner? What do you think ??
yvettebarclay, The language in this August 12, 1902 patent describes a can opener:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US706823
However, the language in this earlier patent for a somewhat similar-looking device invented by the same person describes a sharpener:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US647602
This site references both patents:
https://www.datamp.org//patents/displayPatent.php?pn=647602&id=55782
Regardless of the original intended use of your device, if you've found a way to use it, more power to you. :-)