Our ancestors used them every day. And for us they now look like curiosities.
Everyday life is changing at such a speed that you cannot keep track of all the new products. Twenty years ago, no one could have imagined that a home phone would become an anachronism, but now modern children look at disk devices with bewilderment – it turns out that in order to dial a number, you had to twist something. The dishes are washed by the dishwasher, the minced meat is grinded by the combine, the machine washes, the robot vacuums – there is less and less manual work around the house.
And what did the household little things look like a hundred years ago? After all, even then they did a lot to make life easier for housewives and add comfort to the daily routine. We walked through the museum ““- it is located in Kaliningrad. The highlight of the museum is that this is an ordinary apartment. Common – for the beginning of the twentieth century. It recreates the interior of the Konigsberg merchant Gustav Grossman to the smallest detail. Some of these details look just amazing – we have collected the most unusual ones in our mini-quiz. Can you guess what these things are for?
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Thought a coffee maker? We, too. This is actually a mini saucepan for warming up the broth. It was used when it was necessary to warm up literally one portion – to warm a frozen guest, for example.
But this little thing looks like an ordinary cup. Until you look inside. In fact, this is a cup, but not a simple one. What do you think there are additional details inside?
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This is a mug for a real man. In those days, the mustache was the main male pride. He was looked after, as not every woman looks after her hair. And the partition in the mug is needed so that the mustache does not get wet while the man is drinking tea or coffee.
This clever scissor-like device – what is it for? By the way, there is a hint in the photo.
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In a decent society, it is customary not to break an egg, but to carefully cut off the top of the head with a knife. Or not with a knife, but with such special scissors. Just imagine – scissors for cutting off the tops of eggs!
Children were instructed to work with this device as punishment for pranks. Now there are these too, but not in every home. And they look completely different. What’s this?
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That’s right, this is a coffee grinder. Grinding coffee on it was a real punishment. After all, first you had to roast the grains – you had to stand over a hot stove, stirring coffee. And then turn the knob, which was also not easy.
But what is this device of medieval torture, guess?
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This is a juicer. Heavy, like a cast-iron stove, frightening appearance – and the purpose is quite peaceful. The owner of the house is German, he was not going to refuse from the European habit of drinking a glass of freshly squeezed juice at breakfast even in Russia.
It takes up half of the window sill, obscures the light, but a very necessary thing in the household, extremely useful!
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Yes, this is quite an obvious water filter. The quality of water at that time left much to be desired, and drinking in bottles was not yet sold – we are spoiled for choice. And then I had to keep such a can at home.
Another curiosity is the two-tier sink. Now there are double ones too, but the bowls are still located on the same level. What’s the secret?
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In those days, water was saved. The dishes were not washed under running water. Plates and pans were filled with soap and water and left overnight, in the morning they were simply taken out. And in the second they washed their hands. Water from the first was allowed to wash the floors, and from the second, to soak dishes.
And here is a very simple task, but two in one. This brush was kept on the dresser in the bedroom. Next to her is another device. What are they for?
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Yes, it’s a hairbrush. No one could afford to wash their hair every day, so combing was an obligatory hygienic procedure. And the tricky comb next to it is a device for cleaning the comb.
And you will probably recognize these things right away.
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That’s right, this is a collection of ancient meat grinders. They didn’t really change – until the electronic version appeared. True, the features of “great-grandmothers” are guessed in her too.
Bonus: the recipe for those very soft waffles. They were supposed to be made in such a waffle iron – on the oven. By the way, guess what kind of device with a lid on the stove?
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Clue: This is a roaster for coffee beans. And the recipe for waffles is as follows: per kilogram of flour, you need two and a quarter liters of milk, 6-8 eggs, 675 grams of butter and a tablespoon of yeast. Stir, let it come up. bake on a hot oven.
All of these things are over a hundred years old and still work. However, in many apartments you can still find items of Soviet everyday life, some of which have already passed their fifths, but they are still in service. Do you have any like in our gallery?