Kent's 'Standard' knife cleaner, 1907

 

 This luxury item dating from 1907 is a knife cleaner from Kent's of London, a vital item in the days before stainless steel became widely available, when knives would not just dull but also become less sharp quicker. Knives would be inserted into the holes along the top of the machine, with metal pieces to guide and hold the knife in position, apparently allowing multiple knives to be cleaned at any one time, and cleaning powder would be inserted into the machine (Kent's Emery was the only product supposedly to be used in this cleaner - although whether that is vital or just Edwardian marketing is up to you to decide!), and the handle turned and brushes inside would get the knives back in good condition