Main Squeeze

In a fast-paced world with electric juicers and frozen concentrates, old-fashioned reamers are no longer needed to enjoy the tangy juices of oranges, lemons and limes. But they make a charming collection—not to mention a whimsical addition to any kitchen. “What I love about reamers,” says Neil Palmer of Crystal Hill Antique Mall in North Little Rock, “is that they have a utility, but they’re also beautiful.”

Reamers burst onto the scene after the Civil War, when it was discovered that citrus cures scurvy. That set the ball rolling for a slew of styles, beginning with simple hand held versions. Two-piece sets with measuring pitcher bottoms and separate reamer tops emerged in the 1920s. Other styles include saucer reamers, which are one-piece versions shaped like a disc, figural reamers and juice sets with matching cups.

Reamers have also had promotional uses. Sunkist began as a marketing tool for California citrus farmers hoping to sell more of their crops to the East Coast. In support of their campaign, they distributed Sunkist reamers, with colors ranging from the most popular, white, to brighter greens, pinks, blues and yellows.

The H.C. Fry Glass Company was also known for colorful reamers, producing jadite and milk glass as well, while companies such as Cambridge, Anchor Hocking, Jeannette and McKee followed suit with different shapes. Materials used throughout the years range from wood and glass to metal and pottery.

Palmer’s expansive collection showcases just a fraction of the styles produced over the years. “Mine are primarily figural reamers made in Japan,” he says. Trade agreements with Japan in the 1930s led to the mass production and export of reamers to the United States. They poured into stores across the country, eventually overtaking their American made counterparts as a less expensive alternative. “They were made for everyday people and everyday uses,” Palmer notes.

That’s not to say that the finer tables couldn’t enjoy reamers too. Renowned European china companies such as Limoges and Royal Rudolstadt catered to the wealthy with elegantly crafted porcelain reamers. And while Palmer owns several fancier styles, from Czechoslovakia and Germany, his favorite is a clown-shaped reamer in the shape of a teapot. “Reamers,” he notes, “are one of life’s simple luxuries.”

Tips for Collecting Reamers

• Visit www.reamers.org to join the National Reamer Collectors Association, which includes members from around the world.

• The book, and Many More Reamers, by Mary Walker, is the best resource for information about collecting reamers and contains more than 3,500 listings.

• Reamers are identified through the Walker letter and number system, which is explained in Mary Walker’s book.

• “The price of reamers fluctuates depending on their popularity, scarcity and uniqueness,” says Palmer.

• Be cautious of reproductions, which are being produced using the original molds.

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