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.
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