Tag: antiques
How the 1833 washboard patent changed early American laundry
The patenting of the washboard in 1833 inspired tinsmiths, potters, and wood turners across Ohio to craft early laundry devices. Explore the history of handmade washboards, possers, and the weekly frontier tradition of "Blue Monday."
Coming clean about clothes washing chores in the early Ohio Country
Before modern washing machines, early Ohio Country pioneers faced the grueling task of cleaning clothes in creeks and iron kettles. Columnist Paul Locher dives into the smelly history of 19th-century laundry chores and the evolution of the scrub sticks and patented washboards that followed.
Ohio pioneers made cheese to preserve milk without refrigeration
Without refrigeration, early Ohio Country farmers relied on traditional cheesemaking to extend their winter milk supply. Historian Paul Locher breaks down the step-by-step pioneer process of using rennet, straining whey and pressing hard cheeses to preserve dairy for months.
How pioneer families finished butter for market in early Ohio
From Scotch hands and butter-working tables to saffron coloring and decorative butter stamps, discover how Ohio pioneers finished, packaged and sold homemade butter.
Variety of butter churns attempted to make a very arduous task...
Churning butter was an arduous pioneer task that sparked a wave of American ingenuity. Antique expert Paul Locher explores the evolution of the churn—from simple wooden dashers and decorated pottery to rocking "cradles" and crank-powered models that transformed a chore into a science.
Wooden water pipes were hard to make, but a boon to...
Paul Locher explores the fascinating history and labor-intensive craft of early wooden water pipes—a testament to pioneer ingenuity and infrastructure.
Ohio Country coffee pot design depended on your nationality
Antique collector and historian Paul Locher explores the cultural divide of Ohio’s frontier coffee pots. From New England’s lighthouse designs to the intricate Germanic punchwork, Locher details the craftsmanship of local tinsmiths and the distinct styles of early American settlers.
Winter was the time for renewal, rejuvenation and repair
Discover how early pioneers used the winter "respite" to repair leather harnesses on stitching horses and sharpen tools for the next hard farming season.
Peach pit carving: The forgotten folk art of Ohio pioneers
Discover the history of peach pit carving, from its ancient Chinese roots to 19th-century American pioneers and the famous art of Albert William Gimbi, the Pennsylvania Peach Pit Carver.
The legend of Bo Whoop: America’s most famous lost shotgun
The famous shotgun “Bo Whoop” vanished from a duck hunt in 1948—then resurfaced decades later. Plus a guide to modern non-toxic waterfowl ammo.
