Some country household items...

[CuriousCollector]

Here are some items we inherited from my husband's family.

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First up, these interesting....buck ets?

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A pair of butter molds. 

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Bottom of the molds -- a flower and, I think, a pineapple.  Somewhere else, I have two miniature butter molds (as if they are for single servings) with the letter "H" for the mold stamp.


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The box it slides out of calls this a combination strop.  Looks like a whet stone on two sides, and leather on the other two sides.


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Found in the bucket, in the basket, were these spice tins and medicines.  These include Watkins Cloves, Sal Hepatica, a handwritten label that looks like it says "Capesas" or "Copesas", Astor Pure Cinnamon, Dr Hitchcock's Laxative Powder, and the flat tin box says something about "family nail kit", but I couldn't open it (although something rattles inside).  All of the tins appear to have original product left inside them.

Ideas on value, cleaning, restoring, or otherwise preserving these items? 

[KC]

The wooden items are still collectible.  I have seen the wooden buckets used for cheese making.

The tins are very collectible - The best information in a written format (without me having to write it out) is here.  Your best friend is a duster.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5589145_clean-antique-tin.html

Don't attempt to restore a damaged antique advertising tin - this will greatly reduce the value (unless it is a bent hinge that is easily bent back).

As for the label that is coming off - reglue with a non-acid glue.

Here's a good site for antique bottles/forum
http://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/Paper-Label%3F/m-312422/tm.htm

[waywardangler]

Hi, your 2 wooden buckets are called firkins.  Worth more if they are American rather than European (to Americans).  The pineapple butter mold looks like it has actual mold or dark spotting.  If on the surface of the wood, I would think wiping it with a damp rag would take it off.  If it is actually in the wood and it is not "spalted" wood, bleach may be used in order to kill it.  Spalted wood is actually a fungus that develops in wood that is rotting (naturally) or produced by placing it in damp sawdust to produce the spalting.  The spalting is the dark blackish figure occurring in the wood. Spalting cannot be removed.  I have a butter mold handed down and I simply leave it alone in a curio cabinet untreated.

The strop is fairly common.  The spice tins are also.  Nice decoration pieces and the ones with colorful graphics are collectible.  I would remove the contents and wash carefully in warm water maybe with a little detergent if the container is tin.  Hand dry immediately so the tin does not rust.  If any of the tins have flaking paint, I would just very carefully damp wipe those.  If any of the spice containers are cardboard, I would damp wipe those also. Bottles with paper labels must not be washed.  I personally do not like old medicine containers with the original contents.  I would remove the contents and bring them to your local hazardous waste site.  Some old medicines are toxic even though they were sold for home use years ago.  Save the containers with labels intact for display.

[fancypants]

I agree that the two clyindrical wood boxes are firkins .

I'll suffer the slings & arrows for my following suggestions :

Perhaps the 'splattering' of spots on the exterior of your butter molds is from cooking debris & could be gently cleaned (cleaning with the grain of the wood only) with a mild solution ( I use Orvis Wa ) & not much water (damp cleaning , not immersion) .
A soft toothbrush & some patience might give you positive results (try cleaning just one little spot first , before commiting to a method that may not work on the problem) .... others might use a super-fine grade of steel wool to hasten the process .
I've seen folks get pretty darn good results with food debris-cleaning using (cringe) Oxy-Clean in a mild solution ...

As waywardangler mentioned , if you've got 'spalting' , it's pretty much a condition that is permanent .

I have seen spalted wood antiques treated with wood bleaches (which all seem to only lighten both the spalting & the undamaged wood) & stained darkly , in an attempt to hide their condition .


I'd suggest that you give your wooden items , after they've been cleaned & fully dried , a good wipe-down with food-grade mineral oil (pharmacies carry it) & another good wiping to remove any excess oil .
The wooden items seem dried-out & I bet they'd like a drink !
You could also use a common-brand wood furniture paste wax like 'Johnsons' , if you have a mind to .

[waywardangler]

Fancypants, I had to Google "Orvis Wa" as I had no idea what that was (I am familiar with the store Orvis but there is no connection).  Now that I know, I doubt I have ever seen that on a shelf in Wisconsin.  It sounds like a product that is quite handy such as Woolite.

I also like mineral oil and use it for cutting boards and fish cleaning boards.  With dry wood, it soaks right in and no additional wiping is needed.  I never thought to use it on butter molds but it makes complete sense.  For those that do not know, food-grade mineral oil does not turn rancid and is recommended for butcher blocks, cutting boards, wood salad bowls, etc.

[CuriousCollector]

I agree that they are all likely "dried out".  The firkins in particular were buried under some plaster that fell off a wall when the roof leaked.  They were not stored in very ideal conditions for the last 18 years, at least!

Should I treat the firkins with mineral oil, too?  Mainly, they are dusty on top (where the plaster landed), and the bottom rib on the smaller firkin is loose and can be slipped upwards.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions!

[waywardangler]

I would use fancypants suggestion of one coat of furniture wood paste wax on the outside of the firkins (reapply maybe once a year).  Mineral oil on the inside if desired.

[fancypants]

Hey waywardangler - it's available in your area for sure .

I learned about it in Wisconsin .

Vet/farm suppliers have it ( it's cow shampoo ) , and sometimes pro smoke-removal guys/janitor supplies .

[waywardangler]

Thanks, fancypants.  I will look at Farm & Fleet for it.

[Chinese Antique Furniture]

All nice stuff which will be better after you have worked on it. 

Nice find though.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I agree that mineral oil would be great for the dry wood items. It made a huge difference on my Hoosier and breathed life back into it.

[waywardangler]

Found "Orvus Wa" at Farm & Fleet but all they had was a 7.5 lb. jar for $22.  I will have to look for a smaller quantity somewhere else.

[fancypants]

Sorry about the hijack on your thread CuriousCollector ....

The 7.5lb size package you've found is the std. size & I don't think they make any other smaller size , waywardangler .... avg. prices go from $18 to $25 per jar , usually .
Sometimes farm supply stores only sell it in a case of 6 .

I have a jug of Orvis Wa that's 8 years old (& still 'good') that I dip into when needed ... it's almost a lifetime supply .

I usually spring for a jug every decade , which works out to a couple of bucks per year .