Handheld Manual Kitchen Grinder-circa 1950's

Made by The Washburn Company as part of their ANDROCK line of products.
This model grinder has a removable glass receptacle and pressed metal chute leading to the blades. The metal chute has a decorative pattern of several 50's yellow atomic starbursts centered in a dark argyle which is indicative of the style of the 50's.
The rotary flail is controlled by a manual hand crank. Primarily for nuts, spices, and coffee beans this kitchen gadget can serve several other purposes.
Lets take a look at how this item came to be:
A gentleman named Charles Washburn incorporated a company called The Wire Goods Company in 1882. In 1917 while operating in Chicago, Washburn merged with Andrews Wire and Iron Works Company. In 1922 Charles acquired another company and decided to centralize his corporation under one name.... The Washburn Co.
The Washburn Company began manufacturing kitchen utensils and flour sifters in the 1920's and 1930's out of their metal factory and glass furnace in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Washburn Company used the ANDROCK name on a variety of kitchen products, including flour sifters, onion and nut choppers, and other gadgets. ANDROCK is the name created and used by the Washburn Co. to personalize their product=kitchen utensils. This would be equivalent in modern comparison to Budweiser being created and used to personalize Anheuser-Busch's product =beer!
Production was interrupted during the war years, in which Washburn's factories made the the iconic P-38 military can opener and marked the OCIE item "US Androck".
After the war ended the, Washburn's Worchester plant resumed production of the ADCOCK line and flourished throughout the 1950's.
But unfortunately in 1967 Roblin Steel Corp. of Buffalo, NY, acquired the Washburn Co. In financial crisis, Roblin Steel Corp moved all operations from Buffalo to the factory in Worchester, Massachusetts in 1973. But in 1975, that plant was closed. The machines, molds, tools and patent rights were sold to other companies so the ANDROCK name showed up on products after 1975 for a short bit but the true ANDROCK factory production was gone and over......but not this one!
Weighs: 10 oz empty
5-15/16" Tall
3-1/8" Diameter Base
1 Cup Serving Capacity in Jar
Excellent Shape
MemoryLaneVintiques sanitizes all glassware and glazed pottery before packing for shipment....100% Guaranteed!
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