LABEL KENT'S KNIFE CLEANER

The label was found in a disused area of Wungong close to Moore Street by Ian Boersma while he was searching historic sites for artefacts.

The Kent's Knife Cleaner was a piece of handpowdered domestic equipment used to clean knives. Designed by George Kent of London who would apply for and receive a patent for his machine. He would open a shop selling various models of his machine and other labour saving devices until his death.

The label would have been attached to a model produced near the end of Kent's life. The machine is a barrel turned on its side with holes along the top to place the blades of the knives into. Powder would be poured into the barrel as a crank was turned. The crank would rotate wooden discs with leather straps and bristles which would clean and partially polish the knives.