Any butter press experts out there?

[redcarpetdrew]

The wife found a butter press on Craigslist the other day. We got it as she liked it and wanted to try it. It was supposed to be made in Italy. She was reading the posts over my shoulder recently (I think I've got her hooked!) and liked the fact that things like silverware, etc gets discussed here and asked me to post this in hopes that there are some out there who've used and/or collected them. Does anybody recognize who might have made it and a guess on age? Also, has anyone ever used one and have any suggestions for us?

RCD

 

[ronhic]

Hallmarks

Silver should have a set of hallmarks on it....and probably where it won't affect usablilty or appearance...

...That is your first step. Hallmarks will identify the manufacturer, year and there should also be a number or series of letters to indicate electroplate (EPNS) or quality 825 etc...

 

[petek]

I'm not exactly sure what a butter press does or how it works. I thought they might be for just pressing a design on the butter. Butter molds are for shaping. The only other thing I can think it's used for is removing the buttermilk from the solidified butter when you make butter but how you'd use that to do it I dunno.

BTW it's very very simple to make your own home made butter using a blender and you can flavor it too by adding cloves of garlic or herbs... Can't find my blender book recipe but there are some if you google homemade butter blender.

 

[rp2813]

My mom had one exactly like that. I think she bought it new in the 80's. If memory serves me, I took it off her hands, used it maybe once and quickly decided that my partner and I are hopelessly casual entertainers.

Ralph

 

[rp2813]

P.S.

The made in Italy piece makes sense. This would have been a typical item my mom would have brought back from there, and I think that would place the date of purchase right around 1980.