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Rhiannon12866

(208,617 posts)
60. I think there was a previous invention that did this same thing
Mon Jun 30, 2014, 02:56 PM
Jun 2014

I went to boarding school in the '70s and had a job peeling potatoes. Everyone had some sort of job and that was one of mine, which wasn't all that bad since it was out of the kitchen, in the cool basement, and everyone left us (two girls) alone. A man would come down with a huge sack of potatoes and dump them in a huge stone(?) cauldron filled with water which would spin and remove the outer skins from the potatoes. Then he'd dump them in a large sink filled with water and our job was to remove the eyes and anything else inedible, then move them to a sink filled with clean water. The dinner crew was responsible for the cooking...

This contraption reminds me a lot of that. I have no idea what it was called, though it was obviously very old (my school was started in 1879), but it worked the same and still did the job...

What is that on the end of the drill? Mr.Bill Jun 2014 #1
It's a paint mixer Plucketeer Jun 2014 #4
the potatoes he used were red. abakan Jun 2014 #5
It's a toilet bowl brush.Apples would need a trim for the stem and blossom ends. genwah Jun 2014 #6
That's what I thought. Mr.Bill Jun 2014 #8
Looks like a toilet brush jamzrockz Jun 2014 #54
OK, I'm impressed! Suich Jun 2014 #2
Looks like a toilet brush at the end of the drill Politicalboi Jun 2014 #3
I agree. Looks something like this. JeffHead Jun 2014 #9
Some creative mind (s) should be able to turn this into a kitchen appliance. n/t Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #11
Hey, as long as it was previously un-used! calimary Jun 2014 #31
Why peel the potatoes? swilton Jun 2014 #7
Actually, I like the peels in my mashed potatoes but for those people that don't. n/t Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #10
The skins, and the flesh just underneawth the skins, also contain neurotoxins. n/t markpkessinger Jun 2014 #39
Only if you let them go green. nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2014 #40
+1,000 Scuba Jun 2014 #41
That was my question. I never peel potatoes. I prefer them un-peeled. NBachers Jun 2014 #51
Cool time saver Ineeda Jun 2014 #12
Well someone will create a kitchen appliance based on this, that could be placed in the sink when Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #14
Didn't you notice that they did it in the yard? Curmudgeoness Jun 2014 #38
I guess humor and sarcasm must be explained to some. Ineeda Jun 2014 #55
I think this is more like it.. abakan Jun 2014 #13
Holy cannoli! I'm impressed! nt valerief Jun 2014 #15
I imagine restaurants, cafeterias and messhalls could use a device like this adapted Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #17
Clean the toilets AND peel the spuds!!! Kaleva Jun 2014 #21
It's a floor wax and a dessert topping! Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #22
There have been automatic potato peelers at least since the Korean War jmowreader Jun 2014 #29
The Great grain would be proud Bickle Jun 2014 #16
lol, great reference. n/t eggplant Jun 2014 #34
Info commercial packman Jun 2014 #18
Interesting but how much time to set this up and then put everything away... Kaleva Jun 2014 #19
I believe this same principle could be applied to a kitchen appliance, no need for Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #23
As silvershadow mentioned though, this could be very useful if feeding a crowd. Kaleva Jun 2014 #25
I was leery, but gotta say…impressive. I wonder how much potato was lost in the process. silvershadow Jun 2014 #20
I suppose that would depend on the bristles and length of time used in the process. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #27
That Is Great !!! - K & R !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #24
WillyT. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #28
Looks like a hell of a lot of loss to me. But still, mighty interesting. Shrike47 Jun 2014 #26
I believe even peeling by hand causes loss of potato, it would depend on the bristles and length Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #30
Keep it going defacto7 Jun 2014 #32
A hand powered driver is not a bad idea and I suppose the residue could be used on Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #36
Neat trick, but potato skins are jam packed with vitamins. tridim Jun 2014 #33
I agree tridim and as I posted upthread Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #37
Wow! Going to the bathroom for the toilet brush..... Bonhomme Richard Jun 2014 #35
Or, you could buy a YOUR KITCHEN peeler and do it indoors... MADem Jun 2014 #42
Well there you go, Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #44
They have industrial ones that cost a thousand bucks or more MADem Jun 2014 #46
Technology marches on. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #43
Looks like something the army would do. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #45
The Army no longer cooks for itself. Yavin4 Jun 2014 #52
That would mean it's a $100,000 toilet brush. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #53
Hey, that's some peeling! MrMickeysMom Jun 2014 #47
That Was Really Cool.... supercats Jun 2014 #48
Where's the cat...? n/t jtuck004 Jun 2014 #49
A toilet bowl brush...from the site... jtuck004 Jun 2014 #50
Man you think Beetle Bailey would have invented it... Historic NY Jun 2014 #56
I used to keep a wire brush in the kitchen to do this by hand. RedRocco Jun 2014 #57
A powerwasher for potatoes..very clever. Thanks, K&R for fun clip. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #58
Oh Hell, yeah! libodem Jun 2014 #59
I think there was a previous invention that did this same thing Rhiannon12866 Jun 2014 #60
AND make mashed potatoes at the same time. nt Damansarajaya Jun 2014 #61
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