H70.142.26

2.5 in HIGH
(6.35 cm HIGH)
Gift of Joan Pearson Watkins
H70.142.26


Tin scoop. Description: Tin small flour scoop with handle. From the History Information Station: Scoops were used to get dry foodstuffs such as flour and sugar out of the boxes or barrels they were stored in. (A flour box is on the floor by the stove in this exhibit.) On the prairie frontier farmers grew their own grain and made their own flour, but there were no wheat fields in California in 1850, so pioneers purchased flour in bulk at the general store, along with sugar and salt, and perhaps barley, oats, or cornmeal as well. Tin utensils could be purchased at dry goods stores, but many areas also had traveling tinsmiths, who went door-to-door with their wares. At each house the tinsmith collected dented or broken pieces and replace them with new items, offering a discount based on how much old tin he collected. Such a service was much appreciated in isolated towns.

Used: flour

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