What is this meant to store? In the pantry of 1960s home. Small, plastic, rotates on right side. Doesn’t seem useful for anything I could think of. Ketchup packets inside for scale. There are removeable dividers as well.

A questioner said:

What is this meant to store? In the pantry of 1960s home. Small, plastic, rotates on right side. Doesn’t seem useful for anything I could think of. Ketchup packets inside for scale. There are removeable dividers as well.

More info: Not really sure what this is meant for. It was taped and so it wasn’t used by previous owner. I threw some ketchup packets in one. That’s really the biggest thing I could think of for this. They rotate on the right side.

Some of the people opinions on it:

1. Once upon a time spices were sold in smaller square tins which would have fit. That type of storage item would have been sold by smaller catalog merchants, sort of like Lillian Vernon (are they still in business?) which were simultaneously great at discovering gadgets and also very miscellaneous in scope like dollar store. Lots of people would find this the perfect gift for someone. This ‘device’ would also function like a junk drawer in some homes. In a sewing room, spools of thread. In a workshop it could store different sizes of screws in their boxes,as another example. It is (now) what you make it.
2. I don’t know if it’s meant for them, but I would store various small kitchen stuff there. Like rubber bands, can openers, band aids, post-its, the things you use to close plastic bags (I don’t know what it is in english), stuff like that.
3. My first thought was sewing supplies
4. It’s basically a vertical swing-out junk drawer.
5. Whatever they might have been intended for, I might try to remove 4-6 of the trays and replace with rubber spacers/ washers, just to create a little more clearance and give you a bit more flexibility in what you can store in them.
6. Could you lay spice bottles on their sides and fit them in there? Could be a spice rack?

   It would help to have a measurement for depth, since it seems like you have multiple ketchup packets layered on top of one another in there.

7. I’d say a general organizer, good for lots of things. Something intended to bring order to the chaos that is the Great American Junk Drawer, but instead, only expands its footprint in a vertical direction.

   If I had to guess its original intention, I’d say it wasn’t necessarily meant for the kitchen, but rather for craft supplies, office supplies, sewing supplies, etc. Just a thought.

8. It’s hard to imagine any kitchen or pantry item where one would have fifty different kinds of. Spices, maybe, but they already come in jars anyway.

   I think it might just be a generic organizer. I would use it for tea bags or coffee capsules, if I had a capsule-based coffee maker. In a workshop, it might be useful for screws or electronic components.

9. Sewing notions.
10. It may have been for screws, nuts, bolts and other small bits (inspired by the posts about sewing supplies).
11. As ha hobbyist who deals with consumables (all of which are small parts) , I could use and want one of these.

    It’s perfect!

12. I have a very similar setup in the pull out from my Aunt Fran’s sewing desk. Same shapes, plastic, but with more variation. She had bobbins, thread, needles, seam ripper, notions, etc, and a killer pair of fabric scissors in hers. Hers was different in that there were pivots on both sides.
13. Stuff. .. and things.
14. This is a hairdressers cart for storing all the tools of the trade. I remember these from when I was a kid and would go to the “salon” with my mom!
15. Apparently one can use them to store condiment packets.
16. Ketchup packets, among other things.
17. I’ll bet you could fit more of whatever if you twisted every other rack to the opposite side.
18. It’s just storage for whatever you want. It doesn’t necessarily belong in the pantry, the previous owners just put it there for whatever they wanted it there for.
19. Arts and crafts supply holder. Nuts/bolts/screws
20. I believe it may have originally been intended for hardware — different sized nails, screws, nuts, etc. and depending on the structure of the house, those may have been stored in the pantry or it was repurposed for the things mentioned by other respondents.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment!

Read More: Mysterious white under kitchen cabinet bracket in my 1980’s era home! Any idea?

Cleaning out an old home can often feel like a treasure hunt, uncovering items that once served a specific purpose but now leave us puzzled. One such discovery is a small, plastic container found in the pantry of a 1960s home. This container, which rotates on its right side and features removable dividers, is curious not only for its design but also for its ambiguous use. This article explores the possible purposes of this intriguing find.

The Discovery

In the back of the pantry of a 1960s home, a small plastic container was unearthed. The container, made of sturdy plastic, rotates on its right side, much like a lazy Susan. Inside, removable dividers were found, and for scale, the container held several ketchup packets. The compact design and the ability to rotate suggest it was meant for easy access to its contents.

Potential Uses

1. Spice Organizer: One of the most plausible uses for this rotating container with dividers is as a spice organizer. In the 1960s, kitchens were often smaller, and efficient use of space was crucial. This container could have held small spice jars or packets, making it easy to find and retrieve specific spices while cooking. The removable dividers would allow for customization based on the size of the spice jars.
2. Condiment Holder: Another possibility is that this container was designed to hold condiment packets or small bottles, similar to the ketchup packets used for scale. It would have been convenient for storing various condiments in a neat and accessible way, possibly on a kitchen countertop or inside a pantry.
3. Small Pantry Items Storage: The rotating feature and dividers suggest it was meant to store small pantry items that needed to be easily accessible. This could include items like tea bags, sugar packets, or other small food packets. The dividers would help keep these items organized and prevent them from cluttering the pantry shelves.
4. Office or Craft Supplies Organizer: While found in a kitchen pantry, such containers were also popular for organizing small office or craft supplies. The rotating mechanism and dividers would be perfect for storing items like paper clips, thumbtacks, beads, or buttons. This would have been especially useful for those who engaged in crafting or had a home office.
5. Medicine or Vitamin Storage: Another potential use could be for storing medicine or vitamin bottles. The 1960s saw an increase in the availability of over-the-counter medications and supplements. This container could have been used to organize these small bottles in a way that kept them readily accessible while maintaining order.

Historical Context

The 1960s was a decade of innovation in home organization and kitchen gadgets. Space-saving designs were popular as homes became more modernized. The rotating feature, a hallmark of mid-century convenience, aimed to make access to everyday items easier and more efficient. Products like this container were marketed to homemakers who sought to streamline their kitchen activities.

Next Steps

To better identify the exact use of this container, one might consider reaching out to vintage kitchenware collectors or exploring catalogs and advertisements from the 1960s. Online forums dedicated to mid-century modern homes and accessories could also provide insights. Additionally, experimenting with different types of items in the container might reveal its intended use through practical application.

Conclusion

The small rotating plastic container with removable dividers found in a 1960s pantry is a fascinating piece of domestic history. Whether it was used for spices, condiments, pantry items, office supplies, or medications, it embodies the era’s spirit of innovation and efficiency. Its discovery not only sparks curiosity but also offers a glimpse into the daily life and domestic priorities of the past. Understanding its purpose allows us to appreciate the ingenuity of household solutions from a bygone era.