4th Quarter Newsletter 2023

for the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum

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EARLY METAL NUTCRACKERS---17^TH-19^TH C

We continue our studies of early metal nutcrackers and move into the 17^th century.

Metal nutcrackers continued to be more and more popular and improvements in the production of metals made it more profitable for the makers.  Iron was now plentiful as there were many foundries in England and the European mainland.  There were also foundries in the United States, the first having been installed in 1642.   Many times brass was used as trim for the hand wrought nutcrackers making a more attractive design.

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The screw nutcrackers arrived in the 17^th century as this technology was now being applied to tools and other implements.  Iron and brass were forged to make small screw nutcrackers which men usually carried in their pockets, hence the term ‘pocket screw’.

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The designs of the screw nutcrackers became more developed and complicated with openwork cages and detailed patterns. The screw mechanism gives greater control when cracking a nut, and it is easier to get a whole kernel with the screw type than with the forceful compression of the lever.

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By the eighteenth century the reversible nutcracker was designed with one lever pivoting 360 degrees so the nutcracker could accommodate 2 sizes of nuts.  These nutcrackers are known as “flip-overs”. 

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It was not until the middle of the 19^th century that a process was discovered that allowed brass to be cast into molds.  The first castings were used for cartridge casings for firearms, but soon brass was being used along with iron for many cast nutcrackers.

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Although brass nutcrackers were produced in France and other European countries, it was Birmingham, England that became the brass capitol of the world. Foundries that had been used in the production of iron were easily transformed into the making of brass.  Now that brass could be molded, three dimensional heads were often seen on hand-held levers.  These nutcrackers featuring a lion, dog and clown were made in England in the 19^th century, and measure a long 7.24 inches.

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Many nutcrackers were double faced with the same design on the opposite lever while others appeared with a companion character on the opposite lever.   Shakespeare was a popular subject for nutcrackers and other literature characters appeared.  The nutcrackers pictured here show the Winchester Crest and Trusty Servant, Punch and Judy, and on the right are characters from Oliver Twist:  Bill Sykes and Fagin, the villainous character who kidnapped children and made them into thieves.

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This was the Victorian age.   Designs flourished and became more and more detailed.  Large figures were created in different metals and in different countries.  This eagle with crown was  made in Germany.  It is beautifully crafted in bronze, with delicate feathers, intricate majestic crown and sharp ferocious beak.

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In the late 19^th century there were many beautifully designed nutcrackers  created by artisans in England much to the delight of collectors.  King Neptune is one of their favorites.  Sitting regally on his throne, he leans forward to crack small nuts under his toes while he sits on larger nuts to break the shells.

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In the United States, steel nutcrackers were patented by H.M. Quackenbush in 1889.  Designed for home use, millions of these nutcrackers have been produced.  Steel, used where extra strength is needed, is made of iron with carbon as a hardening agent and other elements such as manganese and nickel.  Chromium is added to make stainless steel.

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Other nutcrackers produced in the United States during this time were cast of iron, and made to crack the hardest of nuts.  Unlike today when nuts can be purchased already shelled, many times in the 19^th century the shelling of nuts was done by the children in the home.  Certainly these character nutcrackers made the job much easier!!    

Arlene Wagner, The Nutcracker Lady Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum Email: curator@nutcrackermuseum.com