Unusual names for cutlery

[paulzjoh]

Wasn't it "Wistful Vista Drive"?

Wilson Gray wrote:

> I haven't the foggiest, but I do recall that 1847 Rogers Bros.
> sponsored the old radio program, "Fibber Magee(sp?) and Molly" and that
> the couple lived at 1847 Rogers Road.
>
> -Wilson Gray
>
> On Jan 19, 2005, at 2:55 PM, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
>> Subject:      Unusual names for cutlery
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> --------
>>
>> No, I'm not talking about runcible spoons.
>>
>> A friend who is working on a late-nineteenth century American
>> cutlery catalogue has e-mailed a question about certain
>> descriptive (?) words found with the names of each piece of
>> cutlery.
>>
>> Her message is below. Note her observations that the words
>> are generally in the same alphabetical range (two different
>> ranges, the difference between which is unclear), and notably
>> that many of the words are not complimentary, which would seem
>> to argue against an adopted name for a particular kind of
>> piece.
>>
>> Anyone have an idea what the purpose of these words is?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Jesse Sheidlower
>> OED
>>
>> ----- begin included message -----
>>
>> Catalogue no. 43 of the Meriden Britannia Company, published around
>> 1890 in Meriden, CT (the date is uncertain), shows spoons, forks, and
>> knives from the product line known as "1847 Rogers Bros." The various
>> patterns are illustrated, with descriptive lists of the pieces in each
>> pattern. What fascinates and intrigues me are the words listed to the
>> left of each item. For instance, here are some examples from the
>> "Lotus" price list:
>>
>> SPOONS                                                           Extra
>> plate, per dozen
>>
>> Leper                   Mustard                                 $4.75
>> Leporine                Salt, Individual                         3.75
>> Letterbox               Vegetable                               36.00
>>
>> FORKS
>>  etc.
>>
>> Levigated               Pickle, Long
>> Levitical               Fruit
>> Lewdly                  Child's
>> Lewdness                Fish
>>
>> KNIVES
>>
>> Lexicology              Fish
>> Lexigraphy              Pie
>>
>> SHELLS
>>
>> Libellous               Sugar
>>
>> SIFTERS
>>
>> Magically               Sugar
>>
>> CHILD'S SETS
>>
>> Libertine               No. 192
>>
>> LADLES
>>
>> Libidinous              Cream
>> Licentious              Medium
>> Licorice                Soup
>>
>> Under the "Columbia" Pattern we find:
>>
>> SPOONS
>>
>> Daunted                 Egg
>> Dauphin                 Ice Cream
>> Dayspring               Orange
>> Limewater               Ice, Perforated Bowls
>> Deaconry                Bouillon
>>
>> FORKS
>>
>> Deafness                Dessert
>> Deathbed                Oyster
>> Deathless               Fruit
>> Debauch                 Child's
>> Limitedly               Cake
>> Debility                Fish
>>
>> and so on. The insertion of various words beginning with "L" breaks up
>> the alphabetical order, which is not in any case consistent in the
>> catalogue. I really can't figure out what's going on -- it would make
>> sense to me if positive words were attached to the pieces, but at least
>> half of them are decidedly negative. No key is provided.
>>
>> ----- end included message -----
>>
>
>