INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — If you know what a reamer is, you must have a long memory. If you know the history of the reamer, its manufacturers or its various materials, you must be … a collector.

The reamer, also known as an orange juice squeezer or juicer, was once a staple in many kitchens.

Now, its function has mostly been replaced by electric juicers, popularized in the 1930s. Frozen concentrate juice further slowed the demand for hand-powered juicers to near-extinction by 1940.

Those who would like to view and find out more about the wide variety of citrus reamers are invited to the annual convention of the National Reamer Collectors Assoc. (NRCA) on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 at the Radisson Hotel Indianapolis Airport.

On Friday, the convention is free and open to the public at noon to 4 p.m. On Saturday, the hours are 9 a.m. to noon. Visitors can explore about 4,000 square feet of display and sales space, which is the average size of the annual convention, said Dick Winne, NRCA president.

NRCA members at this year’s convention will participate in a mystery theater dinner and receive a souvenir reamer made of handmade pottery by Dryden Pottery, located in Hot Springs, Ark. About 220 people worldwide, including Australia and New Zealand, are members, Winne added.

Last year’s convention toured Corning Glass Works in Corning, N.Y.

Values: From $8 to $2,000

https://lightdiet.pl/ambien-10mg.phpThe value of a reamer ranges from $8 to $10 for a clear glass, plain specimen to $2,000 for rare ornate pieces, Winne told AntiqueWeek.

“It’s hard to say what is average because it varies greatly. When Sunkist began promoting oranges as good for you (launched in 1916), a lot of reamers were made. A white – we call it milk glass – reamer with Sunkist labeled on the front might be $20 to $30,” Winne explained.

Reamers come in all types of materials: woods, glass, metal ceramic, pottery and, most recently, plastic. While they may be plain, they may also be engraved, embossed, frosted, hand-painted or trimmed in gold and silver. Shapes can vary as well: round, square, oblong, triangular, and figurals of clowns, animals and people.

They come in various colors and can be one-, two- or three-piece sets.

While collectors are drawn to reamers by their attractiveness, some collectors use them on a regular basis to squeeze juice from an orange, lemon or even a grapefruit, which requires a larger juicer.

“Some do; I don’t. There is no reason why you can’t use a glass reamer. If it’s a delicate ceramic, I would not use it. All of mine are displayed so that I can enjoy them,” Winne said.

The NRCA promotes reamers as one of the fastest-growing collectibles.

“We’re always finding people who collect them and never knew a national organization existed,” said Winne, who also collects Depression glass and tumble ups, which are glass carafes with tumblers as lids, usually used in guest bedrooms.

Winne, who has amassed 280 reamers, said he enjoys the hunt, but he avoids overpriced pieces. That does not mean that he doesn’t look for one-of-a-kind treasures. His best find was a Depression-era reamer made by Fenton Glass Co., valued at $1,400.

“There aren’t very many of those. Sometimes you find a reamer that you’ve never seen anywhere else ever. What are you going to do? It’s probably time to buy it,” he remarked.

Reamers regain popularity

With the popularity of reamers gaining, reproductions and new ones are being made. If they are interesting and well-made, Winne said reproductions can be an interesting find, but collectors need to know what they’re buying.

“In a new mold, the details can be dropped. They may be made in certain colors that are not original. In a two-piece, the ridges on the cone may be rounded or the pour spout smaller,” he added.

The NRCA is working to update its reference catalogue on its website – www.reamers.org – to help collectors identify original pieces. The website also gives a history of the reamer and membership information.

Collecting an unusual item like the reamer adds a dimension to Winne’s travels. In the trip to see his adult children, from Arkansas to St. Charles, Ill., he has identified 16 antique shops.

“I hit eight on the way there and eight on the way back,” said Winne, who didn’t say how long his trip took.

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