This item was used by Helena Warren (nee McKeown), a well known photographer and local press correspondent. She lived at Newmerella. The meat mincer was a particularly popular kitchen gadget. By means of the mincer left overs and off cuts could be transformed into shepherd's pie or mince steak. Gadgets like this Universal food chopper are typical of domestic inventions designed to reinforce the principles of thrift and labour-saving. Many of these gadgets were imported from the United States. A cast iron metal hand mincer with a long metal body with an opening at one end, inside which is a circular spiral blade and a screw clamp attachment at the other end. On one side of the mincer is a curved metal handle held in place by a metal nut and a wooden bulb shaped knob at the end. There is a metal circular webbed blade held in place by a metal nut and bolt."Universal No. 2 brand; L.F. & C., New Britain, Conn., U.S.A."mincer chopper food-preparation

This particular food mincer was manufactured by Enterprise Manufacturing Company. Located in Philadelphia, this company specialized in making hardware products. The company was especially known for its cherry pitters, apple peelers, and coffee mills. The company was founded in 1864 and was located on the corner of Dauphin, 3rd, and American Streets. Enterprise Manufacturing Co. remained in business until 1956 when it was bought by Silex Co.A mass produced early domestic item made for home food preparation this item's first patent design was approved in 1897. Manufactured by a well known company in the USA the "Enterprise Manufacturing Company” up until 1956. They specialised in making kitchen appliances of various types for domestic use and for export. Food mincers of the subject items design are still being produced today under the brand name of "Universal" made by Universal Trading Inc USA.Food mincer, metal, clamp on bench style, with rotating wooden handle. Inscriptions stamped on metal.Marked "Enterprise tinned Meat Chopper" "No. 10" "Enterprise MF'G Co. PHILA. USA" "PAT. JAN.30.83" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mincer, food mincer, meat mincer, food preparation, kitchen utensil, domestic object, enterprise manufacturing company, kitchen appliance

Owned by Mrs Leach9cm mouth grinding chamber 11cm long mince exit diameter disc with exit holes and warning to screw this ring up tight. 11.5cm worm to mince the meat controlled by 16cm handle. Another screw moves to hold the mincer to the kitchen table.Enterprise, on chamber: tinned meat chopper No 5; on clamp: MF'G. CO. Phila. U.S.A..domestic items, food preparation

The Universal Food Chopper was a common domestic item internationally and throughout Australia. It was manufactured by the Landers, Frary & Clark company ( L.F. &C.). It was first sold in 1897, and proved to be so popular that the company still featured it in their catalogue sixty years later. It was marketed as a device that not only ground meat, but also processed vegetables. The number 2 on the device referred to the size of the grinder, with the 3 model being the largest for heavy-duty use and the 00 model the smallest. This appliance was a common domestic item used throughout AustraliaA cast iron and wood domestic appliance. The food chopper has a large screw on the base which allowed it to be anchored to a table or work bench. Food items were placed in the the cavity at the top and the user wound the handle to force the food through the blade. Different attachments allowed adjustments to the size the food was chopped.On Side 1: Pat. Oct.12, 1897/ Apr. 18, 1899/ Re Sept. 5, 1899 On Side 2 : LF & Co. /New Britain / CONN USA / No 2/ UNIVERSAL FOOD CHOPPERfood chopper, kitchen appliances, food preparation