Gadue’s Dustless Flour Sifter
I found this dustless flour sifter at a little antique/resale shop in Newaygo, Michigan while browsing one day with my friend. I didn’t buy it that day, but she went back a couple weeks later to get it for me. Surprise!
I’ve never seen anything like it! I did some research on it. The Gadue Dustless Flour Sifter was patented by Wm. Gadue on March 21, 1905. It was manufactured by the S. H. Vilas Mfg. Co. in Burlington, VT.
The device not only thoroughly sifts the flour, leaving it in feathery and flaky condition, but removes all the foreign substances.
In this sifter, the flour is protected at all times, so when used in a camp, flour left in it at the end of the season will be in good condition the next year.
There is no dust when using this device, as all the flour is saved.
The chief feature is the agitator, which is the base of the center rod attached to the crank at the top of the sifter.
The sifter, made in 12, 25, and 50 pound sizes, occupies but little room, and is always ready for use.
Can you imagine this sitting on your baking table?
Your flour right there, sifting out what you need for your biscuits, pancakes, or bread every morning.
This one shows evidence of heavy use. The agitator has been fixed, and the screening fixed once and in need of another fix.
I wonder if it was part of a camp with a camp cook using it for all of the meals, or if it was in a mom’s kitchen with her using it for all of her meals?
What I do know is that the sifter looks beautiful in my kitchen on my buffet with all of its beautiful paint scratches and worn stenciled writing, surrounded by a wonderful light turquoise-colored paint.
Have you ever owned a Gadue Sifter? Did your mother? Your grandmother?
CindyP blogs at Chippewa Creek.
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Barbee says:
I have never seen one like that. People think up the cleverest things. I bet it feels right at home in your kitchen, because that is the way it looks.
On May 13, 2010 at 2:15 am
Mrs.Turkey says:
I have never seen one of these but do have an old fashioned hand crank bread pail to mix up bread in. It’s a neat thing.
I used it for years.
On May 13, 2010 at 6:25 am
Rose says:
Cool, I live just outside of Burlington Vermont! The name Gadue is VERY common in these parts. I will have to look into the company. That is ONE COOL piece of kitchen equipment – I hope you are going to use it.
On May 13, 2010 at 6:46 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
I think that is so cool! I’d love to find one of those!
On May 13, 2010 at 8:37 am
KentuckyFarmGirl says:
I love old kitchen gadgets. I have one of the old flour sifters with the red knob on the handle. I bought it at an antique store because it was just like the one my grandmother let me use years ago to make homemade biscuits.
On May 13, 2010 at 8:49 am
HeatherB -I Wanna Farm says:
That is so cool! I have a thing for antique kitchen tools. My sifter isn’t that old or cool, it’s one of those hand held tins with the crank handle. I never understood the reason for sifting flour, but I would buy that in a minute just for it’s being so awesome!
On May 13, 2010 at 9:19 am
houseful says:
That is so neat! I’m glad you have it. If anyone could use it, you could. You do more baking than anyone I know!
On May 13, 2010 at 9:54 am
Rhonda says:
I’m jealous, how cool it that! I’ve never seen one but wow. I must be weird because I’ve always like sifting the flour-light puffy hills-with just a spoon and fine sieve strainer.
On May 13, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Debbie in PA says:
Cool! I have never seen such a sifter, but I do own 2 of the more traditional types from the late 40’s.
On May 13, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Sandra says:
That is very neat! I love old gadgets like that. I’ve never had one of those, but my grandmother had a cabinet in her kitchen with a built in flour bin and sifter at the bottom of the bin….I think it was called a Hoosier cabinet. One of my aunts kept it…I’d love to have it in my kitchen.
On May 13, 2010 at 8:07 pm
debnfla3 says:
I’ve never seen one of those before. What a precious friend to send that to you! And yes, I could see that sitting on my baking counter….LOL
On May 13, 2010 at 9:49 pm
kathyinozarks says:
I have never seen one like this, just the sifters that came in the hoosier cabinets which I have that was my grandmas
On May 13, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Vivian says:
Oh, how I love this! I am a fool for old antique kitchen gadgets (and new ones too ;0))….will have to search out one of these (or similar) for myself. I do have my grandmother’s old hand held sifter though.
On June 3, 2011 at 11:27 am