Laundry Mangle Diecast Pencil Sharpener

Original EMB Laundry Mangle Pencil Sharpener, Made in Spain

This miniature includes a metal pencil sharpenter and movable wringer wheel. there is some corrosion on the bottom of the piece, but it remains in excellent condition.

A mangle or wringer is a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers in a sturdy frame, connected by cogs and, in its home version, powered by a hand crank or electricity. While the appliance was originally used to wring water from wet laundry, today, mangles are used to press or flatten sheets, tablecloths, kitchen towels, or clothing and other laundry.

The tradition of die-cast pencil sharpeners in the shapes of various objects (ships, planes, pianos, golf carts, oil rigs, typewriters, etc.) were first produced in Spain (Valencia) in the 1970s, under brand names such as PLAY-ME (smaller versions) and EMB Marti (larger versions). These sharpeners are characterized by their many details and moving parts. They are marked "Made in Spain." In the early 1980s, both the PLAY-ME and EMB Marti company closed, and less expensive versions were mass-produced, initially from factories in Hong Kong and then from other Asian factories. These have prevailed in the market since the 1980s.

*This reproduction is part of a collection of objects used for instruction in museum curation and as an example of sacred world art.