Tennis Ball Cleaner

Free-standing design, attached to wood base. Cast-iron drum with a hole at the top where ball is dropped into against a brush, which revolves by turning wooden handle. As the handle is turned, the ball is guided into the drum by a serires of cast iron guide arms and the friction against the brush cleans the ball. At base of drum is a small sliding trap door that keeps ball rotating inside, and once opened the clean ball will drop through. Remains of white paper maker's label is on the top of drum. Raised lettering on side of drum.

Before mass-production, tennis balls often were cleaned and reused. This tennis ball cleaner helped keep balls fresh. A dirty tennis ball is placed on the surface of a revolving brush situated around a central axis. When the handle is turned, the ball glides against several internal arms. This friction cleans the ball, which then drops out of the bottom through a small sliding trap door.