Victorinox Star vegetable peeler
£6.50

A stainless steel framed version of the original Rex peeler, invented in 1931 in the basement of Alfred Neweczerzal’s house, with a swivelling blade of blued carbon steel. Its design is simplicity itself — above all it works quickly and easily, without knack or any real effort. In 2004 it was given the honour of appearing on a Swiss postage stamp, a rare accolade indeed for an object so mundane. And then there's the tale of Joe Ades…