Bootscrapers In early 19-th century streets of London, as well as any other city or town, were covered with dirt. It consisted of human and animal excrements, garbage, rotten vegetables and food leftovers, waste from the markets and what not. A simple street walk was an endeavor. An unlucky passerby could even take a shower of urine from somebody's night vase. The Brits are known to be brilliant at design, though sometimes they don't realize it. Their Victorian design genius came up with an ornate device for removing dirt from the boots. Now these objects are hunted for at eBay. More pictures of bootscrapers.

Yelena Baytelman