AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING BREAD, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Milton Alexander Hamilton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th January 1868.
I, MILTON ALEXANDER HAMILTON, of Detroit, Michigan, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING BREAD, VEGETABLES,
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus in which bread, fruit,
vegetables, meat, and other substances and articles are cut or divided into
slices by being forced over a fixed knife or knives, and consists chiefly
in the combination of parts whereby a loaf or other article is supported
in the proper position with regard to the said knife or knives to ensure
the slices being cut evenly and smoothly and of any desired thickness.
I prefer to employ one knife with a V-shaped or concave edge, but if

page_text: desired two or more knives or blades may be employed. The said
knife or knives must be firmly secured to the top of a frame or stand
of suitable size. The loaf or other article to be cut is placed upon a
bed which is secured between the sides of the frame and the thickness
of the slices is regulated by varying the position of the bed with reference
to the knife to increase or diminish the distance between the bed and
the side of the knife. The frame or stand of my improved apparatus,
which is preferably constructed of wood, is made of convenient width
to hold the loaf or other article between its side pieces which scrve
to guide the same as it is forced over the knife. The latter which
should extend entirely across the frame is secured upon these side
pieces at one end of the apparatus by screws or other suitable fastenings,
the edge of the knife being just even with the top surface of the said
side pieces. The bed upon which the articles to be cut are supported
is also preferably made of wood and is hinged or jointed in any
convenient manner, between the side pieces, of the frame at the opposite
end to that whereon the knife is secured. This bed extends just to
the edge of the knife and its end may be formed to correspond with
the shape of the cutting edge of the said knife. A shelf is placed below
the latter to receive the slices as they are cut. The adjustment of the
bed to regulate the thickness of the slices is effected by means of a
worm which is fitted to turn upon a stud or pin. secured in the under
side of the bed. The thread or spiral part of this worm projects over
and bears upon the top surface of the shelf or some other, convenient
portion of the apparatus and will either raise or lower the bed according
to the direction in which it is turned upon its centre. Screws. or other
devices may be employed instead, of: this worm to effect the desired
adjustment of the bed, or when the, apparatus is to be employed. for.
purposes where no variation is required, in the thickness of the slices
the bed need not be made adjustable. A movable piece. extending
across the top of the apparatus is fitted to slide upon the top of the
side pieces of the frame. The. back of the loaf or other article to be
cut is placed against this cross piece which affords a convenient means
of forcing the same evenly over the edge of the knife. The said cross
piece is provided with guides which are fitted to slide in grooves in
the side pieces. A projection is formed on the upper surface of the
cross piece whereby the same is moved to and fro on the bed without
fear of injuring the fingers by the edge of the knife. A stop may be

page_text: placed at the end of the frame to prevent the accidental removal of the
sliding piece and to keep it from getting out of place in using the
apparatus. In some cases it may not be necessary to provide the
apparatus with this sliding cross piece.