AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND SLICING BREAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Oxley, of 56, Garden Street, Sheffield, and John
Bate, of Dutton Street Works, Manchester, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND SLICING BREAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sooled the 18th Tunn 1970 and dated the 9th February 1978
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Oxley and John Bate
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1878.
86
JAMES OXLEY, of 56, Garden Street, Sheffield; and JOHN BATE, of Dutton Works,
Manchester. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND SLICING BRead
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for cutting and slicing bread
and other substances; and one of the principal objects of the Invention is so to
arrange the position of the loaf with regard to the cutting action of the knife that
the knife shall enter the loaf and commence the cut at the point where it can do so
most easily, and finish the cut also where it is easiest to do so; that is to say, as is
naturally done in the ordinary way of cutting bread by hand.
In carrying out our Invention we employ a bread holder made of wood or other
suitable material, with two sides only, and open at both ends somewliat in the form
of the letter V. The loaf to be cut is placed in this holder length wise, with one of
the corners in the angle formed by the junction of the two sides of the holder, and
where the loaf rests firmly. The top corner of the loaf is thus in a position to
receive the cut from the knife, which enters easily, and finishes the cut at the
bottom corner also with ease. To ensure a more perfect cut and greater durability
one end of the holder (the end against which the knife slides in cutting) is faced
with steel or some other suitable hard metal.

page_text: Sometimes we employ a holder made in the usual way, that is to say, square with
a flat bottom and sides at right angles, or other suitable shape, to fit the shape of
the loaf to be cut. In this case we provide the holder with a pin fixed about the
middle of each end of the bottom, on which it can be oscillated or moved back-
wards or forwards by the hand, holding the loaf placed in it, by which means the
part of the loaf easiest to enter can be conveniently presented to the knife in com-
mencing as well as in finishing the cut, where it can most easily sever the slice.
An ordinary knife may be used with either of the herein-before described holders,
but we prefer to use a knife which we make for that purpose, and which is handled
somewhat after the form of a saw, so that the action of the knife shall be equally
effective with the backward as with the forward motion of the knife.
The holders and knife, as herein-before described (and with such modifications as
shall be best adapted for the purpose), are also arranged with a lever arm or slotted
bracket to give power when in use, and to secure the required draw-cut action of
the knife.
To this combination of the bread holder and the knife, as herein-before described,
we adapt any suitable arrangement for adjustment, according to the thickness of
the slice to be cut, and with or without the lever handle or slotted bracket.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Oxley and John Bate in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1878.
JAMES OXLEY, of 56, Garden Street, Sheffield, and JOHN BATE, of Dutton Street
Works, Manchester. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND SLICING
BREAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for cutting and slicing bread
and other substances, and one of the principal objects of the Invention is so to
arrange the position of the loaf with regard to the cutting action of the knife that
the knife shall enter the loaf and commence the cut at the part where it can do so
most easily, and finish the cut also where it is easiest to do so; that is to say, as
is naturally done in the ordinary way of cutting bread by hand.
In carrying out our Invention we employ a bread holder made of wood or other
suitable material, with two sides only, and open at both ends, somewhat in the form
of the letter V. The loaf to be cut is placed in this holder lengthwise, with one of
the corners in the angle formed by the junction of the two sides of the holder, and
where the loaf rests firmly. The top corner of the loaf is thus in a position to
receive the cut from the knife, which enters easily, and finishes the cut at the bottom
corner also with ease. To ensure a more perfect cut and greater durability one end

page_text: of the holder (the end against which the knife slides in cutting) is faced with steel
or some other suitable hard metal.
Sometimes we employ a holder made in the usual way, that is to say, square.
with a flat bottom, and sides at right angles, or other suitable shape, to fit the
shape of the loaf to be cut. In this case we provide the holder with a pin fixed
about the middle of each end of the bottom, on which it can be oscillated or moved
backwards or forwards by the hand, holding the loaf placed in it, by which means
the part of the loaf easiest to enter can be conveniently presented to the knife in
commencing as well as in finishing the cut, where it can most easily sever the..
slice.
An ordinary knife may be used with either of the herein-before described holders,
but we prefer to use a knife which we make for that purpose, and which is handled
somewhat after the form of a saw, so that the action of the knife shall be equally
effective with the backward as with the forward motion of the knife.
The holders and knife, as herein-before described (and with such modifications as
shall be best adapted for the purpose), are also arranged with a lever arm or slotted
bracket to give power when in use, and to secure the required draw-cut action of
the knife.
To this combination of the bread holder and, the knife, as herein-before described,
we adapt any suitable arrangement for adjustinent, according to the thickness of the
slice to be cut, and with or without the lever handle or slotted bracket.
But to make our Invention better understood we will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
เ
:
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of our improved apparatus for cutting
and slicing bread and other substances, in which the V shaped holder and ordinary
knife are employed.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, detached view of the holder.
Figure 3, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of our improved apparatus with a pivotted
holder and ordinary knife.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, detached view of the pivotted holder.
Figure 5, Sheet 1, perspective view of an apparatus with a V shaped holder and
slotted bracket.
Figure 6, Sheet 1, perspective view of an apparatus with V shaped holder and
lever arm arrangement.
Figures 7 and 8, Sheet 2, views of modifications of the improved apparatus.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is the V shaped holder in which the loaf to be cut is placed
and moved forward for cutting by the hand; the holder A is faced with metal
B, B, B, against which the knife E is made to pass in cutting; C, C, is a guide
which can be fixed at pleasure (as is sometimes desirable) near to the metal facing B,.
so that the knife E. can freely pass between them, whereby a very steady and
uniform action thereof is insured. The knife is provided with a suitable handle H.
D is a platter or table to which the holder and other parts are firmly attached, and
which platter or table receives the slices of bread or other substances as they are
cut and fall from the knife. F is a small block of wood which receives the edge of
the knife as it falls from the loaf, and prevents the edge from being damaged or
from damaging the platter.
•
In Figures and 4 the holder A is formed with a flat bottom a¹, and sides b, b,
nearly upright, or so as to suit the shape of the loaf or other article to be cut. This
holder is provided with a pin at each end, or one long pin G running through the
bottom lengthwise, on which the holder may be oscillated by the hand, as shewn by
the dotted lines, so as to bring the loaf under the knife where it is easiest to be
entered, and so as to finish the cut where it can be effected most easily. The
holder A with flat bottom a¹ may also be used fixed without the arrangement for
oscillating. The handle part H of the knife is made so that its position in the
hand may be easily changed. The soft part of the loaf is cut downwards about

page_text: half way with the knife in the usual horizontal position, and then by first elevating
the knife at the handle end H, as shewn in Figure 3, and depressing the point, and
again depressing the handle end H and elevating the point, the knife is made to
cut through the bottom crust in an oblique direction, which is thus accomplished
with ease.
In Figure 5 the V shaped holder A is shewn with a loaf L placed in it, the holder
being arranged in combination with a slotted bracket 1 fixed in a slanting direction.
At one side of the holder R is a roller revolving on a pin 7 fixed at one end of the
knife E, the said roller traversing the slotted bracket 1, the knife being held and,
put in motion by the hand at the other end, by which means a steady oblique
slicing action is produced.
In Figure 6 we shew the V shaped holder adapted to a slotted bracket 1 fixed
in a reversed slanting direction to that shewn in Figure 5, and in which one end of
the knife E is made to traverse upon a roller R, and the other end of the knife is
connected to the lever arm K. The lever arm K is preferably made nearly straight,
but it may be made with an elbow, as shewn by the dotted lines, which is more
convenient in some cases as taking up less room, and when the operator is seated
at the table.
:
•
In the modification shewn in Figure 7 we employ a table or bread platter D with
a tail T at one side, with a V shaped bolder or groove A only in it, in which groove
the bottom corner of the loaf L to be cut is placed lengthwise, the end of the loaf
which is to be cut reaching on to the platter D. The loaf L is held by the left
hand, as shewn, and on the end of one or more of the fingers of this hand is put a
finger gauge, consisting of a metal cap or thimble O, against which the knife E, N,
is placed when commencing to cut a fresh slice, the proximity of the finger gauge
to the end of the loaf giving the thickness of the slice to be cut, and at the same
time the said gauge effectually protects the fingers from danger of being cut by the
knife. We also use the finger gauge for cutting and slicing bread and other
substances upon an ordinary plain board or platter without the V shaped groove
for the loaf to be placed and moved in.
Figure 8 shews a full size view of the finger gauge O on the finger resting on the
loaf L, with the knife Ẹ, N, abutting against it.
As the knife can be used as effectively in the backward as in the forward motion
in the machines shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 7, the handle, is adapted for this end,
and is sometimes made in the form of a handle of a saw, as shewn at N, Figure 7.
Having thus described our said Invention, and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawings,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of our
Invention; but what we do claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and combination of the improved apparatus
for cutting and slicing bread and other substances with the ordinary bread platter,
as herein-before described, and represented in Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment of the V shaped holder, as herein-
before described, and shewn in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction of a holder moving on a pivot or pivots, as and for
the purposes herein-before described, and shewn in Figures 3 and 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination with the herein-before described apparatus for holding
the loaf or other substance to be cut, shewn in Figures 1 and 3, of the slanting
slotted bracket and roller, either with a lever, as shewn in Figure 6, or without a
lever, as shewn in Figure 5, and with or without an apparatus for adjusting the
thickness of the slices to be cut.
Fifthly. The construction and employment of the finger gauge, as and for the

page_text: purposes herein-before described, and represented in Figures 7 and 8 of the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Oxley, for and on behalf of myself and
the said John Bate, have hereto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight.
JAMES OXLEY. (L.S.)