IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SLICING OF BREAD "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Erskine of Newton Stewart, North Britain, Gun
Maker for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE
SLICING OF BREAD
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Erskine at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1882.
JAMES ERSKINE of Newton Stewart, North Britain, Gun Maker
APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SLICING OF BREAD." »
"IMPROVED
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus by the aid of which loaves
may be cut up into slices with rapidity and precision. The apparatus consists of a
base board standing up from which are two side pieces facing each other and at
such a distance apart as will admit of the loaf to be cut up sliding forward freely
between them. The vertical side pieces are braced together at top close to their
forward top corners but so as to allow of their yielding to external lateral pressure
the object being to make them grip the loaf and hold it firmly while being cut.
The base board is fitted in advance of the side pieces with a sliding gauge block
against which the loaf is brought up to be cut into slices. This board is graduated
to provide for the exact adjustment of the sliding block and when so adjusted, it is
held fast by a clamping screw. The cross bar which braces the side pieces together
forms with the front edges of the side pieces a guide for the bread knife which is
pressed against them and then drawn over the loaf so as to impart a draw cut
thereto. As the slices are formed they fall forward and leave a space between the
loaf and the gauge block. The loaf is then pressed forward into contact with the
block and being gripped by the pressure of the hand of the operator between the
side pieces is held fast in position for a renewal of the cutting operation.
To provide for the adjustment of the apparatus to suit loaves of different sizes
filling slabs may be inserted between the side pieces or they may be made to slide

page_text: laterally so as to bring them nearer together to suit small loaves or set further
apart to receive between them loaves of greater thickness.
In some cases I propose to provide vertical guides for the knife and to
face the front edges of the side pieces with metal so that the knife in travelling
up and down in the guides will be prevented from cutting the edges or
the side pieces; With a skilled operator however these guides will not be
needed. In place of the adjustable sliding block with its clamping screw and
the graduations for setting it I may use a square block which is capable of
turning on a fixed pin passing excentrically thro' the block by this means any
one of the four faces of the block may be brought into use as required each one
serving to gauge the slice to be cut to a different thickness.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Erskine in the Great Seal Patent Office
15th January 1883.
on the
JAMES ERSKINE of Newton Stewart North Britain, Gun Maker * IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE SLICING OF BREAD
"
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus by the aid of which certain
articles of food such as loaves of bread may be cut up into slices of regulated
thickness with rapidity and precision.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn two forms of apparatus constructed
in accordance with my Invention suitable for the purpose above mentioned.
In Sheet I I have shewn in side elevation at Fig: 1, in plan view at Fig: 2, and
in end view at Fig: 3, one form of apparatus; and in Sheet II in side elevation at
Fig: 4, in plan view Fig: 5, in end view at Fig: 6, and in cross section at Fig: 7, a
modified form of apparatus.
Referring now to Sheet I of the drawings A is a base board of any suitable
width, and standing up from this board and on opposite sides thereof are two side
pieces. B. B'. The side piece B is permanently secured to the base board` A, but the
side piece B¹ is attached to to a pair of metal slides C which slide in V grooves made
transversely of the base board A.-The slides C are intended to project through
the side piece B, and in one of them a series of holes a. is made to receive a pin
which is inserted through a lug or projection b. secured externally of the piece B.-
The width between the side pieces can thus be regulated to the width of the loaf
or other article of food to be sliced.
D is a cross bar which is so secured to the top forward corners of the side pieces B B¹
as to allow of the side piece yielding to external lateral pressure.
The base board is fitted in advance of the side pieces B. B'. with a sliding gauge
block E, against which the loaf is brought up to be cut into slices.-The base board
is also graduated as shown at c to provide for the exact adjustment of the sliding
block E, and when adjusted the block E is held fast, by a clamping screw.
The cross bar D forms with the front edges of the side pieces a guide for the
knife which is pressed against them and then drawn over the loaf so as to impart
a draw cut thereto.
F is a handle secured to the side piece B' and by which the side piece can be
drawn outwards when required.
If desired the front edges of the side pieces and the cross bar may be faced with
metal so that the knife in travelling down and across them will be prevented from
cutting the said edges
The loaf or other article of food is placed on the base board A and against the gauge
block E and the side B is then adjusted up to it.-The operator with the left hand
then draws the side pieces B B. together which can be done owing to a certain
amount of spring in the boards, and thereby firmly holds the loaf while the slicing
is effected with a knife held in the right hand. As soon as a slice is cut it falls
forward over the gauge block leaving a space between the loaf and the gauge
block. The loaf is then pressed forward by the left hand up to the block ready
for a renewal of the cutting operation.
In the arrangement of apparatus shewn in Sheet II both side pieces B. B. are
permanently fixed to the base board A and the width between the side pieces is
increased or diminished as required by removing or adding one or more filling
pieces or slabs B' B'. as seen best in the cross section Fig: 7. The loaf is placed
upon a board G arranged to slide longitudinally of the apparatus and provided

page_text: with a vertical pusher piece G¹ firmly secured thereto and which pushes the loaf
forward as required.
Fitted to one side of the board G is a rack d. into the teeth of which takes the
point of a pawl lever e. pivotted to a plate e' secured to and extending laterally
from the base board A.
By rocking this lever on its fulcrum the board G will be advanced a distance.
equal to the deph of one tooth, or at most two teeth at a time; fixed stops f. f¹. being
employed to prevent too much motion.—The stop f¹. consists of a squared block
which is pivotted excentrically to the plate e. so that by changing the position of
the block the throw of the lever can be regulated to move one or two teeth at a
time as required.-In this form of apparatus the sliding gauge block E is dispensed
with as being unnecessary.
If the thickness of the slice required be greater than the depth of two teeth, the,
board will have to be advanced three, four, or more single teeth between every cut.-
The loaf pushed forward by the pusher piece G¹, is held during the cutting operation
by drawing together the side pieces as above described. H is a guide piece for the
knife secured to the side of the base board opposite the lever 6.
Instead of the adjustable sliding block E with its clamping screw and the
graduations for setting it I may use a squared block (similar to that shewn at f¹.).
which is capable of turning on a fixed pin passing excentrically through the block;
thus any one of the four faces of the block may be brought into use as required
each one serving to gauge the slice to be cut to a different thickness.
It will of course be evident that although bread is more particularly mentioned
as the article of food to be sliced the apparatus is equally applicable to slicing
bacon or other article of food.
Having now described the nature of my Invention for "Improved apparatus for
facilitating the slicing of bread," and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim :—
The apparatus substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings, or
any mere modification thereof, by the aid of which, articles of food such as bread
may be cut into slices of regulated thickness with rapidity and precision as set
forth,
In witness whereof I the said James Erskine have hereunto set my hand
and seal the 12th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand