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Vegetable or Leaf Tobacco Cutter

Display: Cutting Edge
Culinary Technique: size reduction

Date: c.1890

Dimensions: 9" h x 6.25" w x 22" d

Hand-cranking the wheel of this cutter performed two tasks: it spun the three-bladed wheel and turned a gear-driven feeder roller. As the food moved down the feeder ramp, the heavy, metal upper roller pressed it against the ridged, wooden lower roller. As the wheel turned, the lower feeder roller pulled the food toward the single-position blades; the cutting thickness could not be adjusted. An insignia, probably a maker's mark, embellishes this heavy, ornate device.

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