Berkel meat slicer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

At the turn of the nineteenth century the world's first food slicer was invented in Holland by Wilhelm Van Berkel.

People were no longer content with simple bread and cheese. Social conditions and a moderate degree of prosperity fueled their demand for more meat and sausage. Butchers were kept busy slicing with 16-inch long carving knives from 7 o'clock in the morning until 11 o'clock at night.

The Berkel meat slicer invention revolutionized the butcher's trade, where the quality of cut and the speed of the slicer became the predominant benefits of the new machines.

Antique Berkel meat slicers are difficult to find and they now draw a premium. Berkel stopped making the vintage style slicers in the 1960's.