Popular Science - USA (2020 - Spring)

BERKEL

FLYWHEEL

MEAT

SLICER

BORN 1898

Cutting a few hunks off a

salami or ham is not too stren-

uous. Shaving thousands of

paper-thin slices for eight

hours a day is a recipe for in-

jury. That explains why Dutch

butcher and amateur engineer

W.A. Van Berkel invented the

first mechanical meat slicer.

Cranking the cast- iron fly-

wheel turns a pair of gears:

One spins a cutting blade that

is concave to minimize friction

against the delicate flesh; the

other drives a carriage that

moves the meat back and

forth through the whirling

blade. Berkel’s electric models

operate on the same principle,

but discerning chefs prefer

doing the job manually; heat

generated by the motor can

melt the fat and compromise

the taste and texture of pro-

sciutto and other delicacies.

POPSCI.COM/ SPRING 2020 75

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THE ORIGINALS