"Dunn" cutter.... big blade

Super cool! I want it and I have no idea why.

Do I have it right that moving the lever along the arc rotates the cheese wheel to the corresponding degree?
 
It's an early computer, specifically a Computing Cheese Cutter from the Computing Cheese Cutter Company.

The patent description says it's meant to cut an amount of cheese corresponding to a certain amount of money (as in, "Give me 5 cents worth of that cheese"), for various prices per pound, and various total weights of the cheese round.

"...The principle upon which the scales of G and G are laid out is that of the well-known slide-rule, in which the scales are logarithmic and the operations of multiplying and dividing are performed mechanically. The object in the present case is to divide the number representing the total weight of the cheese by the factor to give the proper adjustment of the stop f for any selling price other than twenty cents per pound. In estimating where to adjust stop 1 upon the circle-bar to cut five cents worth of cheese at one forward movement of the handle-lever the slide G is adjusted until the figure on the slide representing the price at which the cheese is to sell per pound corresponds or registers with the total weight of cheese upon the scale-bar. The red line g to the right of the numbered graduations upon slide G will then indicate upon the scale-bar the figureupon the circle-bar having similar graduations to those of the scale-bar G where the adjustable stop must be set to cut five cents worth of cheese. This calculation is made but once for the whole cheese. This is on the principle that if the stopf is set at a point that represents less than the actual total weight of cheese upon the board the table will be moved a distance measuring off more than a quarter of a pound. If the stop is set at a figure that represents eighteen-twentieths of the actual weight, a forward movement of the handle-lever will rotate the table a distance measuring off five cents worth of cheese at eighteen cents per pound. If the stop is set at fifteen-twentieths of the actual weight and the handle-lever operated as above, five cents worth of cheese at fifteen cents per pound will be measured off...."


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US Patent 790564
Patented May 23, 1905
Inventor: Frank P Dunn
Original Assignee: Computing Cheese Cutter Company Inc

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/ad/3a/85/a9d6ff1767af8c/US790564.pdf
 
Show your bride for how much a restored one sells. Acquire said implement. Hide it, never sell it. Fondle it only when she's away. ---> profit!

If you really want to act as a cold-hearted professional, give her some $ to buy herself something nice as well. This way, should she ever remember and ask about your "cheese computer", you can close your eyes as if trying to remember some very distant past acquisition and mumble: "Hmmm, I do seem to remember buying some old junk on the same day you bought a nice purse, honey, could that be it?".
 
Furthermore. If she insists you should sell it: direct her to this section, where any of us will, upon your notification, create a sad thread complaining about the dwindling value in today's economy of these old cheese computers. We will mention that in half-a-century, its value is very likely to skyrocket.
 
Well stated Moonw..... alas, after 40 years of marital bliss I have played
every card and then some many times over. I have learned I get much less
mal de ojo if I acquire "smalls"....as all the hiding places are full. While this
"computer" cheese cutter tips the scales on "wow" it belongs in a museum
and not on my counter-top. Square Peg...if I recall correctly said price was
$165... a steal. This cheese cutter had it all...ol' Frank must qualify as an
early version of machinist/computer programmer... a Renaissance man. An
amazing skill set.

Charles
 
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