In this video I restored a meat slicer from 1883 - Tucker & Dorsey Mfg. Co. Indianapolis .
Short infos about restoration:
I started the restoration by disassembling this slicer. I immediately noticed that some parts were not original, some wooden parts could be restored, while others had to be rebuilt. I tried to preserve the originality of the product so that the restoration does not spoil its value and shape. Most of the metal parts, although they were in a degraded state and full of rust, I was able to restore them successfully. The main metal part, where the company logo is also inscribed, was painted gold and the part in direct contact with the food was chromed. I did not like this idea of chrome and food. After some searches on google I noticed that the company produced these slicers in several colors available at that time. They were: white, black, cream, yellow and full chrome. So for this restoration I opted for the yellow color because the contrast between the restored wooden parts and this color has a pleasant effect.
Short infos about company :
William H. Tucker fought at a number of important battles during the American Civil War and by some accounts attained the rank of General. Afterwards, he began selling "Tucker Alarm Tills" which incorporated a bell that rang whenever the till was opened. The device was based on several patents that had been issued to his father. He was eventually joined in this enterprise by Robert Dorsey of the hardware firm Dorsey & Layman of Indianapolis, Indiana. Together, they founded the Tucker & Dorsey Manufacturing Company in 1865. They eventually branched out into hardware and woodenware specialities, making more than thirty different kinds of goods and over 200 different specialties including cabbage slicers (more colloquially known as "kraut cutters"), mop wringers, towel rollers, clothes hangers and coat racks. Quality was high enough that Pullman coaches were outfitted with T&D coat racks, as were a number of prestigious hotels in North America and Europe. They also made factory trucks and carts, using parts from their other enterprise, The Phoenix Caster Company. At their height, they employed over 100 workers and exported one-eight of their production to foreign markets. In spite of his wealth, Tucker himself led a tragic life. He lost a brother, two sisters and his wife. In 1893, a horse he intended to trade got out of control during a training session. Tucker attempted to jump out of the buggy but got tangled in the lap robe and lines, and was dragged along the roadway, tearing the skin from his face and almost severing his nose. Suffering from depression, in September 1898 he arrived at the office early in the morning, took out the revolver left in a desk for the night watchman, and shot himself just below the heart. Apparently not satisfied with the result, he then shot himself again, this time in the right temple. He was only 54. He left behind a 15-year-old daughter, Willanetta. I can't find any record of how she got on after this tragedy. The company itself seems to have endured until 1977.
Hope you will enjoy the video ! Cheers !
#antiqueslicer #antiquemeatslicer #meatslicerrestoration