science · 30 November 1875 · 149 years ago
In 1875, a U.S. patent was issued for a "Biscuit Cutter" was issued to black American inventor Alexander P. Ashbourne (No. 170,460). The device consisted of a number of metal cutters, which could have various plain or fancy shapes, mounted on a hinged plate attached to a molding board on which dough for cake or biscuits would be rolled out. The plate was then closed over the dough, allowing the cutters to cut through the dough, forming many shapes simultaneously. When the hinged plate was lifted, to simplify removal of the cut shapes, each cutter contained a spring-loaded plate of similar shape to eject the cut dough. Provision was made to store the rolling pin in a concave cross-bar along the back of the hinges.
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