What common household outcome resulted from the manual effort of slicing a whole, large loaf before the arrival of mechanical slicers?
Answer
The resulting slices often varied widely in thickness, from thick slabs to very thin pieces.
Before the automation provided by Rohwedder’s machine, the act of slicing bread at home was highly manual and required considerable skill and care, often leading to inconsistent results. When a large loaf, either round or oblong, was cut using a long knife on a sturdy surface, the slices frequently lacked uniformity. A single loaf might produce some slices that were exceptionally thick, perhaps suitable for dunking in soup or wine, while other sections yielded thinner, less substantial pieces. Furthermore, the irregular cutting often applied to the end pieces, or heels, which might be irregularly shaped or reserved separately.

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