Antique 1897 Universal Food Chopper No. 0

Description

Antique 1897 Universal Food Chopper No. 0.  Used for crushing cranberries, grinding meat, etc.  Excellent working condition.  All parts move freely and work as intended.  No rust, dents or damage.
The Universal Food Chopper was first sold by L.F. &C. in 1897, and proved to be so popular that the company still offered it in its catalog over sixty years later. It was marketed as a device that not only ground meat, but also processed vegetables. In a 1955 address to an audience in Connecticut the company's then chairman of the board remarked that, with the introduction of the Universal Food Chopper to American kitchens in the late 1800s, "Odds and ends could be turned into hashes and casseroles with ease..."
The number 2 on the device referred to the size of the grinder, with the 3 model being the largest for heavy-duty use and the 00 model the smallest. The appliance originally came with three different blade attachments for fine, medium or coarse grinding. Made of cast-iron by L.F. &C. in New Britain, Connecticut many of these rugged grinders have survived to the present day, outliving the company who made them; L.F. &C. ended its 102 year run in 1965. Modern-made copies are still sold for those who prefer grinding their food by hand instead of using electric appliances.