Electric knife explained

An electric carving knife or electric knife is an electrical kitchen device used for slicing foods. The device consists of two serrated blades that are clipped together. When the appliance is switched on, the blades continuously move lengthways to provide the sawing action. They were popular in the United Kingdom in the 1970s.

Invention

The invention of the electric knife is usually attributed to Jerome L. Murray,^{[1] [2]} but there are other claimants, such as Clem E. Kosterman, who filed a patent in 1939.^{[3] [4]}

Electric knives can be corded or cordless.

Other uses

They are also sometimes used for other purposes, including sculpting polyurethane foam rubber,^{[5] [6]} cutting wood, cutting metal, and other solid or semi-solid substances and materials.

Popular culture

• In the 1981 horror film Possession, the character of Anna cuts her neck with an electric knife.
• In the 1986 horror film Maximum Overdrive, an electric knife turns itself on and cuts waitress Wanda June.
• In the third-season Simpsons episode "Dog of Death", Homer attempts to use an electric knife to carve a Thanksgiving turkey at the table, sending pieces of it flying at other family members.
• In Stephen King's 1987 novel Misery, Annie Wilkes slices off Paul Sheldon's thumb with an electric knife.
• In the 1975 musical horror comedy film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, an electric knife is used by Frank N. Furter to slice Meatloaf.

See also

• Reciprocating saw

Notes and References

1. Agis Salpukas, "Jerome Murray, 85, a Many-Faceted Inventor", obituary, New York Times, 11 February 1998.
2. Carl W. Hall, A Biographical Dictionary, p.158, Purdue University Press, 2007 .
3. https://books.google.com/books?id=wCYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 "With the inventors"
4. C. E. Kosterman, "Power operated knife", US patent 2180244, 14 November 1939.
5. Web site: Tip No. 080 A Method for Cutting Open Cell Polyurethane Foams NASA Materials Engineering Branch . 2007-12-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070802122703/http://code541.gsfc.nasa.gov/documents/materials_tips_PDFs/TIP%20080R.pdf . 2007-08-02 . dead .
6. Sylvia Moss. Costumes and Chemistry: A Comprehensive Guide to Materials and Applications, Quite Specific Media Group Ltd, 2001. p317