The collection
Commercial meat slicer with a smooth casing for the motor and a circular guard for the round cutting blade.
1942

Meat Slicer, Streamliner

Designed by
Egmont H. Arens (1887–1966) and Theodore C. Brookhart (1898–1942)
Material
Aluminum, steel, rubber
Produced by
Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio
Dimensions
47 x 44.5 x 42.5 cm

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection, gift of Eric Brill, 2010.1267

The sweeping curves of this meat slicer transform a functional everyday object into sculpture. Aerodynamic streamlining is seen in the elliptical curves throughout the design and the gradual transitions from part to part. Rounded aluminum forms shield the blade and moving parts within and allow easier cleaning. Its continued production until 1985 attests to its efficiency and the long-lived popularity of streamlined design.

The word “STREAMLINER” appears twice on this model of the meat slicer. This product by Hobart, which is still in business today, was designed for use in delicatessens, hotels, and restaurants.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, photo: Denis Farley.