The Streamliner Meat Slicer: A Masterpiece of American Industrial Design

In the 1930s, American design underwent a transformation driven by styling principles and consumer appeal. One of the key influences of this period was streamlining, a design philosophy that symbolized progress, speed, and modernity. The Streamliner Meat Slicer, designed by Egmont Arens and Theodore C. Brookhart, is an outstanding example of this movement. Manufactured by the Hobart Manufacturing Company after 1944, this meat slicer exemplifies the intersection of aesthetics and functionality in mid-20th-century industrial design.

The Role of Streamlining in Design

Streamlining emerged as a dominant aesthetic in the 1930s, extending beyond automobiles and trains to everyday household and commercial products. The style emphasized smooth, aerodynamic shapes, often featuring rounded forms, metallic finishes, and horizontal lines. As industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes articulated in his book Horizons (1932), streamlining was about improving efficiency and evoking a sense of modernity and sophistication.

The Streamliner Meat Slicer perfectly embodies this ideology. Its elliptical dome, smooth aluminium surfaces, and carefully arranged components reflect an era when design was about utility and the experience of using a product.

Design and Functionality

The Streamliner Meat Slicer is made from cast and sheet aluminium, steel, and rubber, combining durability with lightweight efficiency. Its design features include:

• A circular steel blade housed within a streamlined aluminium casing for safety and precision.
• A canted platform for holding meat at a 45-degree angle, ensuring uniform slices.
• A ridged bar handle with a sliding clamp allows the user to press the meat against the blade securely.
• An adjustable slicing thickness lever, complete with a graduated scale.
• A toggle switch at the rear for easy motor activation.
• Four rubber feet provide stability during operation.

The slicer’s materials and engineering highlight a blend of craftsmanship and machine precision, hallmarks of industrial design at the time.

Designers and Manufacturer

The meat slicer was the brainchild of Egmont Arens and Theodore C. Brookhart. Egmont Arens (1889–1966) was a renowned industrial designer known for streamlining consumer goods. He believed in combining aesthetics with practicality, ensuring that products were visually appealing and functionally superior.

Hobart Manufacturing Company, the firm responsible for producing the slicer, was a leading name in kitchen equipment. Founded in 1897, Hobart specialized in producing high-quality commercial appliances, including mixers, slicers, and grinders, making it a significant contributor to the evolution of modern kitchen technology.

The Cultural and Historical Impact

The Streamliner Meat Slicer was more than just a kitchen tool—it was a mid-century American design philosophy statement. Its development coincided with efficiency and aesthetics becoming equally crucial in industrial products. Post-World War II America saw an increased emphasis on consumer goods, and the adoption of sleek, futuristic designs became a defining feature of the era.

This meat slicer represents a time when designers sought to bring beauty into everyday life. It wasn’t just about slicing meat—it was about enhancing the visual and tactile experience of kitchen work. Integrating modern materials and ergonomic design principles makes it a forerunner of contemporary appliance aesthetics.

Conclusion

The Streamliner Meat Slicer is an exceptional example of functional beauty in industrial design. It is a testament to the Art Deco and streamlining movements, reflecting a time when innovation and style were deeply interconnected. Today, it remains a celebrated artifact in the Victoria and Albert Museum, serving as a reminder of how design can elevate even the most utilitarian objects into works of art.