Cuts and serves your cake without spoiling the icing and without crumbling. Guaranteed not to leave a crumb in the cake plate - only perfect slices. (from a 1959 newspaper advertisement) 

{HISTORY}

In the 1950s, you could pick up a Hostess Cake Breaker for anywhere between $0.88 and $1.49 - which is equivalent to about $12-18 today. A small price to pay for such an invaluable tool, this little baking companion ensured that layer cakes not only sliced beautifully put also presented well on a plate, crumb free, crumble free, with all the layers and icing tidy and intact.

Invented by Toledo, Ohio resident Cale Schneider in 1932, culinary legend states that he was inspired to create a unique cake cutter after attending a luncheon with his wife, Hazel, and witnessing a beautifully delicate cake turn into a crumbling mess while trying to slice it. In the surely-there-must-be-a-better-way train of thought, Cale got to work ring out how to create a utensil that could cleanly cut through cake. Eventually, he came up with this wide-tooth comb-style slicer and filed his invention with the US Patent Office in September 1931 under the name Food Breaker. In May of 1932, his application was approved. 

Immediately beloved by food companies like Pillsbury and Duncan Hines, cake breakers were often used in promotional giveaways as an incentive to purchase flour, cake mixes and other baking products. Needless to say, the home baker was just as smitten with this wonderful new headache-saving utensil. Made of chrome or silver, and over the decades, sporting different style handles from wood to bakelite to silverplate, these cake breakers were guaranteed to last a lifetime, which means they've held up really well over the past century.

This one was made in Brooklyn, NY in the 1950s by Langner Manufacturing Company and features chrome prongs and a capehorn handle, which is similar to the look of tortoiseshell. Packaged in its original box, this slicer looks brand-new thanks to its simple rust-proof design and easy-to-clean composition. Not all vintage utensils travel time well. Some break down, some become outdated and some simply no longer perform useful tasks. but when it comes to the cake breaker, it is still very much a welcome and helpful member of the home baking team. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Includes original box
• Wonderful, practically brand-new condition

{CONDITION}

The cake breaker itself is in great shape with sharp prongs, a strong handle and a very clean and bright appearance. The box is completely intact minus one flap on the right side of the box. There is some staining and scuffing and chippiness as to be expected from age. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

The cake breaker measures 10.25" inches (length) x 4" inches (width) and weighs 4 oz. The box measures 10.5" inches (length) x 4.25" inches (width) x .5" inches (depth) and weighs 1 oz.