Good observation Scottg! That's a weird one. That shaft just floats and is turned by the ring going up from the primary gear that elevates  from the primary shaft the two vertical arms and gears at the end to match. The other two vertical arms have the same gears that are hidden by the legs. What I'm still a bit unsure of is what locks that ring at any specific spot. If you crank it up and let goes the ring holds, however if you apply pressure to the ring it will almost fall down rather fast at times. I would think if you were pulling a cutting wire across the ring the same thing could happen and you'd end up with an uneven cut.
That was my remaining one lose end to the mystery.
Keep the thought coming.
Thank you.

The only question that I have now is...... Who?

I reckon when the table was 'restored' it lost a second bevel gear on the other spindle - that way all legs would be geared..

If you look through the patents for cheese cutters there are those that cut slabs like this one, and those that cut wedges - if you want to prepack cheese to a certain weight, e.g. 1lb, you need to be able to calibrate and repeat the cut in both planes....

PS Once an object/tool has been identified, can the original person go back to the first post and change the title?? This is common on other what's it  and tool forums, and makes future searches easier....

Sure. The original poster or I can alter the OP to say "Solved" or any other modification such as naming the object.

Is this possible? Maybe the wire is pulled horizontally through the cheese to form slices instead of wedges. The rim could be set to the desired height and then it would guide the cutting wire across.
But it seems like it would have to be anchored to the table to do that.
Al.

Quote from: amecks on December 31, 2013, 09:06:13 AM
Is this possible? Maybe the wire is pulled horizontally through the cheese to form slices instead of wedges. The rim could be set to the desired height and then it would guide the cutting wire across.
But it seems like it would have to be anchored to the table to do that.
Al.

Sorry, Al

I have obviously expressed myself poorly - yes the wire would be drawn across the top of the table to cut a slab - that would then be cut into wedges using another (often patented) wedge cutter - it is the combination of the two cutters that gives a uniform wedge of known weight (subject to the density of the cheese being consistent). It maybe possible to add the wedge cutter to a slab cutter, combining both into one 'tool'...

jpalex also came up with the same idea yesterday (I really ought to read all post before replying,  not just the last one or two)...

The one in rusty's patent (or rather Owen's patent) has the wire attached to a frame that extends over the cheese (supported through its centre) and the cheese is revolved under the wire...

Quote from: Billman49 on December 31, 2013, 04:02:26 AMI reckon when the table was 'restored' it lost a second bevel gear on the other spindle - that way all legs would be geared..

Looking at the original images again, it also appears to have lost a locking screw from the first support bracket (next to the handle) to allow the rise and fall action to be blocked, thus stopping the table falling back under the weight of a truckle of cheese...

A locking screw of some sort makes all the since in the world. The weight of the cheese is all transferred to the the base as you set it in the appliance, that would not cause the ring to slip back down, it's the downward pressure of the wire as you pulling it threw that would result in the ring falling down. I would assume it would be a locking screw that was easily set by hand for speed of operation. I got the feeling we're real close! Can anyone tell me how the one poster was able to look up and send be that patent picture so easily, a site to go to look up patents by description??

Okay, more deep thought. How about this. What's missing is a carrier bearing on the second axle for lack of better words.
The bearing is taped in the center and anther rod comes out of it just like the rod and handle that raises it. That way you'd use the one knob to raise it to elevation and the second knob to lock it in at the elevation you need.
You could then take the cutting wire with the two handles and cut a series of vertical cuts going down to where the ring is locked, making whatever size wedges you want. You could them take the same wire and run it horizontally across and cut the wedges off. You think I may have it?! Now you can cut complete slices and or wedges of you liking and preserve the remained of the cheese round. Getting close, just maybe. The carrier bearing, rod and handle were lost over the years. That would be fairly east to reproduce.

>Can anyone tell me how the one poster was able to look up and send be that patent picture so easily..

Easily is a relative thing, I have 5 million patents on my computer, using 3800 gigabytes of disk space....

You can download the images from google in bulk if you really want to, but it will take you a while...

Unfortunatly, there are probably around 1600 patents for things about cheese before 1960, and the inventor doesn't seem to have made any other cheese things, so I am kinda stumped so far as to finding a closer match, tho there may be one.....

The best you can do for searching patents online at the moment is google patents
eg:  https://www.google.com/?tbm=pts#q=%22cheese+cutter%22&tbm=pts

Google patents is where I searched - you can also got the USPTO site: http://www.uspto.gov/, and use their search engine which allows more search parameters to be entered, hpwever every time I go there a) the site has changed and b) it has becomes more difficult to find the search page for older patents - Google is much easier to use... DATAMP may also be worth searching: http://www.datamp.org/

Images can often just be saved using right click of the mouse, or use a simple tool like MS's Snipping Tool - failing that use the Save Screen button, paste into Paint and edit from there...

Just playing with Google (it's pouring with rain outside) - you can set search parameters such as date, e.g. 1880 to 1910 - I've tried all combinations of cheese, cutter, table, legs, rise & fall, bevel gear, rack and pinion - as yet no luck...

Thank you Rusty and Billman49, I'll use your information from now on.
I believe I have closure to the cheese cutter. It's missing a simple short threaded rod and handle is all. It was staring me right in the face. After I figured out the second axle must be an axle missing a brake assembly of some sort I was just about to design and source. I went to measure a bit and low and behold if you look at my second picture you'll notice the bracket that holds the handle on the outside is taped at the bottom. I'm sure that's meant for a short rod and locking handle to exit down just below the elevation handle. With one hand you raise or lower to position you need and with the other at the same time lock it in place so it doesn't slip down as you cut.
GOT IT, we're there, thanks all.

Now all you need is a big hunk of cheese! Really it is a nice looking device. I could see where it might serve a number of uses around the home. At least a plant stand but maybe you can come up with something better.
Al.

that would look nice with a glass top and tools on the shelf, now you have a one of a kind coffee table.