Berkel Indianina La Porte - Model B - 1928
The history of the famous flywheel meat slicer.
The story begins in 1898 with a Dutchman, Wilhelmus Adrianus Van Berkel, who first worked as an apprentice in a metalworking company before becoming a Master Butcher in Rotterdam. Born out of a need, he sought to develop a machine capable of cutting ham, sausage and meat faster and more accurately than before. His goal was to mechanically reproduce the perfect cut that only the hand of an experienced Master Butcher can achieve. He studied the movement of the hand that slices with the knife and, thanks to his ingenuity, experience and dedication to the craft, he succeeded in bringing to life the first slicer in history. The first Berkel was born!
This slicer was based on a fundamental principle: a crank handle was used to simultaneously set in motion a rotating blade and a mobile carriage that brought the meat closer to the blade as it was cut. This unique process was patented, allowing Van Berkel to set up his own company. Thanks to the success of his flywheel slicer, he quickly opened his own factory and points of sale all over the world. As early as 1918 he started producing other food processing equipment for retail and catering: scales, saws, choppers, mixers, slicers and bread crushers until it became the company it is today.
For more than a century, the Berkel brand has been synonymous with perfection, reliability, innovation and durability, as evidenced by the Model B from 1928, which we present to you today.
It was produced in Berkel's first factory in La Porte, Indiana, USA. This is why it was nicknamed "Indiana" or "Indianina".
The pedestal is a refined element and exalts all the elegance of this flywheel slicer. Its imposing 350 mm diameter rotating blade is operated by the famous red flywheel, featuring the now emblematic Berkel flower pattern and is stamped with the inscription "U.S. Slicing Machine Co. - The Door. Ind.".
Model B or Indianina is one of Berkel's oldest models and has therefore become extremely rare. It was produced for about ten years, from 1916 to 1928, in 3 different colours: red, black and cream. In all its versions, the metal parts were originally nickel-plated. The identification plates and the extraordinary decorations allowed it to become an emblematic model of the industrial and aesthetic revolution that took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
Berkel is not just a brand, but a lifestyle, a passion. Berkel represents dedication to elegance and quality. Berkel is the love of beautiful, unique things. The search for perfection translates into a maniacal attention to detail, which can only be achieved through production that is still entirely handmade today. High-precision mechanical technology exalts the quality of the cut product and blends in with the beauty and extraordinary scenic presence of Berkel ham slicers.
A true masterpiece, a Berkel slicer has become a decorative object. This Model B from 1928, restored to perfection, will slice cheese, charcuterie and even... the cape of your cigar with incredible precision and elegance.
In its continuous search for perfection, Berkel rewrites its myth every day, aware that the avant-garde is to be found in the perfect combination of history and innovation.
BERKEL Indianina La Porte - Model B - 1928
Weight: 112 kg
Dimension: L80 cm x H140 cm x P68 cm
For the acquisition of this exceptional piece, contact us on +41 22 552 2799