mobile logo
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Books
    • Broken Series
      • Broken By Truth
      • Broken by Birth
      • Broken by Evil
      • Broken by Madness
      • Broken by Men
      • Broken by Kings
      • Broken “The Prequel”
    • Haunted Family Trees
    • Book Web Minis
      • Are You Endangered? Well-being in the Age of Climate Change
      • Is Your Wonton Soup Endangered?
      • Paranormal Is My Normal
      • Soaring
      • Timepieces: Yesterday’s Stories Today
      • Selfies: Picture Perfect
      • The Old Lady Who Went To Sleep and Woke Up Young
      • Pocket Cash: Your Happy Money
      • Is There A Psychopath in Your Life?
  • Photography
    • Macro
    • Abstracted Reality
    • Nature
    • Street
  • Blogs
    • Photo Psychology
    • Haunted Family Trees
    • Linked In Blogs
  • All About Climate Change

SLICED IN CHILLICOTHE

October 02, 2023
by Dr. Jeri Fink
15 Comments

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

You probably never heard of Chillicothe, Missouri. A 1928 ad called Chillicothe the home of an invention that was “the greatest forward step in baking . . .”

Humans began baking bread long before recorded history. It’s no surprise that bread is considered the “staff of life.” Baking bread is a vital part of human history.

Before 1928, everyone sliced their bread with knives. People couldn’t even imagine pre-sliced bread. Depending on skills, slicing could be a very messy process – crumbs, uneven slices, even a touch of blood from a slipped knife. Yet the system worked for thousands of years.

Until Otto Rohwedder.

Rohwedder was born in 1880 and grew up in Davenport, Iowa. He needed to learn a trade, so he apprenticed as a jeweler. He owned several jewelry stores but wasn’t satisfied. Rohwedder decided to study optics and got a degree from the Illinois College of Optometry.

The experiences in both fields led to his passion for inventing new machines.

His big idea was to develop an automatic bread-slicing machine. Rohwedder sold all his stores, got funding, and began. By 1917, he was almost there. He had a prototype and blueprints for his invention.

Then fire struck.

Rohwedder lost everything.

He fought back. He needed funding and supplies. It took him a long time, but Rohwedder refused to give up. By 1927 he had designed a revolutionary new machine that not only sliced bread but also wrapped it, straight from the oven. Many thought Rohwedder was a crackpot. Why change?

There were no takers.

According to Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News “Few people in the industry believed that bread could be automatically sliced as it came off the assembly line.” Most bakers were against the idea.

Rohwedder was desperate. Confident that his new machine would revolutionize bread-making, he contacted his friend, baker, and owner of the struggling Chillicothe Baking Company. His name was Frank Bench and he was looking for something to save his business.

Bench seized the opportunity.

On July 8, 1928, Otto’s thirteen-year-old son, Richard, caught the first, commercially sliced loaf of bread from Bench’s machine. Every slice was perfect – way better than anyone could get the old-fashioned way. Bench called it Kleen Maid.

 

 

Rohwedder turned 48 years old that day.

According to Byrne, it was an “instant sensation, increasing sales by 1,000% in two weeks.”

 

Today we can’t imagine a world without sliced bread. That actually happened on January 18, 1943, in the middle of WWII. The FDR administration had already rationed sugar, meat, and coffee. They decided to ban sliced bread to conserve wax paper and steel (used to build the machines).

There was a civilian uproar. Jennifer Latson in Time wrote “it created a nationwide crisis . . . provoking as much ire as gas rationing.”

Sue Forrester, from Fairfield, CT wrote a desperate Letter to the Editor in the NY Times, “I should like to let you know how important sliced bread is to the morale and saneness of a household.”

The beloved New York City Mayor LaGuardia gave a radio address demanding that bakeries who already had machines should be allowed to use them.

The ban lasted two months.

When sliced bread returned, the NY Times heralded it with a headline, “Sliced Bread Put Back on Sale; Housewives’ Thumbs Safe Again.”

That’s how much we love sliced bread.

Think about what sliced bread means to you: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, French toast, and Reuben sandwiches. It led to the invention of the toaster, sandwich makers, and easy-to-put together sandwiches for school lunchboxes and brown baggers. Don’t forget the hundreds of recipes like grilled cheese, open-faced sandwiches, eggs, and unlimited toppings from butter to jam and cream cheese to avocados. There’s Wonder Bread, along with so many other brands from thin, medium, and thick-sliced to whole wheat, challah, gluten free, and country-style.

Amazon alone has well over 6,000 sandwich cookbooks, makers, and containers.

The next time you eat avocado toast, your favorite sandwich, or PB&J, give Rohwedder a thumbs up.

He earned it.

 

About the Author
We live in crazy world. It's hard to guess what comes next. I thrive on change, people, and ideas. I've published 37 books and hundreds of blogs and articles. As an author, photographer, and family therapist, my blogs combine the serious, the funny, and the facts. Each blog is a story that informs and entertains readers. Please join me!
Social Share
15 Comments
  1. Phyliss30@yahoo October 3, 2023 at 3:09 pm Reply

    Thumbs up! Another great food journey!

  2. Craig+Oldfather November 9, 2023 at 9:54 pm Reply

    Oh my gosh! I can’t imagine a time before sliced bread was such a common and easy thing… But that’s the beauty of your blogs. You point out things that are so fascinating and I would never know or think of, or think to think of… Thanks for another wonderful story!

  3. Jason Reynolds November 10, 2023 at 2:04 am Reply

    I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting
    article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally,
    if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  4. Freya January 28, 2024 at 4:54 pm Reply

    Everyone loves wuat you guys tend to be up too. Such cleveer wotk and reporting!
    Keepp up the fantastic works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to
    blogroll.

    My web page: Freya

  5. http://Forum.Sportowezabawy.pl/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=206947 February 9, 2024 at 10:58 pm Reply

    What’s up too all, the contents present at this webb site are
    reqlly remarkable for peolple knowledge, well, keep up the nice woprk fellows.

    Here is my web-site: http://Forum.Sportowezabawy.pl/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=206947

  6. http://Www.Miro4ek.ru/viewtopic.php?t=43461 February 12, 2024 at 5:53 am Reply

    Just wish to say youir article is as astounding. The clearness inn
    your post is simply cool and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject.
    Well with your permission let me too grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with
    forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.

    Check out my web blog – http://Www.Miro4ek.ru/viewtopic.php?t=43461

  7. http://www.miharley.es/members/166979-Ilushikvsn February 12, 2024 at 2:19 pm Reply

    I was extremely pleased tto discover this website. I need
    to to thank you for your time for this particularly wondserful read!!
    I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff on your site.

    My web page; http://www.miharley.es/members/166979-Ilushikvsn

  8. http://forum.Soundspeed.ru/member.php?634151-Ilushikmim February 13, 2024 at 12:38 pm Reply

    This design is steller! You certainly know howw to keep a readder entertained.
    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved too start mmy own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!

    Feel free to surf to my blog – http://forum.Soundspeed.ru/member.php?634151-Ilushikmim

  9. http://htcclub.pl/member.php/246865-Ilushikhdh February 13, 2024 at 11:08 pm Reply

    Wonderful website. Plenty of useful information here.

    I’m sending it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious.

    And obviously, thanks to your effort!

    Also visit my webpage – http://htcclub.pl/member.php/246865-Ilushikhdh

  10. http://Oople.com February 14, 2024 at 6:11 pm Reply

    Amazing! Its really remarkable post, I have got much clear idea about from this article.

    Here is my web-site … http://Oople.com

  11. http://Forum.Soundspeed.ru/member.php?632777-Ilushikujt February 15, 2024 at 12:40 am Reply

    It’s amazing designed for me to have a site, which is useful designed
    for my knowledge. thanks admin

    My web site; http://Forum.Soundspeed.ru/member.php?632777-Ilushikujt

  12. Forum.Soundspeed.ru February 15, 2024 at 11:20 pm Reply

    Spot on wwith this write-up, I truly believe this site needs much more attention. I’ll
    probably be back again to read more, thasnks for the
    info!

    Feel free to surf to my blog Forum.Soundspeed.ru

  13. http://Www.Smokinstangs.com/member.php/278505-Leonrgl April 14, 2024 at 10:12 pm Reply

    Great info. Lucky me I came across your site by accident (stumbleupon).
    I’ve book-marked it for later!

    My web page: http://Www.Smokinstangs.com/member.php/278505-Leonrgl

  14. http://www.Oople.com/forums/member.php?u=235856 April 14, 2024 at 10:18 pm Reply

    You made some decent points there. I checked on the net for additional information about the
    issue and found most individuals will go along with you views on thgis website.

    My website :: http://www.Oople.com/forums/member.php?u=235856

  15. tlovertonet November 26, 2024 at 9:22 pm Reply

    Deference to website author, some superb information .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

Recent Posts

  • COOKING TIPS
  • ARE YOU COOKING TODAY?
  • CARROT CAKE MUNCHIES
  • CAN YOU TASTE IT?
  • FOODIE FUN!
  • QUICHE TASTERS
  • QUICHE – A YUMMY SLICE OF HISTORY
  • DESSERT MORSALS
  • WHAT’S FOR DESSERT? A VERY SWEET STORY.
  • MOUSSE BITES
  • THE ARTIST AND HIS MOUSSE
  • AVOCADO TREATS
  • IT’S ALL IN THE NAME
  • CHURRO BYTES
  • FROM SHEPHERDS AND CONQUISTADORES TO YOUTIAO AND CHURROS
  • GELATO LICKS
  • A GIFT FROM THE ANCIENTS
  • CREPE GOODIES
  • FOLDED, ROLLED, OR FLAT . . . ANY WAY YOU LIKE IT
  • MOTHER NOTES
  • WHO COULD ARGUE WITH MOTHER?
  • BORN SWEET BITS
  • BORN TO BE SWEET
  • CHICKEN SOUPER SNIPPETS
  • ARE YOU A CHICKEN SOUPER?
  • SPAGHETTI SQUASH TIDBITS
  • A PASTA BY ANY OTHER NAME . . .
  • HONEY DROPS
  • SWEET HOLIDAYS, HONEY
  • CEREAL BYTES
  • WHY CEREAL . . . AND MILK?
  • PARDON GOBBLES
  • IT’S (TURKEY) PARDON TIME
  • KISS UPs
  • KISS UP!
  • DEEPER ROOTS
  • BACK TO YOUR ROOTS
  • CUPCAKE NIBBLES
  • CUP BY CUP
  • FROM PILGRIMS AND EGGOS TO WAFFLE-FALAFEL AND HOT DOGS
  • OH LOLLI, LOLLI, LOLLI
  • YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: PRESIDENTIAL PALATES
  • CRISPS, BUCKLES, OR GRUNTS – WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?
  • STUMP FOODS: MUNCHING FOR VOTES
  • A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN: SHORTCAKE AND STRAWBERRIES
  • FROM INDIANS AND CONQUISTADORES TO SOUL FOOD, KICKSTARTER, AND YOUR TABLE
  • SPONGERS, AUNT SALLY, AND THE YUMMY LEGENDS OF KEY LIME PIE
  • GOT BUBBLES?
  • HAIL CAESAR! (SALAD)
  • THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNO-BUSINESS
  • THE FOOD THAT ANGELS EAT
  • CRYSPES ANYONE?
  • FROM CORNY AND PRONTO TO DAGWOOD AND KOGO: WHICH CAME FIRST?
  • TRAMPING AND TRAILING WITH S’MORES
  • SELTZER, CLUB SODA, SPARKLING WATER, OR POP: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FIZZ?
  • EAT LIKE A ONE-PERCENTER: KINGLY DELIGHTS
  • EAT LIKE A ONE-PERCENTER
  • AROUND THE WORLD WITH EGGY BREAD
  • PUREE DE POMME, BRÚITÍN, MASH . . . BY ANY OTHER NAME
  • SWEET OR SAVORY, LOTS OF TASTE, LOVED AROUND THE WORLD

Send Me a Message

Cleantalk Pixel