The Revolving Rolling Pin: Handles That Stay Still

"My invention has reference to rolling-pins for household use; and it consists in the construction hereinafter set forth and claimed, whereby a simple, efficient, and inexpensive rolling-pin is provided that permits the roller proper to revolve relative to the handles and yet consists of but three parts--to wit, the roller and the two handles." Before, a metal bolt was driven into each end of the roller to carry the handle. Instead, "The head and a portion of the journal are split crosswise" so the head can be squeezed into the roller's recess, where it springs back behind a shoulder, "and thus prevent the accidental withdrawal of the handle." A shoulder keeps the handle "a slight distance away from the end of the roller, and thereby protect the hand from frictional contact with the revolving roller."

Mix 300 g of flour with about 150 g of water into a firm dough, knead it smooth and rest it for 20 minutes. Flatten it to about 2 cm. Roll as in the program, measuring the thickness with the caliper after every pass, until it is 3 mm. Count the passes and work out what fraction each pass took off; compare with the notebook. Roll one half holding the handles and the other half with your palms on the roller, and note which is easier to keep even.

**Henry Richardi** of Bellaire, Antrim County, Michigan, filed US 434,295 on 6 February 1890; it is dated 12 August 1890. He says he does not claim a revolving handle as such, only his three-part all-wood construction. **Honest limits.** The pass count assumes the same fraction off every pass; real dough changes as it is worked. The rubbing figures are simple sliding-friction estimates with example values. Your caliper readings are the measurement.