Cutter, Shingle

One asbestos shingle cutter made of cast iron. The tool has a long, oval-shaped frame with a horizontal cutting edge across the center. It is hinged on one end. The opposite end is raised and lowered with a long arm that runs across the top of the tool. Ten evenly-spaced adjusting screws are located across the upper cutting edge. The tool has metal mounts on the underside near each end of the frame and the mounts are attached with wood screws to a 3/4-inch thick wood board. An engraved brass plaque on top of the board reads "1895, Detroit Tool Works, J. Edwin Conway, Proprietor." The board also has decorative brass corner pieces at the front. Raised text on the side of the cutter reads "The Improved Handy Asbestos Shingle Cutter," and "Model-F, Specialty Tool Mfgr., Inc., Belleville, Ill., Patents 1814151, 1081895."