Very Very Old Hobart Buffalo Chopper

[toploader55]

Oh Nick and Steve...

I would pick this up in a heart beat... but not for a grand !!!

I used this exact model back in the 70s.

Not a very Safe Machine. None of them really are... but this one with the tilting motor makes nervous.

http://albany.craigslist.org/app/5113736030.html

 

[alr2903]

Eddy you posted a video demonstration of one in operation some time back?  I had never seen one.  -A

 

[toploader55]

Hi Arthur.

Yes, Correct.

 

Hobart still makes them.  They are still very dangerous to use if you have not ever used one.  One must understand the mechanics of this machine and use caution when operating them.

 

I make it a practice to never re-assemble the blade on the shaft when putting the machine back together.  This way if someone uses the PTO (Attachment Hub for a Meat Grinder or Shredder/Slicer) the blades are NOT spinning while the attachment is used.

 

Here is the link to the Video I made 3 years ago already.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow5InuZ-zAE

 

[norgeway]

My Grandmother

Cut her little finger OFF using one of these in 1959 in the school lunchroom where she worked!

 

[cuffs054]

Was the idea just to put whole stuff in the bowl and let it chop? There was no feed tube? Why did the motor tilt?

 

[norgeway]

The bowl turns

These will also chop barbecue wonderfully,

 

[toploader55]

The Bowl rotates clockwise and the knives spin on the shaft at I think at 1725 RPM.

The product should be cut at least in quarters such as Onions or smaller pieces. These machines are good for producing mass quantities of chopped to finely chopped product. The longer the product stays in the rotating bowl and goes through the blades, the finer the cut. It will puree/pulverize in the blink of an eye.

I will make a video at work using this machine. It will make understanding how they work and also how dangerous they can be.

The Motor tilts on this older model to remove the work bowl.

I will show the difference in the models when I do the video. The one I use is from around 1975.

The one for sale is from around 1950s

 

[tolivac]

Yes,I have seen the Hobart "Buffalo cutters" at the BBQ places here-they all have these machines.So far no chopped fingers in my BBQ when I have eaten at those places.Think the machines can be set up to do other jobs-meat grinding.Would think the used restuarant equipment suppliers would have these machines.Think they would be overkill for home use.And keep the fingers and kids away!!!

 

[toploader55]

Saturday Morning.

Overkill for the home ? You betcha. You need quite a bit of product to process for the machine to work. If you would try to chop one onion, the product would go 'round once and it's bits would be stuck to the lid, bowl etc. These machines are strictly for volume.

Also, I would not want to leave this on the counter for the dangers of a child's curious mind. (Oh, did I mention these machines weigh in at way over 100 lbs. ?) It is not the type of machine you'd throw in the trunk of the car and bring to a friend's house.

These machines are not as popular as they used to be. Although they were the "Last Word in food prep. equipment" back in the 40s though 70s, these beasts have been replaced with the Cuisinart or Robot Coupe. Easy to move, carry and clean. Will do one cup or endless batches quickly. "Buffalos" also take up quite a bit of counter space if not requiring their own work bench.

I will make a vid today and post it when I get home.

 

[tolivac]

I did see one at the used restuarant supply place here at one time and it was huge-a floor mounted one.Needed 3 ph power to run it.Didn't ask the price since I can't use the thing.Easier to cut the onion by hand then use the Buffalo chopper.Now if you had a few bushel baskets full-then a diffrent matter.I would also think the Buffalo chopper has also been pushed aside by VCM's Vertical cutter machine.And yes,Hobart builds them.They can be used for chopping and mixing or high speed kneading of pizza and bread dough.For home use the Cuisinart and other food processors are fine.A commercial Robot Coupe can be used too,samller ones that can work from 120V.Have one-Great machine.

 

[scoots]

Never seen one of these before...

Here's a very short video of one in use.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0-vkhj5zA

 

[whirlykenmore78]

AWESOME Eddie!

We have a 2013 Hobart model @ the prison and use it every day. No tilitng motors on the new ones. The hood, blades and bowl come off and can be sent through the dishmachine.
AS far as productivity goes you cant beat a BC. We can do 150# of coleslaw in 1/2 hour, chop enough turkey for 600 chef salads in 10 minutes or dice enough canned peaches for 25 gallons of fruited yogurt in 5 minutes.
As far as saftey goes these machines are very dangerous. Outside of the power switch on the motor and the interlock on the hood the only thing standing between your hand and the blade is common sense. That blade will NOT be stopped by your hand bones! Even wearing a cutting glove it can still break your fingers. I make this very clear to the inmates who use it.
All of that said A BC is still one of the best prep machines for an institutional kitchen.
WK78

 

[toploader55]

I'm sliding the Videos over to Super

I'm going to start a thread about Buffalo Choppers in Super so the Non Upgraders can watch too.

 

[tolivac]

Two forums about the Bowel-buffalo cutters.This tool has created quite a "stir" Can agree with another poster here-ANY machine using turning blades is DANGEROUS--KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY!!!!!!Liked the example video here demenstrating the tool cutting pork for BBQ-Just like out here.