slightly OT but who else would know?

[Ken Miner]

PGW frequently called attention to the American custom of eating a
soft-boiled egg by breaking it into a bowl, instead of cutting off the end
of it and eating it from the shell.

Today many Americans eat an egg "the Commonwealth way" (as do I, who learned
it from an Aussie). I call the thing I use to cut off the end an "Ei-Knipps"
(German brand of same), and I have seen the current version referred to in
the US as an "egg cutter".

What would PGW have called it? I am quite sure there was a device, because
in a novel of Anne Perry set near the end of the 19th century she turns out
not to have known what to call it: "...she went to lift the device for
slicing the top off the boiled egg..." (_Cardington Crescent_, beginning of
chapter 4).

Does any of you happen to know what the late Victorians called this device?

[Clyde Penquin]

Post by Ken Miner
Today many Americans eat an egg "the Commonwealth way" (as do I, who learned
it from an Aussie). I call the thing I use to cut off the end an "Ei-Knipps"
(German brand of same), and I have seen the current version referred to in
the US as an "egg cutter".

http://www.amazon.com/W%C3%BCsthof-5600-Egg-Scissors/dp/B0002JENPC

Egg scissors, and egg topper, both seem to be current usage. I
don't have even a good guess what the Victorians might have called
it ("thingummy," perhaps?), sadly.

I feel sure someone will have an answer, though.

[Neil Midkiff]

Post by Clyde Penquin

Post by Ken Miner
Today many Americans eat an egg "the Commonwealth way" (as do I, who
learned it from an Aussie). I call the thing I use to cut off the end
an "Ei-Knipps" (German brand of same), and I have seen the current
version referred to in the US as an "egg cutter".

http://www.amazon.com/W%C3%BCsthof-5600-Egg-Scissors/dp/B0002JENPC
Egg scissors, and egg topper, both seem to be current usage. I don't
have even a good guess what the Victorians might have called it
("thingummy," perhaps?), sadly.

Egg opener:

http://www.journalofantiques.com/guesswhatapr01.htm

Egg scissors (an antique version of the rooster design at the link above):

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/circaantiquesltd/item/000611

Egg topper:

http://markleeinc.net/products.swf -- then click on "silver" and then on "egg
topper"

I've also run across references to an "egg snipper" which seems to be the same
thing, but with no associated picture.

Just a quick sampling.

-Neil Midkiff

[Ken Miner]

Post by Neil Midkiff

Post by Clyde Penquin

Post by Ken Miner
Today many Americans eat an egg "the Commonwealth way" (as do I, who
learned it from an Aussie). I call the thing I use to cut off the end an
"Ei-Knipps" (German brand of same), and I have seen the current version
referred to in the US as an "egg cutter".

http://www.amazon.com/W%C3%BCsthof-5600-Egg-Scissors/dp/B0002JENPC
Egg scissors, and egg topper, both seem to be current usage. I don't
have even a good guess what the Victorians might have called it
("thingummy," perhaps?), sadly.

http://www.journalofantiques.com/guesswhatapr01.htm
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/circaantiquesltd/item/000611
http://markleeinc.net/products.swf -- then click on "silver" and then on
"egg topper"
I've also run across references to an "egg snipper" which seems to be the
same thing, but with no associated picture.
Just a quick sampling.
-Neil Midkiff

Excellent; many thanks. One of those heavier ones would fit the Anne Perry
context perfectly.

Now if I could only figure out why PGW says of the more rotund boys that
they are "practically circular" (rather than "practically spherical" which
is more accurate and funnier), I would be content for a while...

Ken