We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: T.4-2013
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Profile Cutter

ca. 1949 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a profile cutter for an industrial button making machine, used in the 1940s. The bit would be inserted into a pillar drill and the cutter section could be used on acrylic sheets to create circular buttons with a central circular indent. The cutter blade could be unbolted and exchanged for another different-shaped blade to create other patterns of buttons, although the bolt on this particular bit is stuck in place.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Forged steel, bolted together.
Brief description
Profile cutter for buttons, to be inserted into a pillar drill, steel, 1940s, British
Physical description
Steel tool bit, consisting of a cylinder with a semi-circular cylinder cut-out to halfway down, with a smaller cylinder protruding, and a semi-circular cylinder bolted-on, holding a button cutting bit between them: this is a rectangular piece of metal with protruding cutting shapes at one end, that would turn and cut a piece of perspex into a button shape.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.3cm
  • Width: 8.4cm
  • Depth: 3.1cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
"36" (Stamped on full-cylinder section of tool)
Credit line
Given by Mr F. Beck
Summary
This is a profile cutter for an industrial button making machine, used in the 1940s. The bit would be inserted into a pillar drill and the cutter section could be used on acrylic sheets to create circular buttons with a central circular indent. The cutter blade could be unbolted and exchanged for another different-shaped blade to create other patterns of buttons, although the bolt on this particular bit is stuck in place.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
T.4-2013

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 19, 2013
Record URL
Download as: JSON