Who doesn't like fresh, homemade Sourdough Bread? The smell alone is worth the effort.

My baking quest all started when a friend gave me some sourdough starter. The thought of crusty baguettes and beautiful bread boules was very enticing. I mean, how hard could it be? (Harder than I thought, that's for sure)
I had various tools that could be used for baking. I had an old bread maker with a dough setting, a dutch oven (from my sons boy scout days) and a bench scraper. Certainly enough to get me started.
I found some great sites on the internet and started learning the basics.

My first loaves were actually edible. Not great, but not bad either. I was hooked.

Gradually the bread improved. My dough handling techniques got better and I felt more comfortable working with higher hydration dough. This allowed me to play with more recipes.

It was time to get some new toys (i e bread baking tools)
That's when I purchased my first Lame. It was the standard, wood handle (plastic actually) type Lame with the blade that skewers on the metal stick. I won't use any names, but you know them. There are many out there and all have basically the same pathetic design.
I absolutely hated it. Scoring is hard enough. It's even worse when the blade shifts or slides off. I ultimately just held the blade in my fingers.

How could such a simple tool be so poorly designed? And even worse, how could they ALL be the same.? There were a few that had secure blades but they were mostly plastic. Or very pretty and expensive wood lames with only one side of the blade accessible. I knew I didn't want plastic or wood.

Why had NO ONE made a better lame in all of these years?
So, I set out to design my own. Now, just so you know, I don't consider myself an inventor by any stretch.

But I saw this as a challenge.
I started with the criteria that I wanted in a lame.

- First and foremost, the blade had to be secure and easily, quickly, and safely changeable. And of course, utilize a standard double edge blade.
- It had to be solid stainless steel and built to last forever. No wood or plastic.
- I wanted it to be easily cleaned and sanitized.
- And lastly, it needed a good quality storage box for protection and safety.

Oh, and it had to be beautiful.

With those criteria in mind, I came up with a conceptual design and made a prototype. I was off and running.



I searched for a while and finally found a cutlery manufacturer that specialized in stainless steel that was willing to work with me. I can tell you, it is not easy to explain to someone why you want to build a tool to hold a razor blade that you don't intend to shave with.

Anyway, we took my initial design prototype and my design criteria and started tweaking for ergonomics, blade stabilization/attachment, and manufacturing constraints.

After a couple of iterations, and the better part of a year, I had my first order in hand.
It met all of my criteria. I could not have been happier.

And that's how I went from an aspiring home bread maker to a Lame Designer and seller.
(yes, I am a Lame salesman and I've heard all the bad jokes from my friends)
I honestly do feel that this is the best designed and built lame on the market today.

I am confident that you will feel the same.

Pete
Baker of Seville, Founder
www.BakerofSeville.com
Pete [!at] BakerofSeville.com