Cohen's Husking and Shelling Glove

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


This glove can be used for husking as well as shelling corn. A plate, B, of leather, metal, or any other suitable material, armed with pins as teeth, is secured to the palm of the glove or mitten, C. In our engraving, Fig. 1 represents the husking operation, which is performed by grasping the butt-end of the ear with the left hand, and pressing the right hand, on which is the glove, against the small end of the husk, and by slightly turning the right hand, the husk is opened, and can be readily pulled down, the glove protecting the hand against soreness. Fig. 2 shows the glove when off the hand. On shelling, the grains are readily detached by the action of the pins of the plate upon the corn. A knife, A, which is pivoted to the plate in the manner of a pocket-knife blade, and which can be folded into a recess of said plate, if required, serves to cut off the butts of the ears to facilitate the operation of husking. The device appears to be very useful and quite ingenious. It was invented, and patented Jan. 8, 1858, by Emil Cohen, of Washington, D. C, who will give any desired particulars.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 22This article was published with the title “Cohen's Husking and Shelling Glove” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 22 (), p. 176
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican02061858-176b

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe