Nobody could guess what it was until the answer was finally revealed.

What the Tool Is Called

• Name (common): Glass cutter / glazier’s glass cutter
• Specific item shown: Shaw (England) 1–6 mm glass cutter with a rotating cutting-wheel head and wooden handle
• Markings on the head identify the maker: “SHAW ENGLAND” and the wheel dial marked 1–6

What It Does (Simple Explanation)
A glass cutter is used to score (scratch a controlled line into) the surface of glass. The glass is then snapped cleanly along that score line.

• It does not “saw” through glass. It creates a precise weak line so the sheet breaks exactly where you want.

Key Parts You Can See in the Photos

• Wooden handle: Provides grip and control for steady pressure.
• Metal head (marked SHAW ENGLAND): Holds the cutting mechanism.
• Cutting wheel/turret dial (marked 1–6): A rotating wheel assembly that typically lets the user index to a fresh cutting edge or a different wheel position.
• Notched front profile: Helps the head sit flat and stable while scoring, and can assist with controlled positioning along edges.

How It’s Used (Step-by-Step)

1. Measure and mark the cut line on the glass.
2. Place a straightedge along the line (for a straight cut).
3. Hold the cutter upright and pull it across the glass with firm, even pressure.
4. You should make one continuous score from edge to edge.
5. Snap the glass along the score line (by hand, over a table edge, or with running pliers).

Typical Uses

• Window and picture-frame glazing
• Cutting replacement panes for cabinets, doors, or small windows
• Workshop projects using thin sheet glass (within the tool’s intended thickness range)

What “1–6 mm” Usually Means

• The 1–6 mm marking indicates the cutter is intended for thin to medium sheet glass in that approximate thickness range.
• On many cutters with a numbered wheel dial, the numbers also help the user rotate/index the wheel position (so you can move to another cutting edge position when performance drops).

When This Style Was Created (Background Timeline)

• Early glass cutting (centuries ago): Glass was commonly cut with diamond-point tools—effective, but expensive and requiring skill.
• Modern wheel-type glass cutters (19th century): The widely used, affordable cutting-wheel glass cutter design emerged in the mid-to-late 1800s, as inventors developed small hardened wheels that could score glass consistently.
• Why wheel cutters took over: They were more economical, easier to use, and well-suited to the growing trades of glazing and construction.

Who Created the Underlying Invention (Inventor/Origin of the Wheel Glass Cutter)

• The cutting-wheel concept is generally tied to 19th-century tool innovation, with patented wheel-type glass cutters appearing in the 1860s–1870s.
• One frequently cited early patent-holder for a wheel-style glass cutter is Samuel Monce (1869), associated with formalizing this type of mechanism.
• After that, many manufacturers refined the design into the familiar glazier’s wheel cutter used worldwide.

About the Maker and This Example (Shaw, England)

• The stamped branding “SHAW ENGLAND” indicates an English-made tool marketed for practical trade use.
• The wood handle, solid metal head, and indexed wheel dial are characteristic of 20th-century workshop and glazier tools, commonly found in toolboxes for routine glass work.

Why It Matters (Practical Value)

• A well-made wheel cutter like this is valued for:
  • Consistent scoring on standard window glass
  • Simple maintenance (keep the wheel clean; replace or rotate/index when worn)
  • Long service life due to sturdy materials and straightforward construction