Lightning Apple Parer
PATENTED OCT. 6 1863 AUG. 23 64 JUNE 18 67

The most common version of the Lightning Apple Parer includes a third patent date granted to Goodell on June 18, 1867 (Goodell, 1867). Goodell also changed the gear ratio and disposed of the "foot" guide for this version of his arc parer.

An 1868 advertisment lists premiums recognizing the superiority of the Lightning design awarded at multiple fairs held in 1867 (American Agricultrist, 1868, p. 340). The image used in the advertisement does not reflect the design changes that had been made by Goodell.

Sargent & Co. of New York is identified as "Sole Agents" in the American Agriculturist advertisements from late 1866 through 1871. In 1872 the advertisements in the American Agriculturist identify D. H. Goodell as "Sole Manufacturers" (American Agriculturist, 1872).

A June 1883 article about David H. Goodell, published in The Granite Monthly, stated that, "He invented what is known as the "lightning apple-parer," and put it upon the market through a New York house, which sold the first two years a few hundred dozen." The article continues, "Mr. Goodell was not satisfied, and the next year took the road himself, and in three weeks time he sold two thousand dozen, and made the invention known throughout the country" (The Granite Monthly, 1883, p. 273).

Advertisements in the American Agriculturist identify this "New York house" as Sargent & Co. and it appears that they were sole agents from 1866 through 1871. It seems like these two historical documents are at odds with one another. Goodell was unhappy with Sargent & Company's marketing performance and took matters into his own hands when he, "took to the road" in 1868. It could be that Goodell's work was an attempt to improve the marketing success of the parer and that he retained Sargent & Co. until 1872.

References

Goodell, D.H., inventor; Improved Fruit-Paring Machine. 1867 June 18. US65804.

'Hon. David H. Goodell' The Granite Monthly, June, 1883. Vol. 6, No. 9., pp. 273.

Judd, Orange, editor, American Agriculturist Vol. 27, No. 9 (New Series no. 260). New York: Orange Judd 1868, p. 340.

Judd, Orange, editor, American Agriculturist Vol. 31, No. 7 (New Series no. 306). New York: Orange Judd 1872, p. 270.

Pratt, E.L., inventor; Improved Apple-Parer. 1863 October 6. US40185.

Pratt, E. L., inventor; Improved Peach-Parer. 1864 August 23. US43956.