Lightning Peach Parer

The Virtual Apple Parer Museum. Dedicated to the exhibition and educational study of antique apple parers which have both historic and artistic value.

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Lightning Peach Parer Goodell & Company utilized a new fork mechanism to accomodate peach pits. This parer could be used to pare apples or firm peaches for canning or drying. It is interesting that this parer is a mirror image of the regular Lightning, with the paring arm positioned on the opposite side. The Lightning Peach parer is embossed PAT'D OCT. 6 '63 AUG. 17, 1869 MAY 10 '70. The 1869 patent date is for an "Improved Fork for Peach Parers" granted to Charles D. House (House, 1869). House describes using two hinged "forks" with springs to accomodate peaches, Goodell increased this to four. A more common version uses a design consistent with Goodell's 1870 patent in which he describes using four "spring forks or wires." The manufactured design takes the form of leaf springs made of what appears to be two brass strips for each prong.

House's coiled spring design on the left compared to Goodell's leaf spring design on the right. The coiled spring design was used for a very short period. An advertisement for the Lightning Peach Parer appeared in the August 1870 volume of the American Agriculturist and stated that the machine was exhibited at multiple fairs in the fall of 1869. The models exhibited in 1869 would not be embossed with the May 10, 1870 patent date, I know of no examples found at this time. Notice that in this introductory advertisement the parer is already illustrated with the leaf spring forks.

References Goodell, D.H., inventor; Improved Fork for Peach-Parers. 1870 May 10. US102934. House, C. D., inventor; Improved Fork for Peach-Parers. 1869 Aug. 17. US93887. *Judd, Orange, editor, American Agriculturist* Vol. 29, No. 8 (New Series no. 283). New York: Orange Judd 1870, p. 312. Pratt, E.L., inventor; Improved Apple-Parer. 1863 October 6. US40185.**

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