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Left: The first patent was

number 112,959 issued on

March 21, 1871 to Ennis A.

Raymond of Waterloo, Iowa.

His lifter was a helix with

gradually increasing spiral

diameter from point to top. To

make his lifter he starts with

about a five foot half-inch rod

and bends it into a 9

‖

long

spiral with a four inch diameter

at the basis.

Right: The next patent was

number 137,622 issued on April 8, 1873 to Cornelius

Ragan of Waterloo, Iowa. He used a pointed 3/8 inch square bar to form his helix with

his spiral diameter changing from 3 1/2 inches at the tip to 3 inches at the shank. His

overall length was 18-20 inches.

Patent number 144,147 was issued on October 28, 1873 to John F.

Schmeltzer and Joseph M. Roberts of Winona, Minnesota for a

double-helix lifter. They also had their spiral diameter gradually

change, being greatest at the tip.

Two forged examples of patent variants. The

small unmarked double-helix on the left is a

variant of Schmeltzer & Roberts 1873 patent (it

was probably made earlier) and is well-sized

for apricots and dates. It is 8 inches ling overall

and the diameter of the prongs' sweep at the

tip is 1 1/2 inches. That diameter reduces

toward the handle, as the patent requires.

The unmarked single-helix lifter on the right is made of 3/8 inch round stock and has a

coil diameter of 3 inches at the tip, reducing in size toward the handle. Overall length is

15 1/2 inches. This appears to be a variant of Ragan's 1873 patent, although Ragan used

a 3/8 inch rod of square cross-section.