163

Next was patent number 172,278 issued on January 18, 1876 to

Henry F. Patton of Appleton, Wisconsin. He assigned one-half to

Albert S. Dean of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His design consists of a

pointed guide-rod that supports a bracket. Pivoted to the bracket

is a two-pronged curved claw. The claw is placed in alignment

with the guide-rod and the ensemble is pushed into the fruit near

the edge of the barrel. The claw handle is then raised, swinging

the claw through the fruit and loosening it.

Patent number 177,863 was issued on May 23, 1876 to

William McCormick of Blair, Nebraska. His concern

was that existing lifters become clogged, and the

design of his

―

flattened

‖

double helix provided a

more open 'core' between the arms and fewer turns

than did Schmeltzer &

Roberts.

McCormick's 1876

patent marked PATD

MAY 23 1876. The

overall length is 14 3/4 inches and the arms are 6 inches

apart.

Patent number 252,738 was issued on January 24, 1882 to

Ernest P. Chesbro of Willimantic, CT for his device for

breaking up sugar, salt, etc. It is pressed into the food while

twisting, breaking it up so that it can be removed. Although

his device has four arms of teeth and the teeth point straight

down, it is quite similar to the two-armed ENTERPRISE

Dried Fruit and Sugar Auger that has its teeth at an angle.

The ENTERPRISE auger was advertised in the 1899 catalog of

The Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, PA.

That advertisement is illustrated below, and the auger in the

illustration is marked ENTERPRISE M'F'G CO PHILA.