Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-02

amount desired, and to give the custo-
mer a solid rectangular piece rather
than lot of chunks cut into various odd
shapes, such as is the case even with
most groceries to this day. But the for
tunate thing about his inventions was
that they were saleable, and he was able
to realize tangible returns from them,
most instances he sold for cash the right
to sell his patents in certain states. sor
received a generous cash price for the
same. In other instances his patents
have brought in a royalty.
Due TO the rigorous winters of Maine
in those days. and to- the fact that he
was somewhat broken in nealth by hard
work, he conceived the notion of going to
a warmer climate. So in 1887 he sold his
property and business in Augusta, aud
moved with his family to Vineland. New
Jersey. This town had become famous
for its fruits, berries and vegetables. to-
gether with a mildness of climate which
appealed to Mr. Parker at that time. He
settled upon a fruit farm where he made
many Improvements and planted or
chards of choice fruits. IT seemed as
though the Garden of Eden had been
found at last, for the rich, juicy fruits
of that sunny land offered nearly every
thing that could be desired.
There are two ways of preserving fruit,
viz. canning and drying. Mr.. Parker
gave much study to the drying process,
and invented several different models of
fruit dryer which came into commercial
use One model in particular deserves
mention as it utilized the heat from the
cooking stove which is ordinarily wasted
This fruit-evaporator could be placed
over any ordinary cooking stove.
In working about the farm various
other improvements in implements sug-
gested themselves to him, among them
being Pruning Shears, also Cultivators
having all bolts and sharp corners on
the inside rather than outside so as not
to skin or injure trees when cultivating
This latter invention was bought by the
E. S. & f. Bateman Co, of Spring Lake
NOW Grenloch) New Jersey.
1t might be interesting to know how
Mr. Parker handled the shoe problem
with his large family OF boys and girls
As every parent knows this is a perplex-
ing and expensive necessity. During his
spare moments he Would himself repair
all of the family shoes, which saved
many dollar and was doubtless done
better than by the average shoemaker
On the boys shoes he put 'armor-plate.
or steel soles as we'll as heels, which
seemed the only way to prevent their
wearing out. But it was due to this
shoemaking experience that Mr.. Parker
invented an improvement in shoemaker's
lasts which is now being generally used
all over the country. 1t had an adjusta-
BILE last which could be placed at differ
ent angles, and besides lap-rest for
holding various taeks, nails. etc, such
as used by shoemakers.
Back in 1888 Mr.. Parker often spoke of
making a Notwithstanding to be driven
by motor If he had carried out this
line of invention he would have been in
the van in the development of the auto
mobile.
From 1880 to 1890 Mr.. Parker took vari-
Gus trips east and west coming into
business contact with large manu-
featuring concerns and merchants. In
1892 we was in Chicago conducting
a little enterprise in the way of
souvenir booklet of the great Chi
cago Worlds Fair. The booklet was
very attractive, having been printed in
colors The edition was finally sold out
right to one of the large department
stores there.
After the Worlds Fair he went again
to the Pacific Coast in the interest of
some of his Inventions Much travelling