Pitter, Fruit

Object Name:

Pitter, Fruit

Object ID:

1991.068

Creator:

Goodell CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Antrim, NH

Date:

circa 1900

Description:

Cherry Pitter. Wood, cast iron, steel, white metal. Made by Goodell Company, Antrim, NH. Cast iron frame that clamps onto work surface with winged-head screw. Frame holds cast-iron trough and pivot frame. Rectangular cast iron tray with two concave grooves in bottom (to hold two rows of cherries), which lead to two depressed areas with cast-in semicircular lips at ends. Two holes in these depressions, 0.4" diameter. Holes in cast iron frame support rectangular holder. Medium-brown wood inclined plane with a semicircular trough in bottom that leads off to one side. Wood block is secured through base frame and trough plate with wood screws. On back side of block is a vertical steel plate 0.05" thick which has two slightly tapered vertical slots near top end. At far end of trough plate is a Y-shaped arm which has a riveted pivot rod through it. On pivot rod is a cast white metal frame. Cast frame is 1.9" wide. Perpendicular to the pivot in the casting are three cylindrical tubes approximately 1" long. In center tube is a steel shaft 0.2" diameter that extends upward then is bent away from device. It has dark wood bulbous handle. The other two cast tubes hold long curved steel shafts which have four small somewhat sharp tines on each end. On shaft near ends is a single sharp protuberance that sticks out approximately 0.15". Swing arm and the two tines pass through the sheet steel piece and pass directly through the two small holes in the cast-iron trough and protrude out bottom of trough and support frame. It appears that a few stemless cherries are lowered into the rectangular trough at a time. Trough has slight incline toward depressions and holes. The mechanism swings around and sharp tines perforate cherry and push pits out bottom. When mechanism is pulled back up and cherries are stuck and removed since they can't pass through plate. They drop onto inclined wood block and roll off to side. Appears to be some type of discolored finish of casting of pitting arms and handle. On bottom of rectangular trough in raised letters: "MADE IN USA / GOODELL CO / ANTRIM NH". On side of base clamp is a reenforcing rib that has 4 small dimples in a row.

Material:

Metal
Wood
Iron
Steel

Dimensions:

H-7.7 W-2.9 D-6.5 inches

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase