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Message |
    
Bob Capshew
New member
Username: rcapshew
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 11:12 am: | 
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I have a copy of a 1941 Palmer Bros. (Cos Cob, Conn.)Cider Mill Supplies catalog titled "Cider Time." Does anyone know how long the they were in this line of business or have any other information?
Thanks in advance, |
Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 488
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 08:04 pm: |
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As I understand the situation from Raynal Bolling now deceased. Frank Palmer had a major manufacturing operation prior to the turn of the 20th century. They manufactured a big line of cider and vinegar presses and related hardware. In addition up until 1935 Frank Palmer each year would make Cider and vinegar in industrial quantities. According to Ray. In 1935 Frank had his regular cider making operation going big time. The way he got rid of the crushed apples was to dig a big pit in the factory yard and with a rickety bridge across it they would dump the crushed apples into this large pit. In 1935 the crude bridge broke and two men fell into the pit and one drowned. That was the end of Frank Palmers cider making. I have a 1935 Palmer catalog listing their mill supplies. Presumably they continued to make cider mill supplies up until WWII. I have no evidence to support that presumption only the knowledge that Frank Palmer would make almost anything out of cast iron that there was a market for. It did not have to be marine related just a product he could make and sell at a profit. I have a propeler electric motor driven mixing unit that is shown on page 14 of the 1935 catalog. This unit has the brass Palmer Bros. tag but no serial number as in their engine production area. One individual thought it was part of a Palmer outboard motor. It clearly is intended to mixing things like apple butter in a large tank. I will be glad to send you a Xerox copy of the 1935 catalog in exchange for a Xerox copy of the 1941 catalog. |
Andrew Menkart
Moderator
Username: andrew
Post Number: 1137
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 04:35 pm: |
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FYI, I just got a call from a fellow in Michigan who knows of an operating Palmer Cider Press in his area. He is interested in the history of it and will send some photos that I will post here.
It is NOT powered by a Palmer Engine but is powered by a more modern engine, but the press is Palmer Bros Cos Cob CT. |
Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 993
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 10:14 am: |
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I am looking forward to seeing the photos. I do know Palmer presses have come up for sale several times in the last 30 years. All were small belt drive mills. As I remember it they all were in antique dealers hands. After I see the photos I will send along what the Palmer catalog says about the model. |
RichardDurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 2694
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 04:47 pm: |
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Dick, if you can get around all the advertising on this website there is some really old Palmer family history there !
http://www.allbusiness.com/real-estate/12718543-1.html
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Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 994
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 06:23 pm: |
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Thanks Richard you have answered a question I had long wondered about. The history you called my attention to explains why Frank Palmer was moved by his parents from Maryland to Greenwich, CT. shortly after he was born. Maryland was a very divided state along north/south political lines. One can imagine a trip from Maryland's Eastern shore to Greenwich, CT. probably involve a steam boat to Baltimore and RR to CT. In any case Chestertown is the county seat and I have never attempted to find out where in the county their homestead was located.
Frank T. Palmer, Born 25 Dec. 1857, Chestertown, MD.
Died 8 Feb. 1944. Cos Cob, Ct.
Had a daughter Nina. She married Carl Hathaway who ran Palmer Bros. Inc from late 1920s until it was sold in 1945.
Ralph L. Palmer Born 20 Aug.1860, Mianus, Ct.
Died 24 May 1953
Had a son Everett E. Palmer. Never very successful in the company. He did write a number of interesting articles on Palmer Bros. over the years.
According to Henry Zerbarini who worked at Palmer from 1922 until 1968 Ray Palmer was so ill by 1920 he was out of the company management and simply played with his own projects like building half a dozen outboards for old friends using 1900 era Palmer air-cooled engines left over in inventory. They never sold any outboards. |
reekbinary
Visitor
| | Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 - 10:35 pm: |
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my brother and i purchased this off a local apple farm. we believe it orginally ran off a palmer stepper motor and was converted to electric. several videos on youtube under username reekbinary
http://youtu.be/Klyv9DEDsNM |
Steve44
Visitor
| | Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2017 - 02:39 pm: |
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Hello I have model 222 palmer brothers cider press. Is there anything you can tell me about this specific press? I look forward to using it in the fall! |
