Apple Peeler

Object/Artifact

-

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Apple Peeler

Entry/Object ID

1972.3.2

Description

Flat wooden board that narrows slightly at one end. On that narrower end are two pieces of wood carved to arch over another wooden cylinder. The two pieces are attached to the board with metal nails at either end. The wooden cylinder has a handle at one end and metal tines at the other that appears to have been made from a dining fork.

Context

Made and used by Russell Hoyt of Craftsbury, VT

Acquisition

Accession

1972.3

Source or Donor

Buswell, Clara Lucena

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Artist

Hoyt, Russell (1805-1890)

Date made

1825

Place

Town

Craftsbury

County

Orleans County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Peeler, Fruit

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Peeler

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Tool, Food Cutting

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Food Preparation Equipment

Nomenclature Class

Food Processing & Preparation T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials

Material

Wood

Interpretative Labels

Label

Apple Peeler, 1825 Russell Hoyt Craftsbury, VT Wood, metal Gift of Clara Lucena Buswell, 1972.3.2 Apples have always been a core food product for Vermont, and many uses of apples require them to be peeled and cored. Introducing a mechanical device to the process speeds things up considerably, reducing the tedium of the task and preserving more of the apple’s flesh. There are dozens of potential variations on mechanical parers, including many commercially made variations (see 2014.60.1033 in this same exhibition). This apple parer is homemade and quite simple. It only performs one part of the process: turning the apple. The user would secure the long board part – possibly with clamps or possibly by sitting on it – and stick the apple onto the turning arm. Twirling the lever then rotates the apple, while the user would hold a knife steady to remove the peel. Notably, the tine where the apple would be stuck appears to be a repurposed kitchen implement. Russell Hoyt of Craftsbury made this apple parer sometime in the 19th century, and passed it down through his family.