Mabel’s Missives

BY THESE ARTICLES ARE REPRINTS FROM DECADESOLD DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT PAGES. THEY WERE DISCOVERED AND COPIED AS ORIGINALLY PRINTED BY LOCAL HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR, MABEL R. MILLER.

(7 November 1908) HERE’S A NEW ONE

Probably the most unique device that has been invented in recent years, and one which promises to be in great demand when placed upon the market, is the one for Which Messrs. Joseph Berling and D. Bainter, of this city, have received a patent from Washington authorities. The invention is to be known as an automatic chicken picker, composed of four distinct parts, which work harmoniously in divorcing a fowl from its rough and pin feathers. For the rough feathers the device is of large dimensions, while the pin feathers will be removed by a smaller device, for which a patent has also been secured. As an evidence of the practicability of the invention six-hundred fowls can be separated from their feathers in a single day by its usage, while by hand two-hundred is a day’s work.

These gentlemen worked on the device more than two years, and more than a year ago they submitted it to the patent authorities through their attorneys, Hooper & Lenhart.

However, as the device had four parts, all of which were to be inspected, a considerable length of time has been consumed in securing the patent, it arriving yesterday afternoon.

The patentees will arrange in the near future for the manufacture of the contrivance, and that they will have a ready sale for the article is assured. The new system will primarily be installed at the Berling packing house, where its qualities can conveniently be demonstrated, and in the meantime advertisements will be inserted in leading magazines exemplifying its advantages. These gentlemen will no doubt reap a bountiful reward for their inventive ability.