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What's Poppin? (1/6/21)

Popcorn Sheller, ca. 1875-1910Popcorn Sheller, ca. 1875-1910
Popcorn Sheller, ca. 1875-1910

The Family Popcorn Sheller was manufactured by A. H. Patch of Clarksville, Tennessee. The Family Popcorn Sheller is a small (2 ¼ inches X 2 ¼ inches) clamshell style sheller hinged on one side with teeth on the inside for ripping kernels off the cob. Popcorn cobs are generally shorter in length and smaller circumference, thus the small size of the sheller. To shell popcorn with this device, the dried corn cob is placed into the teeth and the panels squeezed together. Then by twisting each hand in the opposite direction the loose kernels are then collected in a box or a bowl, ready for popping. The Family Popcorn Sheller is one of several styles of shellers, corn and feed grinders and other farm tools that Patch manufactured. After several failed business ventures Patch began manufacturing corn shellers.  At age 60, Patch invented his first pole mounted corn sheller in 1872. This sheller was featured in an 1872 issue of Scientific American magazine and was given the highest award for ingenuity at the 1893 Columbian World’s Fair. The Black Hawk corn sheller, patented in 1886 became the most popular brand of sheller sold by A. H. Patch.