Charles Parker Co. collectables. Show and tell.
 

One of the things about the Parker gun that adds to their interest is the Company that built them. The gun works was really only a small part of the Charles Parker Co. and its overall product offering.
The large selection of products that the company made makes for interesting collecting in itself.

I personally try to find good examples of various products that were offered by the company. Be it Coffee grinders, vices, piano stools, silver plate items, bathroom fixtures, pocket scales, snuff boxes, hardware, lamps, clocks, thermoses, etc...

Does anyone else collect Charles Parker Co. items that are not related to the gun works? If so, I thought it may be neat for other members to share some of their favorite pieces.

I will start it off and try to generate some interest with a few of my favorite items from my collection.

A few items from the Parker line of Vices. These are promotional items. A Bear paperweight, a vice paperweight and an ash tray, which is pretty rare.

Attachment 89049


This is an interesting piece which comes from the forging shop. it is my understanding that these were test pieces used in training for mold makers. The piece has a lot of detail in it and it was considered a test of a mold makers skill to be able to cast it without defects. This piece is marked on the back as being from the Charles Parker Co.

Attachment 89050


This is one of the first Charles Parker Co. items that I purchased. It is a Mission tower Alarm clock. I purchased this from Alan Swanson at the Vintage cup in 2012 or 2013 I think. It appealed to me because I really love mission style furniture. It still works, and I got it adjusted to where it keeps pretty good time. But, being an alarm clock, it needs to be rewound every day to keep it going.


Attachment 89051



If this thread keeps on going and appears to generate some good interest, I may share some other items. But these were just a few that I consider highlights.

I have sold many items through the years such as trade cards, catalogs, vises, glass towel rods, coffee grinders, piano stools, etc, and have now focused on small items such as the ones shown in the attached photos. I love to find unusual pieces to add to the collection.

Very great sampling! I love the Piano Stool pin cushion. There is one pictured in The Parker Story, but have not seen another one.

I can't be considered a collector. But, I do have 2 Parker Piano Stools that I use for Curio Diplay.
Bob Jurewicz

Wayne, that is a really nice primer tin. Maybe the best I've seen.

Ive got a Parker bench vise in every corner of the basement, the (former)sugar house, and the barn, but my favorite is the #20 in the gun room. I think there's a couple more Parker clocks and lamps around, but these were the closest. My #700 Coffee mill came from Alan Swanson's collection. My match safe is a12ga Parker shell inside a 10ga Parker shell, both nickel plated. I had no place to put them so I talked a friend into Allan's 1200 and 2400 coffee mills.
Brian, I hope you freed up that stuck Parker Wood vise.

I have every i tent to edgar, but it still has not been done.

Edgar,
Your place looks like the antique shop I've been searching for for decades!

I could sure put a match safe to work by hanging it on the log wall beside the wood stove.

[QUOTE=Richard Flanders;314083]I could sure put a match safe to work by hanging it on the log wall beside the wood stove.[/QUOT

You and me both ! i have a small vise and a stool and small coffee grinder last two both dismantled and on my never ending to do list ...the grinder was a gift from some guy in Ohio ,the vice a gift for lending a helping hand to a fine young man and the stool believe it or not was found here in Newfoundland ....pics ,someday

For those with high ceilings. Not in my house for sure. Complicated construction and took a bit to figure out, but it’s impressive for sure, just not my taste. Stay tuned.

Nice one edgar.

I have a similar one (but a little less decorative, and with metal lower section) hanging in my office.

Attachment 89602

Love the LC Smith.

Dean your up.

No I can't this time... :whistle:





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Not as fancy

Wrong picture.

Hanging lamp I hope.

Nice James! That would work well hung from my ridgepole upstairs. I burned kerosene Aladdin and wick lamps for the first 8yrs I was in Alaska and living in a cabin without electricity. I still keep them ready to go, but will unlikely fire them up unless all my LED lanterns die. I have all my grand mothers wick lamps ready to go and use one of them daily that has an electric light bulb fixture replacing the wick fixture. All these kerosene wick lamps are well over 100yrs old and are still useful. If only they could talk.

Some of my growing collection of Parker silver

Here are a couple more Parker collectables you don't see very often. Has anyone come across this cast iron clock before? It is the only one I have ever seen.

I am not familiar with the Hance-Parker Co. microphone piece?

What is the background of the partnership?

Brian, what looks like a microphone is a cigar lighter and it still works!

Well dont I seem ignorant now.? Very neat. They thought of everything.

The cigar lighter is rare and highly sought after. years ago a girl came to my office with the flower petal base and asked me to make her a dozen. She was from Meriden too.

Parker snuff box