A different kind of Parker

[edgarspencer]

Charles Parker made over 60 different models of coffee and spice mills. The smallest model with wheels was the 200, which was a nearly identical copy of the Enterprise (Phila, PA) mill. None of the wheel models had wooden hoppers, which were used on the counter top Box mills.
The large floor model 2180 is also nearly identical to the floor model Enterprise, which seems to bring less, despite being more rare.
The 700 only came with the tin funnel hopper.
When Allan Swanson was liquidating his collection, I took a friend up to Weathersfield to buy all of them. I got an original paint 700 from that trip, and My friend bought the 6' tall, 275 pound 2180 and the 2120. Swanson claimed the 2120 came from a grocer in Meriden
Short of having one of the rare catalogs, the best array of coffee mill photos begins on page 972 of TPS.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Charles Parker made over 60 different models of coffee and spice mills. The smallest model with wheels was the 200, which was a nearly identical copy of the Enterprise (Phila, PA) mill. None of the wheel models had wooden hoppers, which were used on the counter top Box mills.
The large floor model 2180 is also nearly identical to the floor model Enterprise, which seems to bring less, despite being more rare.
The 700 only came with the tin funnel hopper.
When Allan Swanson was liquidating his collection, I took a friend up to Weathersfield to buy all of them. I got an original paint 700 from that trip, and My friend bought the 6' tall, 275 pound 2180 and the 2120. Swanson claimed the 2120 came from a grocer in Meriden
Short of having one of the rare catalogs, the best array of coffee mill photos begins on page 972 of TPS.

How about a few photographs?

I didn’t know there were 60 different models—I’ll have to review my copy of TPS and brush up on these.

When I brought it home, my wife was surprised as to the size of the No. 700. She had hoped it was a cute little thing she could almost hide behind a mug.

[edgarspencer]

Kitchen counter space is my wife's territory, which I have learned even a 1/2" wrench is forbidden. The 200, being the smallest of the wheel (9") grinders and is very much a usable size. I have an Enterprise of the same dimensions, but my wife prefers Petes Big Bang. Coffee beans are more expensive than ground coffee, which makes as much sense as diesel being more expensive than gasoline. Personally I find any coffee at $14 per pound ridiculous. We have ditched our Cuisinart in favor of some German glass percolator. None of these old grinders yield ground coffee suitably fine enough for drip machines. She is so methodical about perk times, sitting there with her iPhone, timing it, but it sure is good.

[OH Osthaus]

I have used a #200 to grind our daily coffee for several years now-

gives a nice course grind that works well with a French Press

old original paint - replacement bin - works great

[MrBojangles]

Okay, I don’t seem to be getting anywhere with value, or what YOU would pay for my No 700 Oarker coffee grinder (or is mill a better term?)

I suppose valuation is based on percentage of original condition and is the original scoop present (check off these boxes for mine; and

How desirable are the wares of Parker when it comes to the competition, such as Enterprise?

Are larger models more desirable or are smaller ones, and where precisely does the No 700 fall in this mix?

And are some models manufactured by Parker rare and thus desirable due to rarity? And is the No 700 rare or uncommon? And it may be that the rarity of a particular Parker coffee grinder or mill has no bearing on the desirability of a particular grinder or mill.

The No 700 is hefty and at least 2 feet high.

Instead of playing this back and forth game, I’ll reveal what I paid for it, which may or may not have been a nosebleed price. I like auctions because I try to pay wholesale for retail. I went to this public auction with three items in mind. The third item had already exceeded my comfort level on line before I arrived at the auction. Despite most items handsomely exceeding high end estimates, I acquired the first lot at well under the low end estimate and this was well below what I was willing to bid, which left the second lot, this coffee grinder.

I’m a wholesale kind of guy, but I probably bid full retail on the floor, bidding against an on line bidder. It went at my highest bid of $1200, this being higher than I was originally willing to go until I did well already on my first lot (which was unusual.

Add in buyer’s premium and sales tax, and this cost me $1590.

It’s certainly attractive, but perhaps nosebleed. A few days later, however, I have zero buyer’s remorse.

[Dean Romig]

I think, considering the originality of the paint and all the accoutrements, the price you paid is about as high as it should be. You got a very nice grinder at the top if the market. Congrats.

I never used mine but set it nicely displayed at the end of my beautiful “Verde Karzai” green granite peninsula. It was a great conversation piece but in time it lost it’s visual appeal and became ‘in the way’ so I sold it for exactly what I paid for it… $500





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[edgarspencer]

It's maybe only my opinion, but based upon the condition, I don't think you paid too much. Mine also has most all the original paint, but not as bright as yours. My hopper scoop is pin holed, with maybe 50% paint. I think I paid $800.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I think, considering the originality of the paint and all the accoutrements, the price you paid is about as high as it should be. You got a very nice grinder at the top if the market. Congrats.

I never used mine but set it nicely displayed at the end of my beautiful “Verde Karzai” green granite peninsula. It was a great conversation piece but in time it lost it’s visual appeal and became ‘in the way’ so I sold it for exactly what I paid for it… $500





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I felt it was the top of the market as well, or at least the very highest I was willing to go. Usually, at auction, I can do much better, getting stuff at wholesale value (about a quarter of the time) or I get blown out of the water so fiercely the other 3/4 of the time, I can’t even get a bid in. This was one of those unusual cases where it wasn’t a bargain but I wasn’t soundly outbid. My guess is shipping might have had something to do with it that gave a floor bidder a slight advantage, but I had hoped that would discourage most others as well.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

It's maybe only my opinion, but based upon the condition, I don't think you paid too much. Mine also has most all the original paint, but not as bright as yours. My hopper scoop is pin holed, with maybe 50% paint. I think I paid $800.

Thank you, I appreciate this. I had no real sense of worth other than most others out there are missing the scoop, have been repainted, or are much more dull, but I based it on visual appeal, it is a Parker, I’m familiar with Meriden, Connecticut, and, someday, I hope to have a bar set up sort of like an old general store, and I have already an old brass cash register (that was VERY cheap at auction), a trade stimulator, a few other assorted objects, and a few shotguns “for sale”.