ROBYN PARKES
E. H. T. Bensemann and Co, (Edward Hans Tui) set up business around 1930 in the old flour mill in King Edward Street where he turned out ‘inventions’ that catered to the needs of the district’s fruit growers who previously would have to source a like appliance from overseas.
In 1931, Edward applied for a patent for an entirely new type of fruit grader. The grader was the result of years of research and experiments and was expected to set a new standard in fruit sizing and handling, giving greater accuracy, making less noise and eliminating bruising.
The principle on which the grader was worked was a tapered-screw pair, which gave a machine of simple design with few working parts that could break down, the actual moving parts being only two in each section.
With good results in tests, the New Zealand Fruit growers Federation took over the Dominion agency.
The working capacity of the grader exceeded that of similar machines manufactured in other part of the world, besides “sizing” more accurately.
Whilst doing so, it polished the apples and removed the spray residue and dirt.
Edward improved on the original model coming up with a 1932-33 model improving on the receiving bins, made of a full-floating spring bottom type.
To eliminate the usual waste space the bins were made twice as deep and the machine narrowed.
Orders for the graders were received from all parts of the country. To complement the grader, a machine was designed and built especially for manufacturing the cores, so as to secure the utmost accuracy of the sizing screws.
It had a revolving cutter passing between two rollers, which were set at the same centre distances at which they were required to work on the grader. The cutter was capable of cutting an absolutely accurate part circle out of each roller, the cutter moving forward while the rollers turn inwards.
With a genius mind, Edward also patented a grab truck which lifted seven full fruit-cases at one load, and the heavier the load the lighter it was gripped. The company had the sole manufacturing rights for the Wells and Wade fruit-picking bucket, famous for the protection of the fruit and convenience in handling.
He also invented and patented a gold-washing dish, designed to overcome the time wasted in washing off the top dirt in order to get at the gold in the bottom, by means of a trap, or sump.
Between 1930 and 1941, Edward patented a holder for paper fruit wrappers, a vending mechanism, machine for driving nails, a box-making machine, a control valve, rifle, a cheese crate and an oil burner.
In late 1938, Edward sold his property at Mariri and left the district for the North Island. There appears to be a question over a possible fall out with the Company as in July of 1938 he takes a case against the company for £40 for an ‘interpretation of agreement’.
The business continued, but in September 1962 the seven-year-old, 4400-foot factory at King Edward Street was sold and in January 1964 notices appeared that E. H. T. Bensemann and Co Ltd would be struck off the Company Register in three months’ time.
