A pioneer concern in the business of drawing and stamping metals is the John L. Parker Co., 62 Jackson Street, founded in 1869, and then known as John L. Parker & Co. The house was the originator of drawn steel ferrules and a considerable business in this line was built up. The business was continued by E. L. Parker until 1905, when the present corporation of the John L. Parker Co. was formed. A general line of sheet metal stamping is now the chief feature of an ever increasing business.

A new and promising product of this concern, the invention of a Boston architect and now being placed upon the market after two years of development work, is an expanded metal corner bead shown in an illustration.

In presenting its claims to merit, the makers claim for it several unique features, among them the following:

"The mesh construction allows the plaster to flow freely around and behind the bead, making a solid corner of plaster.

"Its peculiar advantages are preserved when used as a ground or inside corner bead."

The bead is protected from corrosion by the hot galvanizing method and is being marketed under the trade name of "Worcester metal corner bead."

Another product, meeting with marked favor, recently placed upon the market by the John L. Parker Co. is the Parker automobile electric rear light. This light is especially designed to enable automobile owners to comply with the new laws requiring that the rear number plate be illuminated.

"It presents, with its diagonal bars, the form of a complete truss, making the corner-as it should be-the strongest, and not the weakest part of the wall. It can be attached to wooden, metal or masonry construction and, when used with expanded metal, the ribs of its attaching strip form a continuation of the mesh of the metal and not a block or an omission of the regular key. It is easily adjusted to arches, all circular or irregular forms, by cutting at intervals, as required, one or both of the attaching strips.

"While the bars of one wing crossing or standing opposite the openings of the other wing effectively prevent the plaster from passing clear through and falling off, it presents for the support of the soft plaster a flat surface, insures against the sagging down of the corner, and the corner may be as thoroughly trowelled as any other part of the wall.

The illustration shows style B of these lights. The large red lens is of genuine ruby glass, semaphore pattern, and shows a clear red light for a great distance. The bottom of the lamp is fitted with a clear white glass set in a proper position to show fully the number plate to good advantage.

These lamps are made in two styles; style A being somewhat more plainly designed than style B. Both are regularly fitted with 6-volt, 2 candle-power electric lights. Style B lamp can be furnished with 80-volt base for electric vehicle use when so desired. These lamps are handsomely made, and are ornamental as well as practical.

The products above described are typical of the metal specialties turned out from this progressive Worcester plant.

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Coates Massage Machine

Typical Worcester products that are meeting with a ready sale are the Elite and "Prince "models of the Coates massage machine made by the Coates Clipper Mfg. Co., 237 Chandler Street. These machines are the result of four years' labor and study. Both types are reliable, and behind both is the reputation built up during the forty years that the Coates Clipper Mfg. Co. has been in existence. The "Prince" model is the finest made by the company, and its description follows.

The machine is mounted on a birch pedestal stained to imitate mahogany and has a piano finish. The base is equipped with composition casters which enable the operator to move the machine about without noise.

New Telephone Service

The New England Telephone and Telegraph Company has recently put into operation a special telephone service intended to meet the needs of business men who telephone a great deal between any two points. It has proven a great success, for it not only saves in tolls but has many other advantages.

This service is available for any half hour or more daily except between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. Between these hours telephone lines are so busy that they are not available for use under this special service plan.

Any business man who telephones once or twice daily to the same person, office or factory will find it greatly to his advantage to write the commercial engineer of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and learn how successfully the service is working in many places.

The service is particularly valuable to those whose regular calls cover a long distance-25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. It allows the use of a private line for 30 minutes daily for about the regular toll charge for 10 minutes. There is no delay in making the connection and no interruption. The company furnishes special trunk lines and special telephones at each end and the regular service is not affected in any way.

Commonwealth Press

After more than a quarter of a century in the printing and publishing business, under the name of the Commonwealth Press, Oliver B. Wood has incorporated under the name so long associated with the business-Commonwealth Press.

By this incorporation, Mr. Wood's son, Hamilton B. Wood, is taken into the business and also three trusted employees whose association with Mr. Wood extend over periods ranging from 112 to 25 years-Edward H. Marsh, Arthur T. Chase and Orlando F. Allen. The purchase of stock in the new corporation by these men who have been so closely identified with it, means that there will be no change in the personnel or business management of the concern. Mr. Wood will still give his personal supervision to the business as heretofore.

The motor is set on a revolving base, which gives an added latitude of reach. The makers state that the motor itself is built especially for this machine and is guaranteed for one year againstel ectrical or mechanical defects. The fields are made heavy to insure efficiency and long life, and the motor is equipped with a slow starting switch rheostat which prevents any jump in starting it.

Transmission from motor to massage head is accomplished by means of a special vanadium steel unit link flexible shaft, made on the same principle as the well-known Coates mechanical shaft which is made to transmit up to 150 horse-power. This shaft will not crystallize, has no rivets or pins and allows the greatest amount of flexibility and efficiency. By the use of this flexible shaft it is possible to make the massage head very light, and the necessity of the operator's holding a heavy motor in his hand during treatment is done away with.

The massage head is a fine bit of workmanship. All parts are made on automatic screw machines and the perfection of construction approaches that of a watch. The main drive spindle is made of hardened steel. An exclusive patented feature is the variable beat attachment. The increase or decrease of vibration is secured by turning a knurled collar, clearly shown in the illustration, which was taken when the head was vibrating. This is of much importance to the physician who desires to increase the vibration from a slight to an intense blow.

The handle is insulated by rubber disks, and its freedom from vibration is shown by the absence of blur in the illustration just mentioned. Not only will the handle swivel on the head, but also the head on the shaft, allowing great facility of operation in treatment. After these heads are assembled, they are set on blocks and run at four times the recommended speed in order to glaze all wearing parts and surfaces and limber up the mechanism.

In these days of sanitary watchfulness individual ownership of toilet accessories has become a custom rarely departed from. The massage operator who can assure his patron that the applicator used upon him has never been used before and will not be used again, will find a marked increase in his business. The placing of the Coates massage machine upon the market was delayed for a year to perfect this sanitary feature. With the brush applicators of these machines are furnished sub-applicators, made of thin rubber, fitting snugly over the rubber head and held in place by a metal ring. These sub-applicators are thoroughly sterilized and sold in sealed paper boxes.