anyone know about toy stoves/Salesman samples?

[bassmstr28]

There is a salesman sample stove for sale locally and it i smade by perfection.Stands 25" tall 22" wide and 35" deep.It is old just wondering if anyone knows value?Is this a toy ar sample?Looks like it could cook.

[Greg Stahl]

I just looked in my book, "Cast iron Toy cookstoves and Ranges" and this one is not listed in there.

[Steve_Stephens]

Jerry, Perfection could be Martin Stove & Range.  Is there any name or city of manufacture anywhere on the stove?  Being 35" deep says to me the stove is a regular sized one and neither a toy nor sample.  Could be a laundry stove.  Value could be anywhere from $25 to 200  as a guess but really have no idea as I haven't followed current stove prices.

Steve

[bassmstr28]

I did think after that it was a little big for a sample but too small for a regular stove.Just curious i guess.Its a real nice piece but they want $300.I am not a stove person but i can picture this thing with some nice griswolds on it and thought it may be worth the price as a display item.Are laundry stoves a common thing back then?Thanks for the replys.

[Greg Stahl]

Perfection toy stoves were all made by Kenton.  THis is too big to be a 'toy' and is likely a working model for girls.

[Steve_Stephens]

I think laundry stoves were common in parts of the country.  In the south one had to heat water to wash clothes in hot water and heating in the house wasn't too cool.  Check ebay for ended items to see if you can come up with a value for the stove.  I think it's high but maybe not if complete and good working cond.  Laundry stoves were utility stoves and may be at the end of the line when collectible stoves come to mind.  Salesman's sample stoves are extremely rare.  What you see mostly are toy toys and working toys that are the much larger stoves like the Dolly's Favorite size and were sold so little girls could play and learn to cook just like Momma.  A salesmans sample would have a case to be put into for traveling.  Possibly some of the large toy stoves were used as samples.  The Antique Stove Assoc. early on said that there were no salesmans' samples but, later, found a few stoves with their cases.

Steve

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