I thought there might be one or two interested ....
A recent purchase on Ebay ($5.99 + ship) . This is a lid lifter / ash shaker poured in the Union Stove Works Foundry , Peekskill, N.Y.. (I believe the markings indicate March, 1904). The piece has good heft, is 11 inches in length, sports a "keystone" cut out hanging portal , and, I was drawn to the almost plumbers faucet handle look of the lifter end.
Preliminary research on the foundry shows "est. 1834", (from a "Brooklyn Eagle" advertisement), (dated OCT 1911) displaying their top of the line "Astor" line.(yes , probably named for famous millionaire J.J.Astor of Waldorf-Astoria/Titanic (later) fame). The foundry was a major player in the cast iron stove industry during the glory years 1850-1900..7 foundry's in Peekskill were responsible for cranking out as many as 200K stoves a year by 1890 (Peekskill Historical Society), shipping worldwide.
This will be a nice match for my "Geneva" flat top cook stove from the same era. Raised lettering indicates.. Union Stove Works... 29 U.C.A. 3 04. I am still attempting to track the 29 U.C.A. indicator...possibly a Union local ???
Man, I really enjoy the history. Still divided on clean up or leave it au natural.
Charles
http://imgur.com/a/uuy49
---------- Post added at 10:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
...with apologies to patina purists....
My bride requested I "clean it up" ..."you never know where that has been !".
I will now season the piece with Crisco and heat....btw, the removal of oxidation revealed a tiny "4" imprint on the belly , near the working end.
Charles
http://imgur.com/a/kwqNF
A recent purchase on Ebay ($5.99 + ship) . This is a lid lifter / ash shaker poured in the Union Stove Works Foundry , Peekskill, N.Y.. (I believe the markings indicate March, 1904). The piece has good heft, is 11 inches in length, sports a "keystone" cut out hanging portal , and, I was drawn to the almost plumbers faucet handle look of the lifter end.
Preliminary research on the foundry shows "est. 1834", (from a "Brooklyn Eagle" advertisement), (dated OCT 1911) displaying their top of the line "Astor" line.(yes , probably named for famous millionaire J.J.Astor of Waldorf-Astoria/Titanic (later) fame). The foundry was a major player in the cast iron stove industry during the glory years 1850-1900..7 foundry's in Peekskill were responsible for cranking out as many as 200K stoves a year by 1890 (Peekskill Historical Society), shipping worldwide.
This will be a nice match for my "Geneva" flat top cook stove from the same era. Raised lettering indicates.. Union Stove Works... 29 U.C.A. 3 04. I am still attempting to track the 29 U.C.A. indicator...possibly a Union local ???
Man, I really enjoy the history. Still divided on clean up or leave it au natural.
Charles
http://imgur.com/a/uuy49
---------- Post added at 10:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
...with apologies to patina purists....
My bride requested I "clean it up" ..."you never know where that has been !".
I will now season the piece with Crisco and heat....btw, the removal of oxidation revealed a tiny "4" imprint on the belly , near the working end.
Charles
http://imgur.com/a/kwqNF
Last edited: