The following treasure is from the living estate of Ailene & Buddy Ford; noted dealers and lifelong collectors of exceptional antique & vintage heirlooms. In this lot we have a SALESMAN SAMPLE PERFECTION Stove , circa 1912. The stove has 4 burner covers, covered bread oven, flu and firebox tilting dump grate. This stove has an important place in history. ***** Weight: 7# - Measurements: 6 x 10.5 x 7 ***** THE PERFECTION STOVE COMPANY ***** In 1888, Henry Parsons Crowell was approached by Frank Drury to build, and market, a 'lamp stove'. A patent was applied for; the Cleveland Foundry Company began building and then selling the stove. The 'Perfection Stove Company' was born. In 1888 the Cleveland Foundry Company was formed. In 1901 Francis Drury approached John D. Rockefeller of Cleveland owner of Standard Oil Company. At the time Standard Oil was delivering kerosene to homes and businesses for use in kerosene lamps. Rockefeller knew that with use of the Drury Stove the demand for this kerosene would increase substantially and it did. Rockerfeller selected the company to design, develop and manufacture for it a complete line of stoves which were to be sold under the name "Perfection" to dealers by a group of 300 Standard Oil salesmen. The Perfection product lineup was extremely important to the growth of American civilization. By 1922, over 3,000,000 Perfection kitchen stoves and ranges were in use in American homes! A sizeable percentage of households used a Perfection product on a daily basis. Before WW I, oil companies had horse drawn carts with large tanks of kerosene that would go through the larger cities of America. Fasten to the sides of these tankers were Perfection stoves and heaters that the deliverymen would sell off the cart. Following Standard Oil's breakup in 1916, the oil companies decided to concentrate on the gasoline business and gave up marketing stoves. (After WW I, dealers had trucks which would deliver stoves, wicks, kerosene and other products within a licensed delivery area, and there were small neighborhood shops as well. The Perfection Stove Company sold so many stoves and ranges they also had their own line of cook book!)

XA - S131 - Very Good to Excellent condition - minor tarnish