Little Martin Box Stove

[VintageDesign]

 I found this at a estate sale in Reno NV. awhile back.
It was a fun project to lightly sand blast it and paint it. all the parts were there and in good condition. The gold paint was my wifes idea and sure it's not the right.  It  has 20 R on the door and martin stove & range co. inbossed on the back.  

George

[VintageDesign]

I go distracted. Has any ever seen one of these stoves before? I don't have a clue about it and very little info about the Martin Co.
George

[Steve_Stephens]

Stoves mostly didn't stray far from their mother.  Your stove obviously has traveled far from Mom in Richmond, VA.  I would think they are common back there (or would have been when people heated with wood more often).  Cute little stove.   The gold looks ok, too.  I heat entirely with wood now that my floor furnace is not working.  But have mostly done that for years anyway even with the furnace working.

Steve

[VintageDesign]

I dont how much heat I could get out of this guy. It must be  the smallest  real stove  made. It weights only 76 lbs and is 26" long and 20" high. It would be fun  to  fire it up, but dont  have a spare chimney outlet.

[Paul Beer]

George, I have a four hole Martin stove just about the same size and tall as yours that is marked with the number 714 on the top and " Junior " on the front pannel and the full Martin name etc on the back side. I've had it for 30 years but never fired it up as I used it for decoration on my back patio. I remember seeing stoves these sizes in some remote line camps where they had to be packed in and in some of the sheep herders wagons ( Basques ) around Nevada and Arizona. They would sure heat up a small wagon or line shack. Have no idea the makes however, but the size etc seems to be the same. I helped pack one in when I was just a kid and I remember we took it apart and put the pieces in pack boxes and then reassembled at the camp.
There is information on the Martin foundry on the WAGS foundry list so you ought to join up so you can use it and other things. Also, there is a history and pictures of Martin items in The Book of Wagner & Griswold...red edition which can be purchased from Dave Smith the PanMan who is the coauthor and whose link is on the left margin of this forum. Paul Beer

[VintageDesign]

Paul I think you’re correct about this stove being used for temporary portable use in small dwellings. I can take it completely apart and reassemble in about 5 minutes using a screwdriver and a box wrench. The castings are well made and fit together very tight.
I have to keep indoors up here in the Northwest because of the rain. It would be back to rust in no time.
I ordered the books and going to join up. Just hope I can stay lucky find some more nice iron.

George

[Jerry Cermack]

Has any ever seen one of these stoves before? I don't have a clue about it and very little info about the Martin Co.

George, I see a lot of Martin stoves in my area including the stoves with King Stove name on them.....the predecessor of Martin.  I'm only about 70 miles from Florence and Sheffield Alabama

[VintageDesign]

Jerry do you every see any old martin catalogs or ads in you area?  Would be nice to have a copy of one. I keep looking on ebay, but no luck.
George

[Nollie Neill Jr]

The number ususally means the length of wood it would hold.  Glascock made a 16, 20, 25, 31 & 38 Box heater called a Charter.      The #20 was a very popular model, I have about a dozen Glascock #20 Charter Box heaters.

Per by records -  Martin Stove & Range Co. Florence ALA in my 1932 director, also listed in 1948 & 1952 editions.   In the 1948 & 1952 listings you also have Martin Stamping & Stove Co. with same officers.  These same officers are listed under King Stove & Range Co. Sheffield ALA for 1948 & 1952

I'd say two places might have catalogs you can copy related to this Box Stove.

1) The Henry Ford Museum
2) Clifford  Boram of IN

The Ford Museum has lots of records that you can go through when you visit and you can also do some research on the internet.

** Clifford's address is:
421 N. Main Street
Monticello, IN 47960-1932
Send him a SASE and don't get in a hurry for a reply, he will send you information as he finds it.

Good Luck,

Nollie Neill, Jr.
NC

[Jerry Cermack]

Jerry do you every see any old martin catalogs or ads in you area?  Would be nice to have a copy of one. I keep looking on ebay, but no luck.
George

George, I can never remember to look for catalogs or paperwork, but I'll make an effort to keep an eye out.