Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

My grandfather was from Temple, Texas, and these were his salesman samples. He would go out in the community or to other little towns and villages and show the people what he had for sale. And I played with these salesman samples all my life.

APPRAISER

Well, I collect salesman samples myself, and technically, we don't call this type of stove a salesman sample.

GUEST

Oh, you don't?

APPRAISER

It's almost more of a child size because it is named the Buck's Junior #4. So, but I think they used these to display what the real big things were like. They didn't have quite the detail of a normal salesman sample. It has nice detail, though. It has nice nickel plating, opening doors, and it's really quite a fine piece. It has a couple of condition problems.

GUEST

I know.

APPRAISER

You're missing these little hinges and a little plate. But believe it or not, these can be replaced.

GUEST

Oh, I'm glad to know that.

APPRAISER

This I really consider a salesman sample. And this, I've never seen one quite like this. Really? The reason we call it a salesman sample is because it has in absolute miniature the real features of the item that was being sold. Here we have the compartment where the ice was installed. Here we have the shelves. And... Did you ever notice this here?

GUEST

I never noticed that.

APPRAISER

Well, this is the drain.

GUEST

No, I see that now, but I have never had it...

APPRAISER

To drain off the ice water.

GUEST

I know! I should have known that.

APPRAISER

Well, you have two gems here. The stove, even though I don't consider it a salesman sample, is worth about $2,500, even in this condition, missing a piece.

GUEST

Gosh, I'm going to get this piece, then.

APPRAISER

Well, that's easily done. But now this is another kettle of fish.

GUEST

Really?

APPRAISER

Yes. If I owned this piece, I wouldn't sell it for a penny less than $5,000.

GUEST

I am stunned-- I'm stunned. And I've just been letting our grandchildren-- we have seven grandchildren-- I've been letting them play with it.

APPRAISER

If they play with it carefully, that's okay. But they better be real careful with this one.

GUEST

All right.