4 Heavy Fisher Bear Feet

[Frankdozer]

I have 4 Fisher Bear Feet. Rather heavy for their size. 1.5” square hole feet facing straight forward and a magnet clings to them. What are they worth?
Frank

 

[coaly]

What ever someone is willing to pay is the simple answer.
What they are worth and what they sell for are two different things.

Price doesn't seem to go by rarity, since some people think they are all rare, but there are many versions from different molds. I can tell you the type you have with the hole in the bottom are more rare than solid bottom. Not saying there were fewer made, they just don't come up for sale as much as the solid bottoms. That style last sold on eBay in 2011 and was listed in a batch of old stock Woodman's was selling off. I think they sold for around $150. At the time I was outbid on them, (rarely went over $100 back then, my best set new in box was a Buy it Now for $25 !!) I'm still kicking myself for not going higher on these.
Here are the eBay pictures;



Condition should play a big part of price, but many times very poor condition sells for as much as very good. It makes no sense, I guess due to no book value.

There was a time I would buy most any condition feet for my collection, then upgrade as I found better. Now most of my collection is in new condition, so signs of corrosion or rust on the cast iron such as yours is more for a user than collector. I paid 163.50 plus $8 shipping for a set of like new cast iron, white brass plated a couple years ago. (color changes drastically, they are more gold / brass color in normal light) By today's prices they may be worth easily double;



It depends on how well yours cleans up. I'd try Maas polish for precious metals since it does very well on bare cast iron as well.

The most common angled feet are selling for ridiculous prices, even painted needing replating.

This nickel set in good condition sold for $250 in 2012. That style in that condition should sell for much more than the common angled variety if people realized the rarity and age. So the common ones are overpriced and the rare sometimes go for less. Go figure.

 

[Frankdozer]

Holy Guacamole !! I had no idea they are worth that much. But as you said, they are only worth what someone would pay for them.
I cleaned 2 of them with Wright’s Brass Polish and WOW what a difference !!
I will consider selling them if someone is interested. Here’s the 2 I cleaned :

 

[coaly]

Yeah, eBay prices can make you far more than they are worth;

$249 - 2015

$175 12-2015 with flash SAME without flash
You can see how different light reflects white brass silver or gold........

$219 1-2016

$178 1-2014 (Black Oxide finish)

$265 - 2015 (chrome plate cast iron)

$299 - 2015

They came with a washers to set inside to level the stove on a rough surface and replaced these adjustable ball feet;

$110 12-2012

 

[Frankdozer]

My Grandma Stove has the ball feet but the studs sticking out of the chrome balls are welded to the legs. Thus, they are not adjustable. I purchased the stove from the original buyer who purchased it from the original stove maker in New Hampshire. He said it came that way. Since my legs are tapered, LOL, I can’t use the Bear Feet.

 

[Desmond]

I have a Grandma with the black oxide feet. I'd love to get ahold of a baby bear. I saw four black oxide feet for sale and bought them yesterday for $40.00 Cdn. I thought that was a good deal.

 

[coaly]

My Grandma Stove has the ball feet but the studs sticking out of the chrome balls are welded to the legs. Thus, they are not adjustable. I purchased the stove from the original buyer who purchased it from the original stove maker in New Hampshire. He said it came that way. Since my legs are tapered, LOL, I can’t use the Bear Feet.

Normally the ball has a small set screw near the top, you should be able to loosen to adjust the ball on the stud.

 

[Don H]

Picked up a Grandma today in nice shape, just some surface rust and 2 broken bricks. Paid $300. Unfortunately the screen was missing but the guy I bought if from thinks he has it and will call me if he comes across it. So after I paid the guy he says "oh, by the way I think these go with it too if you want them." He handed me these:

 

[coaly]

Oh my, they're going to clean up like new.
That's when I head for the cab of the truck, wrap them in towels and try not to be too giddy loading the stove.
He may come up with a screen in the box never used. Amazing.

 

[Sully1515]

Thanks for posting. My wife and I own a Fisher Grandma Bear stove. I never knew they made those for stove legs. Thanks for sharing.

 

[coaly]

Thanks for posting. My wife and I own a Fisher Grandma Bear stove. I never knew they made those for stove legs. Thanks for sharing.

They came with washers to set inside to level the stove. They are stove levelers, not just for looks.
They look better when the legs are not tapered as they should be for ball feet..