Look at what I found today!!!!!

[WatersEdge]

Well I actually found them bout two weeks ago when someone was selling an older grandpa bear on Craigslist. I was pretty prepared to but the stove just to get the feet but after a few weeks of thinking on it the lady decided to sale just the feet to me. When it was all said and done I gave her $75 for them. I know I see th em on ebay for $200+ so I feel like I gotta steal.

 

[coaly]

Clean them up with some metal polish for all precious metals, you did good.
I put a wanted ad on Craigslist for a Mama Bear for someone one time, and got a call with someone wanting to sell a stove but didn't know what size it was. Made the deduction over the phone that it was a Baby Bear, too small for what I needed until he said he only want the $80 he paid for it. AND it has these really cool shiny feet............ said I'd be right there !
One night years ago searching eBay a new item with Buy it Now appeared. A brand new set never on a stove. $25.00 and the ad read this couple was on vacation in Connecticut one year and bought the set new in box at an antique shop. They had them sitting around their home in different places for years and decided to sell them. I hit it instantly and don't think the auction was online more than a few minutes ! That's the best set I have.
A couple years after that $100 became the norm. Now more like $200. Some for that price are so rough they are painted with a destroyed finish !
I don't have a price list showing them, but an old dealer in western PA told me they were $2.50 for the Black Oxide cast iron type and $3.50 for the angled plated. I'd like to find some literature to confirm those prices.

 

[WatersEdge]

Thanks Mr. COALY. These don't appear to have ever been painted or anything. Do you know if they were chrome or nickle? Will they shine like new or could I get them recoated nickle or chrome?

 

[coaly]

They are white brass plated. They should clean up like new with Maas metal polish or similar. Make sure it's for all metals; gold, silver, brass. etc.
And they originally came with washers to put in the bottom to level the stove on uneven brick or hearth surface.

 

[WatersEdge]

Oh ok cool. So my end result will be something of a chrome finish?

 

[coaly]

Yes, the difference is this; On steel or cast iron, copper is first electroplated to adhere to iron surface. Nickel is then electroplated over the copper. This is used when parts are subject to heat since the nickel plate hardens with heat. Chrome is actually chromium plated over the nickel / copper base, but peels when subjected to heat. So nickel was used on stove parts. These are white metal, or pot metal which is non ferrous and very cheap, but detail is easy to achieve when casting. (used for many auto parts such as carburetor or fuel injection parts) The white brass isn't as silver as nickel or chrome, and has a slight yellow appearance like a touch of yellow brass mixed in silver.

They don't shine like chrome due to the detail of the hair. The toes have no hair, so they will shine more. These reflect with white flash.

They are closer to this with normal lighting if the bmp image works in an attachment.

 

[WatersEdge]

Coaly...I have put the maas on there with just a rag. I got next to no results. Is it OK to use a polishing wheel or is that to abrasive?

 

[mtn man]

Try a toothbrush then wipe with a rag.

 

[coaly]

What kind of Maas polish? It doesn't take much, the rag will get black real quick.

Don't use a machine, practice on the bottom.