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A Bit of HistoryPrior to the 1940s, there were many small stove manufacturers in the US and unfortunately little is known about many of them. I have taken a particular interest in Waterman stoves ever since a friend gave me one. That stove is in our kitchen and we have used it daily for years. I have since acquired another 3-burner Waterman and photographs of others. My only knowledge of the company is that it was located in New York City thanks to my recent discovery of a cast iron stove marked “Henry Waterman & Bro., New York, N.Y., U.S.A.” Thanks to visitor Tony who grew up just around the corner from the Waterman factory, I have a bit more information. The plant was located on Flushing Ave. in Brooklyn near the corner of Onderonk Ave. (see map below) A large factory building remains on the site today. Tony also mentioned that Henry had two brothers… consistent with the markings on some stoves “Waterman & Bro.”  Waterman factory location - click to enlarge Got Waterman Info?If you happen to have any advertisements or company catalogs, I would like to acquire them or get a scan or photograph. I would also be glad to pay you for copies of them. Please email me with any information that you may have. Thanks. Other ResourcesSee also our Buy/Sell/Parts page as well as our Stove Sites and FAQs pages. PhotographsBelow are photographs of Waterman stoves that I have collected. If you own a model not posted here, please get in touch. I would love to collect and post other photos. ValueMany have asked me what their Waterman stove is worth. Always begin with the most important factor: condition. Condition is critical to value. 99.9% of vintage stoves have been used and have rust in the ovens. They may look presentable but they are not in like-new condition. The big money in vintage stoves is paid for fully restored showroom shiny fancy stoves. Contrast that with the humble Waterman stoves which are fairly plain, and are probably destined for a camp or cottage rather than a trendy suburban home. Most of the stoves shown below in average shape would sell for $50-200, or whatever you can get. Some will require a good marketing effort to find any buyer. The fancier models like #5, #6, #8 or #20 in clean condition with no chips, damage or missing parts could be worth up to about $500. Using Your Vintage StoveThese stoves are of very simple design: gas lines to valves and lines then go to the burners. Assuming everything is fitted up correctly and there are no leaks, you can use them. No electronics to break. Most Waterman stoves do not even have pilot lights so they need to be hand-lit.  listing in 1946 NYC phone directory CAUTION: Gas can be extremely dangerous and needs to be treated with great respect. If you don’t know what you are doing, hire a professional to make repairs or connect the stove. Comments / FeedbackHead down to the comments section below Waterman Stoves and Parts For SaleSee our separate page on stoves and parts – you can post a listing there if you like. |
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1. This early model Waterman 2 burner turned up
on ebay. It was located on Long Island. |
2. A later model 2-burner Waterman
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3. Four-burner model with faux-marble enamel
side panels. |
4. This four-burner is nearly identical to the one at left. The knob for the oven is different. It’s identical to the 4-burner in our kitchen. |
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5. I purchased this light blue and tan enamel
stove in 2005 in Pennsylvania. The owner had brought it over from his parent’s house in New Jersey. |
6. This Waterman 4-burner was auctioned on
ebay in spring 2006 by some folks in NJ. A beauty! |
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7. A fellow Waterman stove enthusiast submitted this photo. Two burners on the right. Not sure if it originally had legs or was meant to be a built-in model.
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8. Here is a yellow enamel Waterman Stove submitted by a visitor to this site. Four burners on the right side. How the heck many models did this company make? |
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| 9. Here is a little camp or laboratory single burner unit which is marked Hercules No 12 – H Waterman NY | 10. Label from yellow enamel stove above marked “Waterman / New York City” |
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| 11. “Big Bertha” large model kitchen stove – photo provided by visitor to this webpage. | |
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| 12. Two-burner tabletop model | 13. Closeup of serial number on tabletop model at left showing “Henry Waterman & Bro. Corp. / Brooklyn 37 NY USA” |
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| 14. Boxy three-burner created after dispensing with the Asthetics Dept. | 15. A different four-burner with bandy legs in chrome + black submitted by visitor to site |
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| 16. This one got painted somewhere along the way… | 17. Another tabletop model – seen on ebay. |
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| 18. Waterman stove pic submitted by visitor Matt S | 19. Waterman Ideal logo |
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 Nice early example with warming ovens above |
| 20. Green Waterman stove with marble finish | 21. |
29 comments Add your comment »
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September 23rd, 2009
I came across your web page and was intrigued since I have one of these that came out of my grandparents house that was built circa 1919. It is a 4 burner Waterman Ideal and it looks like one in your photos – the one notated that was sold at auction on ebay a few yrs ago. I had looked for info on these for a while and could not find any. Interesting.
December 13th, 2009
Hi,
I just piced up a 3 burner Waterman Reliance. it looks the same as your blue and cream one. Mine is light geen and wht.
I would like to know if I can get parts for it, and if so, would you have a name or number you could give me. I intend to use the stove as a back up cooker in a camp I have in NY. State.
The stove has real charictor, and I would if I can find one, get an other for my CT. home as well.
Thanks, Dave
December 14th, 2009
Dave, There is no easy way or single place to find parts. Do you need something in particular? Occasionally, people contact me with stoves they want to sell.
Yours is only the third or forth that I have heard of in this particular model – I don’t believe there are that many around.
December 17th, 2009
I have just purchased a 3 burner yellow enamel waterman stove/oven the top flips up to become the back wall behind the burners. i would like to find out the approx age of this old beauty as it is in very nice conditon.
December 17th, 2009
Carrie,
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you exactly since I am not sure of the dates of operation for the company. My best guess is the 1920s through the 50s.
I would greatly appreciate a photo of your stove for my photo gallery. You can use the contact form at http://antiquesdiscovery.com/contact/
Thanks, Chris
February 28th, 2010
I have a two burner Waterman with oven on legs. Needs work.I would like to sell.Can I send you pictues? T. Murphy
March 1st, 2010
If you like, I can list your stove on the buy-sell-trade page. I will send you a private email.
April 29th, 2010
Correction to above listing. Stove has three burners.
May 13th, 2010
I have a 2 burner waterman that came off a 1940 cabin cruiser my parents owned.
It is missing it’s knobs (on and off) and i would like to replace them.
thank you. Ellen
May 13th, 2010
It will probably be hard to get exact matches but I am sure you can find something reasonably close. Parts frequently turn up on ebay that may be compatible – also check with the folks at antiquestoves.com
June 18th, 2010
i have one of these very similar to number 8 but slightly different. it actually still works. do you know what kind of price range these would run?
June 18th, 2010
I really do need a VALUE section!
#5 and 6 are probably the most valuable of the lot and I would not expect those to ever sell for more than $500. Condition is the BIG factor. There is always some degree of rust in the ovens, they are never in like-new condition and most have not be certified as ready-to-use by a reputable restorer or shop, although many are likely fine for continued use.
Bigger $ is paid for the fancier stoves like the Chambers which are restored for use in nice houses – stoves like the Watermans are probably destined to camps and cottages.
Yours is nice but plain – shooting from the hip, I would say $200-300 and possibly more if exceptionally, unusually clean and rust free. Less if it is tired and shabby of course
July 19th, 2010
I have an old Princess three burner stove top, I don’t know if it’s jetted for Propane or Natural Gas or if it matters. I always figured I’d use it for a BBQ or camping but so far I havent.
July 20th, 2010
The orifice size does matter. While not easily distinguishable to the naked eye, there is a difference.
You will find a fair amount of discussion online for this issue – much related to BBQ grills, but the concept is of course the same for any burner.
August 9th, 2010
I have a waterman stove just like pic 18 on this site anyone have an idea of what it is worth?
my email is
August 9th, 2010
Please see my VALUE section at http://www.antiquesdiscovery.com/waterman. This really does answer your question as best as anyone can – without properly inspecting your stove and providing a formal in-person appraisal.
December 14th, 2010
i have a waterman stove. how much do they want ?
January 13th, 2011
Have a Model #140 in very good condition, do not have the jewels. Do you have any buyers for this?
April 15th, 2011
Wife just purchased a #7. What type of gas do these old ovens burn?
April 15th, 2011
Could be LP, could be natural gas. If you knew the stove spent its life in an urban area, then it is likely but not necessarily natural gas.
As you will see in the discussion here
http://www.komar.org/bbq/mm/convert/
you can convert from LP to natural gas by ever so slightly drilling out the burner orifice. Going the other way is a greater challenge.
If in doubt, hire an expert….this is gas we are talking about
May 27th, 2011
I have a 3 burner Victory gas stove (with all parts, burners, tray).Looks VERY much like #5…..in great shape, needs some work. I’ve been using for wine storage/serving for several years. Can’t seem to find out much about Victory stoves. I purchased it from original owner who owned it since early 20th century. Know anything about Victory stoves?
July 17th, 2011
Hello,
I’ve had an old small rectangular gas heater with the name WATERMAN on it it stored away for years. I have been thinking about restoring it to use as a decorative piece. It was my grandmother’s, so if she purchased it new in NYC or Queens it is likely from the 1910s – 1930s.
I haven’t seen too much out there on this type of heater and have been concerned that the material inside is asbestos, so have kept it double-bagged all these years. I just unwrapped it for some photos yesterday to see if I could find any information on it. Any idea on where to get info on the construction of this model?
You can see photos of it on my Flickr stream:
Full front:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnjt/5948939996/in/photostream/
Rear shot – model number?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnjt/5948940520/in/photostream/
I looked underneath and behind for a model plate, but didn’t find one yet. (But I’m a little leery of handling it too much in case my asbestos suspicion is correct.)
Thanks!
July 18th, 2011
John,
Sure looks like the white material inside could be asbestos
I recently acquired a sales catalog from the company which took me years to locate. I would be willing to bet there is no parts catalog or much else in the way of company info.
I have been meaning to scan the catalog and make it publicly available but have simply been too busy to get to this. Don’t hesitate to bug me if you do not hear back in a week or two.
August 24th, 2011
Waterman four burner looking for a new home, same as number six on the site but probably not as clean. Check back for photos. Available on Long Island.
August 24th, 2011
Hi, I found a small cast iron door in my 1840s house that says:
Waterbury SPECIAL Furnace
m’f'd by WATERMAN-WATERBURY CO
Minneapolis Minn
As idea what its from, I thought maybe the old coal furnace?
Its a nice thing at any rate, I am using it as a decoration!
thxs Heather
August 24th, 2011
found it!
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=383&sl=2505&pos=1
very cool! my house is a large stone one and its makes sense that this sort of heating would have been installed.
H
August 24th, 2011
Heather,
Thanks for sharing this.
I am aware of the Waterman-Waterbury Co. As far as I know, there is no relation to Henry Waterman Company in Brooklyn, NY.
Chris Woods
August 31st, 2011
I have a #14 i want to sell how do i find out how old it is or what its worth?
September 1st, 2011
Not a whole lot. Most folks list them on craigslist. You can also post a comment on my buy/sell page.
Chris