Kitchen Essentials from Centuries Past

Kitchen Essentials from Centuries Past

What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Family gatherings, time with friends, relaxing, traveling, or maybe a delicious meal? Those meals require work, and today we have the luxury of modern kitchen appliances. But imagine the time it took to prepare a meal in the 19th Century. This 1868 trade catalog gives us a small glimpse into possible kitchens of the past.
The trade catalog is titled
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868) by
Burdett, Paris & Co.
Their products were manufactured at the Troy Stove Works in Troy, New York.  On the front cover, we discover a clue about the company’s history. It tells us that Burdett, Paris & Co. were successors to another company named
Potter, Paris & Co.
Burdett, Paris & Co.
, Troy, NY.
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868), front cover.
Burdett, Paris & Co.
, Troy, NY.
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868), unnumbered page [1], title page.
As we turn the page, we learn more from a circular, or letter, dated January 30
th
, 1868. It was written by Potter, Paris & Co. The firm of Potter, Paris & Co. was dissolved at the end of 1867 at which time Mr. George C. Burdett of Burdett, Son & Co. bought “the interest of Mr. Potter.” The new company became known as Burdett, Paris & Co. and planned to continue the business “with all the facilities of the old house, having bought their Foundry, Stock and Patterns.”
Burdett, Paris & Co.
, Troy, NY.
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868), unnumbered page [2], Notice to Customers with circular written by Potter, Paris & Co. and Terms and Prices written by Burdett, Paris & Co.
The letter continues by explaining that the new store would be located at 253 River Street, just a few doors away from where Potter, Paris & Co. had been located. Products were manufactured at Troy Stove Works. An image of the works is shown on the back cover of this catalog. According to that page, the foundry had been erected just a few years earlier, in the fall of 1865.
Burdett, Paris & Co.
, Troy, NY.
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868), back cover, Troy Stove Works.
Now, having learned a little about the company, let’s explore some of their stoves.  One stove was called “Our Old Home.” Its fuel was coal or wood. It included a quite convenient feature. The roasting arrangement, shown below, made it easier for the cook to baste. Meat was suspended from a movable self-supporting rack which could be pulled out. A dripping pan, attached to a movable crane, was positioned below the rack and could also be pulled out. This allowed the cook to baste meat when it was outside of the oven. The meat could also be placed on or removed from the rack when outside of the oven.
Burdett, Paris & Co.
, Troy, NY.
Illustrated Catalogue of Stoves & Hollow Ware
(1868), unnumbered page [11], “Our Old Home” stove showing meat using the roasting arrangement.
Another stove is named the “Goo…