Susan ; It is the condition of the grates that determines a cook stove's true age !
Most of my
experience with cookstoves is for models 50 years or more older than me, but I have learned that
The grates and fire box must be clean and dry when not in use, allowing old
wood ash to sit in a Cookstove and ''draw moisture out of the air''
means that you are allowing THe metal parts to be bathed in a continuous bath of Very Caustic LYE!*
Is this unit rated to burn Coal - and has it ever burned coal
Starting with a camera (Cell Phone ) Explore how easily the grates can be removed as they periodically
should be, Extra points for an easy
disassembly that does not involve dismantling the stove itself ! Good clear pictures that show it's good condition should fetch you a buyer !
Do you still have the Manual - and what are this models model and
serial numbers !
Hopefully this should help! For the crafts ! Big AL
*Living in ether the N.E. or the P.N.W. we see humid conditions that caused the creation of that truism ''its better to ware out than rust out "