Late 1800s J & E Stevens Co Mini Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Dresser 4.5\"W x5.5\"T
![Late 1800s J & E Stevens Co Mini Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Dresser 4.5\](img-large/g/K3sAAOSwyMNZeXbv/s-l1600/Late-1800s-J-E-Stevens-Co-Mini-Cast-Iron-3-Drawer-.jpg "Late 1800s J & E Stevens Co Mini Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Dresser 4.5\")
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Late 1800s J & E Stevens Co Mini Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Dresser 4.5\"W x5.5\"T:
$150.00
Late 1800s J &E Stevens Co. - Doll\'s Miniature Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Or Dresser - 4.5\"W x5.5\"T- V GOOD
Authentic vintagedoll\'s miniature 3-drawer chestor dresser, made late 1800s by theJ. & E. StevensCompany; the company isknown to collectors for their extensive production ofcast iron toys and mechanical banks - see notes below.
Measures5 1/2\" tall x 4 1/2\" wide x 3 3/8\" from front to back. Weighs2 lb.15 oz., estimated package weight is3-4 lbs. Will be thoroughly padded and carefully packed for secure, intact delivery.
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Adapted from an online Connecticut history site: In 1843, when John and Elisha Stevens formed the J & E Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut,they intended to manufacture cast-iron hardware, hammers, and a few iron toys. Their success with those few toys changed their business plan: J & E Stevens Company eventually became the largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys in the country.
In 1859, with their first fire cracker pistol, the brothers began to focus almost exclusively on toy production. Their product line included toy cannons, locomotives, and whistling tops. Though the brothers marketed their products primarily to boys, they also made toy stoves, furniture, and miniature cutlery that they marketed to young girls.
A turning point came in 1869, with the production of their first cast-iron mechanical bank. This bank, featuring a monkey that popped out of a building, inspired numerous competitors to produce similar products and helped create a new genre of product that blended art and function in ways that sparked the imagination and ingenuity of designers. In fact, between 1869 and 1890, the J & E Stevens Company produced more than 300 different models of mechanical banks.
Changing times and changing tastes drove the evolution of the company: by 1928,production was devoted exclusively to cap pistols. These toys, along with those of local competitors, found their way to store shelves all over the country by the start of the Second World War -however, WWII demands created an iron shortage that abruptly brought an end to cast-iron toy production and,in 1950, the company waspurchased byBuckley Brothers of New York.
At the same time, the economic ramifications of World War II brought renewed interest in cast-iron toys: \"Toy collecting, which became popular in the 1920s, exploded in the post-war era thanks to increases in spendable income. Today, original cast-iron banks and toys from the J & E Stevens Company sell for thousands of dollars. The enduring value of these products is a testament to the quality and ingenuity that helped make Connecticut the nation’s leading toy producer for much of the 19th century.\"
Late 1800s J & E Stevens Co Mini Cast Iron 3-Drawer Chest Dresser 4.5\"W x5.5\"T:
$150.00