Price: $4,000
1898 Round Oak M-14 Wood Stove – “Penny" | Fully restored, nickel-plated, copper finial
Crafted by the Beckwith Round Oak Stove Company in Dowagiac, Michigan, this iconic M-14 parlor stove stands 38" tall and radiates timeless elegance with its embossed oak-leaf bands, floral scrollwork, and crowned copper finial bearing the famous Chief Doe-Wah-Jack medallion. Patented air-flow design delivers 30,000 BTU, heating up to 1,200 sq ft with seasoned hardwood.
Once the heart of a Wisconsin lumber baron’s library, it warmed card games, cigar smoke, and century-old secrets. Professionally rebuilt with new firebrick, original shaker grate, and swing-top lid; ready for modern venting.
One stove. One legacy. Endless fireside stories.
Backstory
Penny Wexler, a penny-pinching telegraph operator from Dowagiac, bought the Round Oak M-14 in 1901 with a jar of copper Lincolns she’d saved from every overtime shift. She named it Penny too—said the copper finial looked like her namesake—and dragged it up three flights to her boarding-house room above the depot.
Every night the 11:15 freight whistle blew, Penny stoked the stove with scrap ties from the roundhouse, tapped out Morse on the nickel trim with her thimble, and kept the window cracked so the steam heat wouldn’t drown the click-clack of keys. Boarders swore the oak-leaf embossing glowed brighter when she laughed.
When Penny retired in 1948, she left the stove to the railroad museum with a note: "Feed her wood, not promises." It warmed the ticket office until 1982, then sat in a barn until her great-grandnephew hauled it home last winter.
Light Penny now and the copper Chief still gleams.
Restoration Details
Our restoration process focuses on preserving historical authenticity while enhancing each stove’s functionality. Key restoration features include:
- Replated Nickel Trim & Decorative Finials – Polished to their original brilliance.
- Hand-Poured Cast Iron Components – Carefully cleaned, treated, and reassembled.
- Functional Heating Capability – Restored to provide practical warmth if desired.
- Authentic Detailing – Intricate engravings and clawfoot bases skillfully restored.
This stove is ready to serve as a functional appliance and stunning focal point in any home, business, or historical display.
Current Location
This stove is currently displayed at: JNT Company
Would you like to see it in person? Feel free to visit or contact us for more information.
