In the world of maple syrup collectibles and antiques, one of the most unique and sought after item is probably the miniature evaporator. Also known as salemen’s models, these little gems are scale models of full size maple syrup evaporators. From the perspective of maple syrup history, collectibles and collecting are a tangible way to literally hold history in our hands and miniature evaporators offer something to be learned about the history of maple syrup equipment sales.
The use of miniature scale models was especially common with agricultural equipment salesmen, and one can find amazing and beautiful examples of all sorts of agricultural implements from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Other similar functional scale-models were made as patent models to illustrate in miniature the design and operation of one’s invention and patent idea. While it is possible that a few of the miniature evaporators out there were made as copies of patent models, it is unlikely that they would have made it into circulation since such models were extremely rare. In some cases these scaled-down evaporators are referred to as toy or doll-house models or miniatures. It is possible that a few were simply made to be miniature examples for aficionados in the miniature collectibles community who enjoy recreating items from the past in smaller scales, somewhat akin to model railroading; however, the vast majority of these evaporators were made for and used as salesmen’s models by the major evaporator manufacturing companies.
Salesmen’s models were generally around 12 to 24 inches long although on occasion models were made a bit larger, on the order of three feet in length. Toy or basic miniature models tend to be smaller in scale.
The models were most often made completely of folded, soldered, and riveted sheet metal just like the full size evaporators that they were intended to illustrate. In the past, some maple syrup equipment companies employed travelling salesmen or arranged for local maple producers to work on the side as equipment dealers and product representatives.
Because of the large size and cost of most full-sized evaporators, with some as long as 15 to 18 feet in length, it was impractical for a travelling salesman to move around with a full-size floor model. However, most prospective buyers wanted to see in detail how the different evaporators were configured and constructed.
The salemen’s models were fully articulated with each individual component a separate piece, just like with a full-sized operational evaporator. They came with an arch for the base with moving doors and grates in the fire box.
Above were back pans and front pans, some flat, some with dropped or raised flues.
In some examples, the original wooden carrying case is still preserved.
For the most part, salesmen’s models are pretty rare and highly sought after collectibles.
I’ve snapped a few photos of different examples over the years and found a few more searching online. In addition to evaporators, one can also find miniature sap gathering tanks and storage tanks.
Sugarmaker, maple antique collector and author Hale Mattoon of Chelsea, Vermont was kind enough to shared with me a few wonderful examples from his private collection.
A great part of studying and collecting maple sugaring antiques is also learning the stories of where they came from and how they were acquired. Hale Mattoon shared this story for how he added these Leader Evaporator models to his collection.
As Hale tells it:
I recall going with my father in the mid-1940’s to a business here in Chelsea operated by A.F. Sanborn and Son, who sold Leader Maple Sugaring equipment and supplies. Archie (A.F.) was an agent for Leader Evaporator Company and a good business man.
Archie passed away in 1955 leaving the business to his son Forrest Sanborn who was an agent for Leader, but for a short time. Forrest passed away in 1991, and shortly after Forrest’s widow sold the contents of the business and later the real estate. The new owner of the Sanborn house a few years after the purchase discovered a Leader sap bucket partially hidden in the basement of the house, to satisfy his curiosity he looked inside of the bucket and much to his surprise there was the model l evaporator, storage tank , gathering tank and pieces of literature on the storage tank and gathering tank, all Leader items.
The new owner of the house showed the models and literature to a friend of his and said, “What should I do with this?” The reply was, “A local maple sugarmaker should have these items!” Well, I was the lucky one to be contacted and invited to view these precious items, when I saw what I thought I was seeing, my heart rate exceeded all limits. After a nice visit for this purpose, it was time to negotiate a transaction of some sort, so I asked him what he would like for the Leader items. He replied.” I don’t want money as I’m interested in items from Tunbridge, Vermont (a border town south of Chelsea) as my ancestors are from Tunbridge and he asked if I had anything to trade. I could not think of anything I had right at the time, but told him I would check. Well, check I did and discovered I had an old wooden shipping box that had the lettering – RETURN TO E.C. SLEEPER-TUNBRIDGE, VERMONT. So I called the gent and told him I had a shipping box that was Tunbridge, related. He replied, “I would like to see it!” I took the box to show him and show him I did. E.C.SLEEPER was the gent’s great-grandfather. He jumped for joy thus a trade was made and two very happy people, too.
The Leader Evaporator Company headquarters in St. Albans has a few models on display including a larger version than I have seen elsewhere.
Really interesting article on miniatures and salesmen’s sample. Cool!