please help with this..

[scottbu70]

my grandfather had this for as long as i can remember...its cast iron but there are no markings on it anywhere...is this arcade? any info about it would be appreciated!

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here you go, looks like a highly collectable item, judging by the sale price this fetched! This looks to be the same model as yours, but the catch bucket is different. This listing says it is a salesman's sample, but I would not be surprised if it is actually a childs toy. I see all kinds of miniatures listed as "salesmans samples" these days, but my understanding of this is that actual salesman's samples are extremely rare. Having a toy water pump to water ones toy animals would be a sensible thing to me!

http://bid.showtimeauctions.com/Salesman-Sample-Water-Pump_i5269093

[scottbu70]

thank you very much for than info! was very helpful!

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'm glad it was helpful! 

[waywardangler]

I agree with Tales on the proliferation of "salesman's samples".  A salesman's sample would be exactly like the full size one down to the last detail only in miniature.  This looks more like a toy.  Nice item and a nice price to boot.

[scottbu70]

do any of you think i could get that much for this one?

[waywardangler]

Probably not but who knows?  That auction was in 2005 and prices have taken a big hit since then.  But if you have 2 seriously interested bidders, it could get interesting.

[talesofthesevenseas]

One of the cast iron items that I frequently see being sold as a "salesman's sample" are the little old-fashioned cast iron stoves. These were sold as toys in the 1960's. I know this 'cuz I had one!

[KC]

Think that one demanded that price due to the brass pump as well...uncommon.  Yours should be popular....but the cast iron usually does not warrant as high a price.

[sapphire]

Found this one listed on ebay........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330481985020&item=330481985020#ht_512wt_905

[cogar]

Speaking of "salesman's samples", at the Hillsville, Va, flea-market one year a middle-aged lady came by out “booth” and was showing me her great n’ wonderful "salesman's sample" that she had purchased from another dealer.

She opened up her bag and pulled out a little wooden “spinning wheel”. 

[sapphire]

Picturing a spinning wheel sales man as she cleans the pepsi out of her keyboard........... .