this a toy or a demonstration piece used by settlers?

[Overloaded]

My father stated that it was a settlers demonstration piece to show indians how they washed clothes while moving west

IN MY OPINION its too heavy and settlers was always offloading heavy objects?!?! Those things are made out of metal (very very heavy for such little things!)

Please let me know what those things are called so I can start somewhere in the research of their value?

[talesofthesevenseas]

You are in luck, someone else just posted an identical pump a few months back. I believe these are toys. Here's the discussion we had with the other one:
http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=7919.msg35330#msg35330

[waywardangler]

Ahhh, Tales, I had just copied the very same thread and was about to post it.  You are quick on the draw!

I agree that they are toys and not settlers demonstration pieces or salesman samples.

[Overloaded]

regardless of what its called

salesman samples were the classical "magical" words that helped me look into similar stuff now working out a lead! (lol no pun indeed)


Thanks guys!

[KC]

Plus interesting idea that Indians would even want to know how settlers washed their clothes!

[cogar]

Sometimes a "good story" helps in making a sale.