The Buffum swastika stand

Both of these sad iron stands in my collection feature a swastika; the version with a handle is very rare. Neither stand is marked on front or back as to the manufacturer. I would date these stands to the late 1800s-early 1920s.

● L: Brass, 9 3/4″ x 4 1/8″ w/three 7/8″ feet and 1/4″ side rails

● R: Nickel plated cast iron, 5 1/2″ x 4 1/8” w/three 3/4” feet; flat on top

The Buffum Tool Company of Louisiana, Missouri was in business from 1909 – 1922 and the swastika was their registered trademark. I enjoyed a phone conversation last week with long time Buffum collector Ed Johnson, also of of Louisiana, Missouri. Ed studied and collected Buffum tools from 1967 until 2015 when he sold his collection to another collector. Learn more about the Buffum Company at Pike County Genealogical Society.

My question for Ed: did Buffum Tool produce these swastika trivets? This 2006 reprint of the 1912 Buffum General Catalog No.2 documents only an extensive line of tools. Ed stated that Buffum also produced kitchenware like ice picks and lemon squeezers, as well as a sad iron with a detachable handle. He and fellow collectors attribute the swastika sad iron stand to Buffum, pointing out the trademarked swastika appearing on their tools is the same version.

Were these stands given away as promotions or gifts and that’s why they don’t appear in the catalogs? Is the handled version a reproduction of the original? Did Buffum produce their own sad irons or, instead, market a line made by another manufacturer? I’ll continue to research. If anyone has a Buffum catalog that includes a sad iron or stand, please contact me.

PS: In defense of the swastika, it’s one of the oldest symbols on earth, as evidenced in this chart posted by ProSwastika. The swastika symbol was corrupted by the Nazis; the goal of ProSwastika is to educate the public on its history and true meaning.

See also Similarities in the US, Swastika and Royal stands.