Q: I’d like to know the date this Acorn gas stove was made. It says “Rathbone, Sard & Co., Albany, NY-Aurora, IL” and “patent pending” on the front of the stove. What is it worth?

A: Acorn is one of the brands of stoves and ranges made by Rathbone, Sard & Co. The company was founded in 1833 in Albany, New York, by John Rathbone and George Sard. By 1890 the company had operations in Chicago, Detroit, and Aurora, Illinois. Coal and wood burning parlor and kitchen stoves were made in the early years. Gas stoves were made by the early 1900s. The company was in business until about 1925. A restored working stove like yours could sell for $1,000 or more to be used in a kitchen. In poor condition, it has little value.