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Cooking the Majestic Way

Thanksgiving is almost here. That means getting together with family and friends and, of course, lots of great food. Here is a catalog from the Trade Literature Collection that might get you in the cooking or baking mood. Or maybe the recipes will just make you hungry.

The catalog, by the Majestic Mfg. Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, is from 1899. The title is Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country. It begins with descriptions and illustrations of Majestic Ranges and then continues with customer testimonials and recipes for lots of different types of food. It ends with general advice for housekeepers including how to manage the plumbing in a house.

ship sailing on water shown on front cover of Majestic Cook Book
Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, front cover showing a ship.

 

Illustrated below is Majestic Range No. 251. Most of these ranges were constructed of the same type of material. The bodies were “made of cold-rolled, double-stretched, steel plates, Nos. 15 to 18 gauges; ovens two or four gauges heavier.” The other parts, except for the fire box and shelf brackets, were made of malleable iron. Features included “uniformity in roasting and baking, abundance of hot water, immense saving in fuel, simplicity in construction, perfect cleanliness and ease in management.”

 

Majestic Range No. 251 shown in Majestic Cook Book
Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, page 27, Majestic Range No. 251.

 

The catalog includes many, many pages of testimonials from customers. On April 28, 1899, W. B. Davies of Mankato, Minnesota called the Majestic Range “the Queen of the Kitchen.” Others were pleased that the Majestic used less fuel. In April 1899, J. C. Leum of Portland, North Dakota wrote, “Our Majestic Steel Range, purchased from you, is a money saver when it comes to fuel, as it only takes half as much fuel as our former cast iron cook stove. My wife says it is a pleasure to work over, for in summer we burn wood and it does not drive us out of the house from heat, and when cold weather comes we use hard coal and the kitchen is like summer. We would never want any other kind than a Majestic.”

 

testimonials from customers using the Majestic Range
Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, page 71, testimonials from customers using the Majestic Range.

 

So with Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’ll end with some pie recipes from 1899 found in the Majestic Cook Book. The recipe section begins with two pages of directions, tips, and even definitions which also gives us a glimpse into cooking and baking in 1899. Wondering what “butter the size of an egg” means? According to the Majestic Cook Book, that would be two ounces.

 

Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, pages 36 and 38, cooking directions, table of weights and measures, and recipes for dry yeast and bread.
Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, pages 36 and 38, cooking directions, table of weights and measures, and recipes for dry yeast and bread.

 

The page below includes recipes for cake fillings, cookies, and pies. Of course, there is a pumpkin pie recipe, but some of the other recipes are Irish Potato Pie and Cream Pie with vanilla flavoring. Or have you heard of Transparent Pie? Ingredients for Transparent Pie include egg yolks, sugar, butter, and apple jelly.

recipes for cake fillings, cookies, and pies from Majestic Cook Book
Majestic Mfg. Co., St. Louis, MO. Majestic Cook Book, Compiled by…the Best Housekeeper in This or Any Other Country, 1899, page 58, recipes for cake fillings, cookies, and pies. Click to Enlarge.

Majestic Cook Book by Majestic Mfg. Co. is located in the Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History Library.

 

 

 

19 Comments

  1. […] This beautiful piece of history is a warming oven was originally attached to the top of a cast iron Majestic Wood Stove – made by Majestic Manufacturing of St. Louis, Missouri. An advertisement from 1899 showing this style of warming oven – with ship imprints on the doors – is found on the Smithsonian Libraries website. […]

  2. P. Gulch

    We have this catalog. And the stove. It is our main cook stove in the ranch house and does work brilliantly and does burn less fuel than other stoves snd is safe – if you maintain it. It is a pleasure to cook on and easy to use. The advertising claims made in the catalog are true.

  3. Karin

    I have a Majestic stove in my house that I don’t know much about. Is there anywhere I can get more information on it or have someone show me how it works? Ours has been hooked into our baseboards and I haven’t found anyone who can show me how it works.

  4. Scott

    How can I get a digital copy?

  5. Eva Laster

    I have recently purchased a Majestic Cook Book, showing a drawing of the stove on the front. It reads on the front “also extracts from US Government Bulletin regarding economical use of meats.” It also says “A Model Kitchen”. I was wondering if you were familiar with this paperback booklet or knew the date of print Thank you.

    • Alexia MacClain

      Hi Eva,

      The Majestic Mfg. Co. trade catalogs in the Libraries’ Trade Literature Collection do not appear to match the item you are describing.

      The item highlighted in this particular blog post dates to 1899.

      Alexia MacClain
      Library Technician

  6. Bryant Moore

    I have a Great Majestic Junior which is extremely rare as I understand it was a salesmans sample to help sell the stoves.I would like to know its value and should I sell it or give it to a museum?

  7. I have a Great Majestic , does anyone know what the numbers mean on the clean out door mi e is 36448. Thanks Lot trying to date it.

  8. Kathy

    I have a newer wood/coal burning Majestic cookstove. It had firebricks removed but came with stove. I am searching for information on proper placement of firebrick in the cookstove. Thank you

    • Alexia MacClain

      Hi Kathy,

      Thank you for your comment. The Libraries’ Trade Literature Collection includes three Majestic Mfg. Co. catalogs. You are welcome to email us at AskaLibrarian@si.edu with more detailed information as to what you are searching for regarding the stove.

      Alexia MacClain
      Library Technician

  9. Philippa Goninan

    We have just purchased a property in Montana and on it is a fully reclaimed Majestic Smokeater circa 1914 Do you know of a market for this piece? I can send photos if so

  10. max stemple

    Dont know where this is going but,…..I saw my first and only Great Majestic at the Victoria , BC., museum back in the early 70’s. Loved that stove. I collect and use old stuff. I am a off grid modern day homesteader. I do have a very nice Home Comfort, plus several other cook stoves. Back to The Great Majestic. I just watched the old movie “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” 1962, and in a kitchen scene they showed two Great Majestic cook stoves. One of them was a double oven stove, not only have I never seen one of those, I have never even thought of something like that existing . Just wondering if it was real. I looked it up, could not find any reference.

  11. David W. Harkness

    As a Majestic owner I would like to know the year of manufacture. The serial # is 3641 on the bottom clean-out door. Thanks in advance for your attention.

    Dave Harkness

    • Hello David,

      Thank you for your interest in our trade literature collection. Unfortunately, we at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives are not able to assess your item. However, the Smithsonian does offer a guide for researching antiques and collectibles here: https://www.si.edu/faqs/appraisals

      Best,

      Erin Rushing
      Outreach Librarian

  12. Dan

    Sounds like a pretty sweet oven / stove to have even today in remote parts of the world like me… problem is that it’s probably prohibitively heavy to carry around to remote places without roads.

  13. Debra A Contner

    I own and use a majestic cook stove that was converted to gas cook top and electric. I am interested in what year it was made. The numbers on it are #38045. I would like a little information on it and possible the cost. Thanks Deb

    • Hi Debra,

      Thanks for your comment! If you’d like more information about the trade catalog described here, please reach out to NMAHLibrary@si.edu. The Smithsonian also offers some information about appraisals here: https://www.si.edu/faqs/appraisals

      Good luck with your research!

      Erin Rushing
      Outreach Librarian

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