It is apple butter making time and a copper kettle is essential for cooking down apples over an open fire because it conducts heat so evenly which keeps the apple butter from scorching. This rare 19th century kettle has the maker’s name, J.P. Schaum, stamped along the rim. J.P. Schaum and his son stopped making copper kettles in Pennsylvania in 1892 and turned their attention to making furniture. The technique was similar. In the 1800s, sheet copper had to be bought from England. Two sheets were dovetailed and soldered together and then hammered into a cooking kettle. The heavy handle was riveted onto the kettle so it could be lifted from the heat. This kettle has a beautiful green patina because of its oxidation over the years. A similar apple butter kettle was appraised on Antiques Roadshow on July 29, 2012. Joyce and Ron Kessinger donated this artifact to the Botetourt Museum of History and Culture in May of 2024.
~ Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture
