Van the Stove Man was a gas and electric appliance sales, installation and repair business that was started c.1930 by Harold Van Allen, hence the name. It was at 1418 - 41st Avenue. The first newspaper reference is a classified in 1938.
Van Allen died in 1948. The business was purchased by two employees, Harold "Hal" Carroll and Barney Blough, and incorporated on March 1, 1951. It was located for many years at 4609 Foothill Blvd., across from Fremont High School. Rehabilitation of classic Wedgewood ranges and Servel gas-powered refrigerators was a specialty. Shortly after Blough retired in the 1980s, Carroll moved the business to his residence at 1522-1524 - 41st Avenue not far from the original location. He retired c.1990 and the corporation was dissolved.
advertising ashtray
(via Flickr)
Hal Carroll
photo from pchazzz
