Buying obsolete/and or NOS wicks and what 2 look 4

Buying NOS wicks can be a risky business. Dealing with older production heaters, sometimes we just don't have a choice, so I have gepiled a few tips hopefully to help you pick out what will be a good usable wick for you.
Many of the NOS wicks you find on okay the folks selling them, really knows nothing about it, they only know what is written on the box, and if there is actualy something that resembles a wick inside. It is up to the buyer really to be sure of what he/she is buying.
Here is one problem, How many of you have bought a replacement part, replaced it, and put the old one back in the box, Oh YES they do, I have got them like that.
Another problem is age, and or living conditions. Wicks can be stashed in many locations, often they are found tucked away in a basement, up in an attic, and even old sheds in the back yard, and then there is the old hardware store that has been out of business and closed for the past oh 15, 20, 50 years? If the wick has sat in moist humid conditions, suffered dramatic changes in temperature over years time, it may very well be rotten.
Here are some tips to help you if you must buy NOS wicks because either that is what you prefer, or there is nothing else available.
Look at the packaging, does the box look discolored, or have stains like it has been wet, is it frayed, or falling apart, think about what a cardboard box looks like when it has been wet, and what it does to it.
Does the seller offer you a photo of what is inside of the box, be weary of the wicks you cannot view, remember he/she may not have a clue of what should be in the box, or what it should look like.
Does the wick look used, Cotton is white, most old heaters used cotton wicks, the wick itself should look white, unless it is obviously colored like the Aladdin Blue Flame wicks at the top, but even then look at the base of the wick, it should be white. If it is yellowed it may be rotten, gray in color, it may be used, it should be white. Look for what may be mold or mildew. Look at the metal parts for rust.
Some wicks came charred from the factory, this means the factory burned the top portion of the wick to level it, and remove any loose raveling strings. Examples of manufacturers that preformed this are Perfection (#500), (#325), (#331X), and (#441) wicks, Valor (#500, 500F), (#33, 33F), (#200, 200F), (#300, 300F), (#600, 600F), wicks labled Hot Spot, Kennmore #500, Nesco. The only Aladdin Blue Flame wick that was factory singed was the very old wicks that fit models 51, 61, 63, S-1, S02, C-10, C-20, no gemonly seen Blue Flame wicks should be singed unledd they are indeed used.
Look at the seller, see what he/she is selling, do you believe this seller knows anything about heaters, and or wicks. Ask him questions, a good seller is always happy to answer questions, and if you have doubts, or cant get the answer you were looking for, maybe you need to move on to another.
Many times you can get a good deal on NOS wicks, and you can do even better if you look closely at what you are buying, if you don't, probably 2 out of 5 times you will be dissapointed.
Hope this information helps, and to all my fellow antique heater collectors: HAPPY HEATING!!!!!!!