Body Hammer wrote:I know nothing about these old stoves. But when I enlarge the top pic, I can clearly see mounting tabs on that cast ring, and holes in the base. All appear to be for mounting the trim pieces mentioned earlier.
My apologies to all, esp. Body Hammer who has beat me at what is usually my forte--detail--and apologies to William, as well! It's pretty bad when you have the same Champion Oak (except for base burner assembly) and you can't recognize its parts on the computer screen. The stove pictured by the original post-er is in fact missing its nickel top and bottom rings. I might be able to excuse myself by saying that my reading glasses were dirty and I certainly didn't zoom the photos. Stove Hospital is also correct (of course!) about the tabs that the large chrome ring bolts to.
I have just taken the rings off of mine to clean and polish the cast iron. My nickel is also pretty well gone, as is forgegirl's. (Can anyone recommend a plater in the Northeast? Probably couldn't afford, but wouldn't hurt to ask.)
Per the discussion on a refractory lining, mine has none--there's not even a vestige of refractory cement, the firepot looks almost new except for some slight surface rust, as do the prismatic grates. I wonder how much the stove was used, as even the sheet steel barrel shines. I guess I will follow SteveZee's recommendation on refractory clay if I can find it.
Lastly, there is a plate in the back of the base of my Champion Oak that would be removed to attach the base burner base and pipe, which would make it identical to the stove in the original post. Instead, on mine there is a cast elbow with a check damper at top. The stove was probably originally outfitted as a dual fuel stove. If anyone has anyone suggestions on how to find/fabricate the base burner base, pipe and damper assembly, they would be much appreciated...I would certainly like to make miine a base burner as I need no convincing as to their superior heating ability and the wind blows hard and cold down the Champlain Valley in the Winter!