Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

SteveZee · By: **SteveZee** On: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:34 pm

That's right Pierre,

The coal fire is not as aesthetically pleasing as a wood fire would be. Your going to see some blue flames at times but much of the time it's a red glowing bed of coals. I understand the romantic notion of all that mica and seeing a flame but a Glenwood 116 or #6 is going to pump out big time heat and believe me, in the dead of winter, it's the radiating cast iron of the stove that provides the biggest smiles.

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:47 pm

SteveZee wrote:That's right Pierre,

The coal fire is not as aesthetically pleasing as a wood fire would be. Your going to see some blue flames at times but much of the time it's a red glowing bed of coals. I understand the romantic notion of all that mica and seeing a flame but a Glenwood 116 or #6 is going to pump out big time heat and believe me, in the dead of winter, it's the radiating cast iron of the stove that provides the biggest smiles.

Plus, you will not be dead from playing with wood!

wsherrick · By: **wsherrick** On: Sat Sep 03, 2011 2:48 pm

If you want a mica base burner that's fine. You don't have to go all the way to Utah to get one. At least get one that is large enough to heat your house and is complete with all of its parts. The Reading stove here is missing its side wings and its foot rests. If you look you can find one much closer to you or you can call Doug at Barnstable Stove Shop. He has dozens of them in all different styles and sizes. Google, Barnstable Stove Shop and take a look and give him a call. At least you will get one that is restored and complete. Whatever, you decide let us know and show us photos.

dlj · By: **dlj** On: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:35 pm

I personally feel the mica stoves are too fragile for a main heat source. As a secondary heat source, they are fine - in fact very beautiful. But I wouldn't want to depend on them for the front line - just my personal opinion...

dj

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:28 pm

When my daughter's son(I don't know the good word ) , 4 Yrs old comes home he always wants to put his fingers on the micas and if I wasn't there to tell him not to do so, some micas would certainly be broken. When the stove will get hot, he will learn easily what I meant. He already loves the bride.

SteveZee · By: **SteveZee** On: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:59 am

nortcan wrote:When my daughter's son(I don't know the good word ) , 4 Yrs old comes home he always wants to put his fingers on the micas and if I wasn't there to tell him not to do so, some micas would certainly be broken. When the stove will get hot, he will learn easily what I meant. He already loves the bride.

Yep that would be your Grandson and you're right about that lesson!

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:08 pm

SteveZee wrote:
nortcan wrote:When my daughter's son(I don't know the good word ) , 4 Yrs old comes home he always wants to put his fingers on the micas and if I wasn't there to tell him not to do so, some micas would certainly be broken. When the stove will get hot, he will learn easily what I meant. He already loves the bride.

Yep that would be your Grandson and you're right about that lesson!

Thanks for the English lesson. So many words to learn and remember to.

smithy · By: **smithy** On: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:41 pm

Well once again the knowledge of the forum is incredible.looked and found this on Craigslist only a 3 hr drive to check-it-out. 1500.00. Says is in perfect condition 14" fire-pot ,spare set of eisenglass [iron-glass? that is ] 59" 24" 30" This one looks to b missing side-wings. but will have to wait till Friday. Not real sure if it is indeed a 14" pot, have to measure myself but a medium size will suit me fine.For primary heat I would like a efm 520

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:28 pm

This stove looks like mine before the trims were nickled. Seems in good shape and is a base burner.
On the photo showing the back of the stove, you are supposed to have a small shelf and we don't see the top rear, ask if there is the oval convection outlet (you could connect a pipe to send heat to a second floor room from it) with a decorative grill on it. Not an obligation but good if you can have all parts... Mine was completly restored from Bryant Stove (you can see photos of that if you go to :I have My Base Burner(BB).To my personnal opinion, the price asked for the stove is probably high, principally if it hasn't the side wings,back shelf, ash pan,shaking crank,...but if all the rest is in perfect shape????
Take care if you go see the stove to see if the doors have play in the hinges and seal tight, if the outer shaking grate is in good condition as the triangular ones, try to operate both to see how they work, if the micas are sealed correctly and are in good condition...
You also can see all these parts on my posts so it could helps you to make comparisions and evaluate the pice asked for it.

smithy · By: **smithy** On: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:17 pm

Ah yes the photos are not tell all as it is a must see . The price .... the market is hard to place what i have seen advertised for base burners are 2500 to 3000 and that is not including packing and shipping and insurance add 500.00 more now were talking 3000.00 to 3500.00 and that is not for the fancy ones. The gentleman said it had an ash pan and shaker crank the other parts i will have to see, Do you mind if i take the liberty of your photos to use for comparison or how would you say insturmenation de negotations ? to spur the dealer with if he should refuse to soften the deal ? Do you know if the shelf and grill thing "manifold"? is necessary for operation or and perhaps trim parts are available ? I could add at a later time . I am trying to wrap my mind around the whole "tight" thing, fire in side box, box in side house ,air infiltrates house,to get out chimney?, first law of thermal dynamics cold goes to hot?

To my coal burning aficionados.... I have much to learn

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:37 pm

Smithy, no problem if you want to use the photos. The main reason I placed so much photos and infos is if that can helps it's good..

Don't forget that little flapper . Was missing on mine and had to make one, not impossible but it has 2 curves in it soooo!
The stove can works without the back shelf and the second floor exit , but just good for your nego. as for the side wings. You also can tell to the seller the stove has the original parts not nickled so not in original conditions, in original conditions, these stoves have a lot of nickled parts, I didn't had all of them re-nickled...
I will send a photo from an old catalog showing an original one as soon as I can. (I must leave now...)

nortcan · By: **nortcan** On: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:10 pm

smithy, do you know the name of that stove and the maker of it, usually written on the name plate. Also the size of the stove/firepot is written on the small oval door,in front of the base burner section.

smithy · By: **smithy** On: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:25 pm

Thanks nortcan, I wont know any thing till we get there and have a look see posted the rest of the pictures for study.. he said the pot was 14" keeping finger crossed the one picture says reading stove is that what you mean by maker ?

smithy · By: **smithy** On: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:30 pm

oops forgot 2nd picture

wsherrick · By: **wsherrick** On: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:12 am

From a cursory glance this stove doesn't seem to be in too bad a shape, however; do yourself a favor and look at it closely. If you find any parts that are cracked or severly warped from abuse. Walk away. Take a flash light and carefully inspect the bottom area, ash pit and fire pot. A burned out fire pot is no big deal as they are easily recast. It's the structural parts of the stove that are most important. The doors and dampers must fit tightly. Keep in mind also that you are going to have to completely take the stove apart and reseal and replace the bolts in the stove. After you are finished, you will have an efficient and reliable stove, but; the price you pay to buy the stove is just a down payment on the time and money you will need to spend to return it to it's original condition. Again there are lots and lots of Base Burners out there just don't let desire cloud your judgement. Keep that in mind.
Once you get one we will be here to help you with it. Base Burners are the highest expression of the stove maker's art and it makes me happy to see them saved and returned to use.

Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

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Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

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Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

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Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine

Re: Reading stove works brilliant sunshine