Any Guess as to the Age of This Harman SF-250?

 
Salemcoal
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Post by Salemcoal » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 7:46 pm

Snuffys right , this is an older stove but if you want to burn wood occasionally (spring, fall) the dual fuel rating is a plus. Even though the new 250s are built the same EPA says coal only


 
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Post by Vinmaker » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 7:54 pm

Right. The EPA made them take that off and out of the literature. There are very few had fed coal stoves that will not burn wood. The design of air only coming in under the grates creates a nice hot wood fire. Apparently having air come into the firebox higher up (on the load door) assists in the burning also. All I know is that in Boy Scouts they taught us to dig a trench under a fire to help get air to it.

 
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Post by SMITTY » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 8:59 pm

Coalfire wrote: What did you get?

Eric
Harman Mark III. Dealer told me the 250 wouldn't be ready until February '09 after putting money down on it in June of '08 -- that was back in mass panic times when oil was projected to hit $5 a gallon that winter. When I called to inquire about what was taking so long, they told me they had the Mark III on the floor right now if I wanted it. I jumped ... and when I got there, the line was out the door & into the parking lot. Because I was picking up, I got to cut the whole line & get glared at by about 75 people. :lol: That was fun!

Then on the ride home the unit sailed through the air & smashed into the front of my bed, because I forgot my tie downs. :lol: I thought it came through the rear window! Only had one, & I stupidly placed it low. I wanted to get the hell out of that city as quickly as possible, so did a quicky tie-down without thinking it through. Cities & I don't mix very well. Oil & water. :D

I've got a long story for everything .... :roll:

 
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Post by Vinmaker » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 9:09 pm

I take it you got it from the Stove Place in Worcester then. I bought coal from them a few times. Must have been something when everyone was giving you the evil eye. :)

Vin.

 
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Three Labs
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Post by Three Labs » Thu. Dec. 01, 2011 4:46 pm

That stove looks like my 250 except mine does not have glass. Bought it new before the winter of 1983. It looks as good and works as well now as back then. I never heard of anyone breaking a door handle on this old style and I know quite a few people who have 150's and 250's like these. On the lower right side near the front of the stove will be a number ingraved into the steel which could be used to determine a manufacture year. I think Harman started the numbering at 100. Now I am curious again what my stove number is. I think it is 311.

 
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Post by Kielanders » Thu. Dec. 01, 2011 6:42 pm

Vinmaker wrote:Right. The EPA made them take that off and out of the literature. There are very few had fed coal stoves that will not burn wood. The design of air only coming in under the grates creates a nice hot wood fire. Apparently having air come into the firebox higher up (on the load door) assists in the burning also. All I know is that in Boy Scouts they taught us to dig a trench under a fire to help get air to it.
The 250 we bought last month came with a label saying it was rated for wood and coal in Canada, but coal only in US. That being said, it burns wood just fine with proper adjustment to the secondary dampers.

The door handles and latching mechanisms are one of my favorite features of the stove, very well designed.

 
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Post by Vinmaker » Thu. Dec. 01, 2011 7:37 pm

Three Labs wrote:That stove looks like my 250 except mine does not have glass. Bought it new before the winter of 1983. It looks as good and works as well now as back then. I never heard of anyone breaking a door handle on this old style and I know quite a few people who have 150's and 250's like these. On the lower right side near the front of the stove will be a number ingraved into the steel which could be used to determine a manufacture year. I think Harman started the numbering at 100. Now I am curious again what my stove number is. I think it is 311.
They Number these? Interesting. Do most manufacturers stamp the machines? Seems like such a great idea. So on your machine the "3" in 311 denotes 198"3"? and possibly the 11th one made that year?


 
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Post by Three Labs » Fri. Dec. 02, 2011 11:16 am

Nope Vinnmaker. The numbers do not contain that much info. I checked last evening and my stove is ingraved SF-250 311. The first 250 manufactured would have been numbered 101 so my stove is the 211th 250 Harman produced. SF-150's and 350's are numbered the same way. My brother has a 150 with a lower number than mine. I believe these were the only coal stove models produced by Harman back then. Mark series and stoker stoves along with colors other than black came later. I had mine painted charcoal gray a few years after I purchased it. Anyone know if Harman is still numbering their stoves?

 
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Post by Three Labs » Fri. Dec. 02, 2011 11:41 am

Any forum members with Harman Mark series stoves--are your stoves numbered also?

 
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Post by Vinmaker » Sat. Dec. 03, 2011 7:58 am

Ok. I understand. Thanks. So we need to start an SF-250 club like those silver motorhomes (airstreams I think) have. Each member is assigned his or her stove number. :)

Vin.

 
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Post by coalkirk » Sat. Dec. 03, 2011 10:22 am

Three Labs wrote:Any forum members with Harman Mark series stoves--are your stoves numbered also?
Harman mark series stoves have sequential serial numbers. So do the boilers.

 
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Three Labs
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Post by Three Labs » Mon. Dec. 05, 2011 2:40 pm

Vinmaker, should we let those SF-150 guys join this club also? :idea:

 
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Post by Vinmaker » Mon. Dec. 05, 2011 7:02 pm

Sure. Its Christmas time! :)

 
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Post by Vinmaker » Mon. Dec. 05, 2011 7:02 pm

Btw. Are there any SF-350 owners on the board? That one must be a beast!!!

 
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Cap
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Post by Cap » Tue. Dec. 06, 2011 6:02 am

I have a sf250. I cannot find a stamp. Maybe I have a replica? :shock:


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