Gem City IDEAL HEATER #317 Antique Stove

lorna1947 · Post by **lorna1947** » Sun. Sep. 23, 2012 4:38 pm

I have a Gem city stove works "Ideal Heater" with 317 on it. it is pat. in 1910 and is in very good condition..I am having trouble finding any info on this old stove. Is there any info out there

wsherrick · Post by **wsherrick** » Mon. Sep. 24, 2012 1:24 am

Some detailed pictures would help tremendously. Gem City Stove Works, made one of my favorite Oak Stoves. The, "German Heater." German Heaters also came in a Base Heating model. These are among the best three (in my opinion) midwest stoves. There was Florence, Illinoy and Gem City. During WWI, Gem City had to change the name of the German Heater because of anti German sentiment during the War. I'm not sure what they were named then. I will try and post a picture of a German Heater.

lorna1947 · Post by **lorna1947** » Mon. Sep. 24, 2012 2:54 am

I have tried to upload a pic of this stove. It is in need of a good cleaning and polishing but other than that all parts are there. the legs are nickle also

SteveZee · Post by **SteveZee** » Mon. Sep. 24, 2012 7:49 am

What do you want to know about it besides what William has provided? It's a nice looking unit and should be making heat for you! What's that funky bike in back of it? Pretty cool.

lorna1947 · Post by **lorna1947** » Mon. Sep. 24, 2012 9:20 pm

Hi
I would like any info I can get on this stove. I just noticed a crack on one of the brackets that hold the botton nickel trim on so would like to replace it . Would I decrease its value if I stove black the main body of it? or does it even have much value?
The motorcycle in the back of the pic is a 1970 Harley Davidso electraglide. it has 32000 origional miles on it and is for sale. the body is straight and original but the paint is faded. runs great but hasen't been ridden for a few years

wsherrick · Post by **wsherrick** » Tue. Sep. 25, 2012 2:10 am

Your stove is the World War One version of the German Heater I posted pictures of above. If you look, your stove is identical to the first picture up there. Unless you have them somewhere, your stove is missing the side wings that go on either side of the loading door. These side wings are in place to create convective turbulence around the stove to improve the distribution of heat.

These stoves are of exceptionally high quality and of an excellent scientific design. They are very efficient. This stove should be in someone's house burning coal as it was meant to do.
In its present condition I wouldn't expect to get more than a few hundred dollars for it. Totally restored in like new, useable condition these run around $2,000-$2,500 dollars. Again that is if they are perfectly restored to brand new condition.

SteveZee · Post by **SteveZee** » Tue. Sep. 25, 2012 10:58 am

Lorna, I don't know of the trim hanger you speak of is broken off (the casting) or not but it's not a huge deal if you can get the piece of trim to stay on. As William stated these are an excellent stove and with a little effort could be cleaned up and reblacked and re-sealed. In mint and burn ready shape it could be worth close to $2000 but even just cleaned, and polished (without re-sealing and disassembly) but complete you could still get half of that say $800- $1000. It would have to have all the parts and grates in good shape etc.. Better yet you could restore it and heat your house and save allot of $3+ heating oil or gas/propane? The old bike is cool and I'm sure will sell. It looks like Mary K's old Harley

Gem City IDEAL HEATER #317 Antique Stove

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