Coal Cradle??

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Jul. 19, 2013 12:20 pm

Although I have enough stoves I still can't help myself and I troll through the craigslist and classified ads routinely looking for stokers and stoves.
I came across a listing for a Harman mag stoker that says it "includes cradles for large and small coal" .

I have never heard of this before...anybody able to clue me in on what a 'cradle' is? It must be something special because they have the stove listed for about 3x's what I would pay for it!!

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Fri. Jul. 19, 2013 10:20 pm

Are you sure it is a stoker? Were there pics.? I think there was a The Harman Magnafire Coal Stove SF-250.

Sounds like a hand fired with 2 different grate sizes...1 for pea and 1 for nut and bigger???

http://tallpinesfarm.com/coal/sf250.html

Also: The Mark I,II,III and The Elite Coal Insert were all in the Magnafire Series along w/ the SF-250

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Jul. 19, 2013 11:29 pm

yes the picture was of a mag stoker. I can't think of any contraption that would fit on the stoker mechanism as a 'cradle'. It has me stumped.

**Broken Link(s) Removed**

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Fri. Jul. 19, 2013 11:51 pm

That's a real mystery???

Did you notice that is a very, very old model?

Three windows.

Flat shelf model...not the later A pent style...the give away is that the 2 outer back bricks are not cut angles.

Looks like the obsolete one piece grate...maybe that's the cradle???

Might even be one of those STF-VFS Models.

Post by **dcrane** » Sat. Jul. 20, 2013 7:35 am

The Cradle was not used for different size coal... the early versions of the cradle (which housed the auto-igniter) just plain sucked. but this was a company at the time that was pretty good and I think they shipped new cradles out on many occasions (don't expect that kind of service or integrity today!), Its a rice burner and always has been (no cradle is going change that, the poster is misinformed because he is not a member at NepaCrossroads

)

I should add that this cradle was given for free because of its flawed function (the poster most likely did not pay the $39.95 for it at the time). He should be paying you because you have to install the re-called item that he never did!

Im not sure what these cost brand new now but it cant be much more than he is asking for this dinosaur

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Sat. Jul. 20, 2013 9:59 am

My co-worker picked up a much newer model for $1400.00. Last year.

Post by **dcrane** » Sat. Jul. 20, 2013 10:30 am

2001Sierra wrote:My co-worker picked up a much newer model for $1400.00. Last year.

Yea... this guys been burning glue in his coal stove

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Sat. Jul. 20, 2013 12:41 pm

Mystery solved....McGiever had it.....it was the old one piece grate / housing that they called the cradle. They finally responded to my email question and even sent along a pic of both "cradle's". As DC mentions, I suspect it was just a replacement grate and the holes were not obstructed from years of use that's why they think they are 'bigger' holes for different size coal.

Yes, this one is a bit over priced IMO. There are a couple other newer mag stokers recently listed for around $1k which is much more reasonable IMO.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sun. Jul. 21, 2013 9:11 pm

That ancient over priced stove would be a PITA w/ that flat shelf inside to big time collect fly ash and then eventually restrict the flue outlet and possibly backing up carbon monoxide gases into the house. The improvement with the "A" style pent-roof inside made that stove so much better...very little ash could collect compared to the flat shelf.

The sellers claim to 100K BTU is exaggerated too.

anthony7812 · Post by **anthony7812** » Mon. Jul. 22, 2013 7:58 am

I was more flabbergasted by the asking price to see the rest of the listing...

Post by **dcrane** » Mon. Jul. 22, 2013 8:24 am

anthony7812 wrote:I was more flabbergasted by the asking price to see the rest of the listing...

Yep...some of the prices for stoves on CL are from left field (I almost feel like emailing them and saying

you moron, wake up and drink some of Freddy's coffee)

here's just one example
**Broken Link(s) Removed** "In beautiful condition! then later says "Needs a liner" $5,000.00 im hoping that finial is solid 24K

anthony7812 · Post by **anthony7812** » Mon. Jul. 22, 2013 8:32 am

dcrane wrote:
anthony7812 wrote:I was more flabbergasted by the asking price to see the rest of the listing...
Yep...some of the prices for stoves on CL are from left field (I almost feel like emailing them and saying you moron, wake up and drink some of Freddy's coffee)

here's just one example
**Broken Link(s) Removed** "In beautiful condition! then later says "Needs a liner" $5,000.00 im hoping that finial is solid 24K

Glad im not the only one. I have seen a older three bar grill mark 2 on CL listed for 2000.00!