Antique Parlor Coal Stove Museum
- anthony7812
- Member
- Posts: 5134
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 12, 2011 2:04 pm
- Location: Colley,Pennsylvania
- Stoker Coal Boiler: VanWert VA 400
- Coal Size/Type: Buck/Anthracite
How have these designs fizzled out over the years. I don't understand why folks would want a square box vs one of these stoves, so hense I question why they fizzled out? You cant tell me the market demanded square stoves over these for all these years. Beautiful craftsmanship.
- dcrane
- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 9:28 am
- Location: Easton, Ma.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404
Cost to build has a lot to do with it, but also space, fireplace size, etc. probably plays a part too. I know to replicate one of these true baseburners (not simply a parlor Cannon Type) would be crazy money Even if you had the original Molds/Patterns the sheer number of castings would be unbelievable to try and have made and assembled for less than $10,000k (then add on Nickel Plating and Bronze Finials and were now into no-mans land)anthony7812 wrote:How have these designs fizzled out over the years. I don't understand why folks would want a square box vs one of these stoves, so hense I question why they fizzled out? You cant tell me the market demanded square stoves over these for all these years. Beautiful craftsmanship.
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- Site Moderator
- Posts: 11416
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
A question I have puzzled over too.anthony7812 wrote:How have these designs fizzled out over the years. I don't understand why folks would want a square box vs one of these stoves, so hense I question why they fizzled out? You cant tell me the market demanded square stoves over these for all these years. Beautiful craftsmanship.
Everything evolves. Evolution is far from being just an interesting biological fact. Puzzling out the reasons for the evolution of stoves means recognizing the economic as Doug pointed out as well as the technological pressures involved. Fashion also plays a big part.
The Victorian age which lasted about 60 years and longer in influence probably witnessed greater technological change than at any period, even our own. The world was their oyster and was awash with cocky, confident people sure that they had reached the apex of civilization. Their artifacts reflect that attitude with all their whimsy of design, not just in stoves but in those turreted houses as well; early cars too. We are looking at the evolution of a mind set. It is what it is.
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- Joined: Sun. Sep. 30, 2012 8:20 pm
- Location: Ithaca,NY
Doug,
Thanks for taking the time to do this. I love to look at those stoves...
Thanks for taking the time to do this. I love to look at those stoves...
- wsherrick
- Member
- Posts: 3744
- Joined: Wed. Jun. 18, 2008 6:04 am
- Location: High In The Poconos
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Glenwood Base Heater, Crawford Base Heater
- Baseburners & Antiques: Crawford Base Heater, Glenwood, Stanley Argand
- Coal Size/Type: Chestnut, Stove Size
I think one could argue that in many aspects, they did live during the apex of our Civilization.franco b wrote:A question I have puzzled over too.anthony7812 wrote:How have these designs fizzled out over the years. I don't understand why folks would want a square box vs one of these stoves, so hense I question why they fizzled out? You cant tell me the market demanded square stoves over these for all these years. Beautiful craftsmanship.
Everything evolves. Evolution is far from being just an interesting biological fact. Puzzling out the reasons for the evolution of stoves means recognizing the economic as Doug pointed out as well as the technological pressures involved. Fashion also plays a big part.
The Victorian age which lasted about 60 years and longer in influence probably witnessed greater technological change than at any period, even our own. The world was their oyster and was awash with cocky, confident people sure that they had reached the apex of civilization. Their artifacts reflect that attitude with all their whimsy of design, not just in stoves but in those turreted houses as well; early cars too. We are looking at the evolution of a mind set. It is what it is.
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- Site Moderator
- Posts: 11416
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
- Location: Kent CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
Can't argue with our resident Victorian. Those damn Sepoys were a bit of a pother though.wsherrick wrote:I think one could argue that in many aspects, they did live during the apex of our Civilization.
- mmcoal
- Member
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 11:21 am
- Location: Northern NJ
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: nut
Think about how many things were made in that era and earlier that can still function today! I have a hard time believing half of those items in modern form could do the same. Cars use to require a bit more upkeep, but were simple and mechanical, now one little electrical failure could result in a very dangerous situation. One of the many reasons I am making the switch to a hand fed coal stove, no electronics to rely on and a stove that should last many times over a modern furnace when properly used. I may be young, but I appreciate old fashioned craftsmanship that modern manufacturing can not offer or at least not at an affordable price.
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- Posts: 28
- Joined: Tue. Sep. 11, 2012 3:52 pm
- Location: Maine
These stoves are stunningly beautiful. I'd love to have one in my next home. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more pics.
- dcrane
- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 9:28 am
- Location: Easton, Ma.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404
Walter is the owner of this premier baseburner collection left in an estate, the brochures, the stoves, etc. he is going to try and make a facebook page for at some point. He has given permission for me to post this information and photo archive to this forum but If anyone wishes to purchase one or more from this collection PM me for his contact info (the collection is in Cali. which makes it a little tricky for one unit but If you see one that you just have to have... its worth it)! Every single one of these stoves (as you can see) is Museum Quality (I will post some of the ones with ovens that are going to blow your mind!)
I welcome any stove hospitals or antique shops to add to this thread to archive their rare beauties as well...
I welcome any stove hospitals or antique shops to add to this thread to archive their rare beauties as well...
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- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Mon. Aug. 03, 2009 10:11 am
- Location: southern anthracite field,Schuylkill County,Pa.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: warm morning # 500
- Baseburners & Antiques: Peninsular Western Hot Blast No.44K and Reading Foundry & Supply Co.
I am disheartened to hear they are so far away,as I thought I had a chance to own one.I will be taking my daughter to see a school in Providence,R.I.,so W.Barnstable will be my next stop.Even that is a long way from Pennsylvania,my home state.I certainly appreciate the pictures,though.
- dcrane
- Verified Business Rep.
- Posts: 3128
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 9:28 am
- Location: Easton, Ma.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404
Some secrets to help you with this problem are right here at nepaCrossroads... Lowest Cost Truck Freight Shipping in USA!fifthg wrote:I am disheartened to hear they are so far away,as I thought I had a chance to own one.I will be taking my daughter to see a school in Providence,R.I.,so W.Barnstable will be my next stop.Even that is a long way from Pennsylvania,my home state.I certainly appreciate the pictures,though.