Antique "Vernois" Upright Coal / Wood Hand Fed Stove

I purchased an upright antique coal / wood stove and it has a port on the top that opens up. It lets out a *censored* load of heat when open but my concern is the fumes from it.Is this just safe radiant heat blasting out or exhaust that is unsafe to breathe ?

It is probably intended for loading the stove. Close it and keep it closed.

Do not use stove until you acquire a carbon monoxide detector for your safety.

Thanks for the quick response. That does make sense a hopper would fit above it... There is a pipe that goes down into the burning area.

foebage wrote:Thanks for the quick response. That does make sense a hopper would fit above it... There is a pipe that goes down into the burning area.

That pipe might be for burning bituminous coal to introduce air above the fire to reduce smoke.

Check out the air tightness of the ash door by closing a dollar bill at points around it to see if it grips the dollar. It has to fit tight to control the fire.