Looking for Info About One of My Stoves

I've got a stove that, so far I haven't been able to find any info about. It a Floral Gem made by Richards & Conover. I'm guessing that the model number is 519 because that is cast in the door.



I want to do a restoration of this stove. As you can see in the second pic, there is a burned thru spot to the right of the door, in the sheet metal just above the rolled rim. It is close enough to the correct size to use metal cut from a 30 gallon steel barrel, but the rolled ring on a barrel is going to be different. Not sure how close the barrel would be to the same gauge steel? I'm thinking that it's going to be a little heavier gauge than the stove. Do you think it would work or should I try to keep it as original? The grates are in perfect condition & I can't find anything else wrong besides the mouse & nest that's in it. Lol
Other than the sheet metal & re-plating the nickel parts, I wouldn't think that it will cost a lot to restore.

Is this stove going to be worth putting the money & effort into the restoration? What kind of value would it have if restored?

I've had a few barrels made for Warm morning 520 and Locke 120 coal stoves and the build should be much like yours. Mine where done by a local machine/welding shop. Here in Iowa every town has a repair shop capable of rolling steel.

Used 16 g mild steel. This allowed for the seam to be overlapped and welded.

Cost was $173.00 material & labor. I just gave them the original rusted out barrel and stove top (to check fit) and they built to that spec.

Here are some photos.

Holy crap Buck, looks like ya got an organized shop there

freetown fred wrote:Holy crap Buck, looks like ya got an organized shop there

Not really, you caught me on a good day, I lost a dog in there once, poor little guy survived on old sandwiches and cold coffee for a week before I found him.

Buck47 wrote:I've had a few barrels made for Warm morning 520 and Locke 120 coal stoves and the build should be much like yours. Mine where done by a local machine/welding shop. Here in Iowa every town has a repair shop capable of rolling steel.

Used 16 g mild steel. This allowed for the seam to be overlapped and welded.

Cost was $173.00 material & labor. I just gave them the original rusted out barrel and stove top (to check fit) and they built to that spec.

Those look nice, but I wonder if the shops would have the equipment to roll the rings into the barrel like the original barrel has? It might not be necessary, but I'm kind of anal about trying to keep it like original, if I can. That's why I hesitate to use a 30 gallon drum.

You could inquire via sheet metal shops in the area. Search out a larger well established shop. I went thru something similar recently and I can tell you when you step into the realm of 16-14 gage stock the tight flanges and bead rolling are in a specialized big equipment zone. You have to find the correct machine and tooling to achieve what you are doing. You won't be happy with less than your ideal, so hunt it down and take the guy a dozen donuts when you find him,Good Luck Mike

Those look nice, but I wonder if the shops would have the equipment to roll the rings into the barrel like the original barrel has? It might not be necessary, but I'm kind of anal about trying to keep it like original, if I can. That's why I hesitate to use a 30 gallon drum

I wanted thicker steel than the original which I found surprisingly thin.

stovepipemike is correct -

"when you step into the realm of 16-14 gage stock the tight flanges and bead rolling are in a specialized big equipment zone"

I'd be interested in your progress -- keep us posted.

Regards: john