Besides Gwbase Heater #6's /#8's ...What Else?

Speaking strictly about function.

(1.) Are the GW Base Heaters special for a particular reason?

(2.) Are there other similarly functioning base heaters or cylinder stoves that are just as good or perhaps function better?

(3.) Do the GW's and similar stoves have the ability to burn not only wood, but both Ant. and Bit. coals? I'd prefer to burn Anthracite and wood only as a last resort.

I realize there other stoves with more bling, so I don't really want to talk about the looks as much as how much heat and for how long.

Although...life is too short to have to live with an ugly stove. LOL!

Hoytman wrote:Speaking strictly about function.

(1.) Are the GW Base Heaters special for a particular reason?

(2.) Are there other similarly functioning base heaters or cylinder stoves that are just as good or perhaps function better?

(3.) Do the GW's and similar stoves have the ability to burn not only wood, but both Ant. and Bit. coals? I'd prefer to burn Anthracite and wood only as a last resort.

I realize there other stoves with more bling, so I don't really want to talk about the looks as much as how much heat and for how long.

Although...life is too short to have to live with an ugly stove. LOL!

1). Yes, several reasons! They route exhaust gasses outside the stove via a separate casting to down below the ash pan drawer to give the gasses more time and surface area to shed heat into the room. This casting hast the ability to send gasses directly to the chimney (direct draft) or under the ash pan (base heat) by means of a manually operated damper. Secondly, they were engineered with a set of castings that allowed secondary air to become superheated before evenly spreading it across the entire top surface of the coal bed. This system allowed coal gasses to ignite and burn with a high degree of efficiency before they exited the stove. Also the load door also has a separate secondary air regulator for helping to burn wood & Bit coal efficiently as well. These two features allow the efficient burning of three sources of fuel, Anthracite & Bituminous coal and wood. The manufacturers also offered a "magazine" which allowed additional coal to be stored above the fire pot to lengthen the burn without adding fresh coal if desired/necessary. They are very well built, engineered, efficient & beautiful stoves. Several other manufacturers made a similar type of stove.

2). Another type "return flue" (base heater/burner) style stove was manufactured that differed from the 6 & 8 style by internally routing exhaust gasses around the fire pot, (the 6 & 8 fire pot is very similar to a "pot belly" type). This type of stove, by using gasses to "insulate" the coal bed, allows the stove to be run over a very wide range of temperatures. This system also ensures every last piece of coal gets burned. It's so efficient that the engineers did not bother to put a separate secondary air system in it to burn volatile coal gasses as the design does not seem to require it. However, these types of stoves were not designed for any fuel other than Anthracite. Wood grates were sold for them to use well seasoned wood in a pinch. This style also routes gasses under the ash pan, although some manufactures only went down the side of the ash drawer and not fully underneath. Additionally some of these stoves had a small oven in the top casting for cooking pies, stews, casseroles and such. One, unique feature of this type stove is the internal check damper that routes primary air from under the grate's to the stove pipe. This allows dust free servicing of the stove. This style stove was manufactured by all the major brands. Crawford, Stewart and Magee being my favorite design's

3). See answer # 1.

Both styles are great examples of turn of the century engineering with features that are simply not available today at any price point.

The Glenwoods are also special in that their high quality means a better than average survival rate. That's why there are so many still around.

Paul

Hoytman wrote:Speaking strictly about function.

(1.) Are the GW Base Heaters special for a particular reason?

(2.) Are there other similarly functioning base heaters or cylinder stoves that are just as good or perhaps function better?

(3.) Do the GW's and similar stoves have the ability to burn not only wood, but both Ant. and Bit. coals? I'd prefer to burn Anthracite and wood only as a last resort.

I realize there other stoves with more bling, so I don't really want to talk about the looks as much as how much heat and for how long.

Although...life is too short to have to live with an ugly stove. LOL!

If you want to burn Bituminous coal, something along the lines of a Florence Hotblast would work

Here is Grumpy's Florence Hotblast thread: I Thought I Would Share. Hot Blast #153 Restoration

Hot blast type parlor stoves, or one of the base heaters with a "gas ring", such as the Glenwood #6 and #8.

The gas ring gives even distribution of preheated secondary air right around the top edge of the firebed to better burn off of the higher amount of volatiles of Bit coal. We have some members that are burning Bit coal well in the Glenwood base heaters.

And, one of our members, Wilsons Woodstoves, restores antiques stoves and has been able to adapt those Glenwood gas rings to work in other makes of base heaters.

Paul

Are you thinking of purchasing an antique stove Hoytman? What are your requirements?

Antique base heaters, hot blast designs for Bituminous, Oaks with indirect back pipes or the highly ornate mica base heaters which graced the homes of the well to do; all of these are worth of consideration.
You have so many superior features in most antique stoves that you just won't find in any modern box stove.
Don't be fooled by the nickel trim and fancy finials on top. These stoves are highly engineered, scientifically designed units that maximize the combustion characteristics of the fuel the stove was made for. They get the most BTU's possible out of a lump of coal.
They also use the nature of heat transfer to take that produced heat out of the stove and put it into the room.
No modern box stove can come close to the unbelievable efficiency of a base heater.
I often use this comparison: Modern box stove = ox cart with wooden wheels. Antique base burner/heater = Ferrari.

The drawback is that the demand for the old stoves is tremendous and therefore a restored one may be expensive, but; in my opinion they are worth it and they pay you back many times over for what you initially paid for it.

joeq wrote:Are you thinking of purchasing an antique stove Hoytman? What are your requirements?

Yes...because of the guy on youtube and his Glennwood #6...I am leaning heavily towards purchasing an antique...but after I move into the new house and after I sell mine...unless I come across a stove on the cheap that's in need of a caretaker and a refinishing. That's something I'd enjoy doing...more than once. Would fit right in with my cast iron skillet hobby my son and I started a few years ago.

Requirements:
Well, other than needing to heat 1300 sq.ft. at the moment, and maybe more if we later add on to the house, I don't have any other thoughts on requirements since I'm just now starting to look and learn.

I love the things of the past and the old ways. We don't build anything like that in this country anymore...so some of us younger folks have to step up and take interest in preserving old things or they'll be gone forever.

I thank God for the men and women who had the foresight to save these pieces of American Heritage for generations to come. I wish more folks were interested in them. I thank God my wife and son (10) are interested. My son can fix a breakfast fit for a king, even at 10 years old...and he loves doing it in Pappy and Mammy's cast iron skillets. He can even season them on his own. He's interested in refinishing old skillets and wants to get into finding these old stoves too. Lord help us!!! LOL!!!

I wonder if that fella with #6 on youtube is a forum member here or anywhere else? Until seeing that video about a month ago I had only seen the old pot bellied stoves (never have seen one in action though), and a few old Warm Morning stoves that my great aunt had and one down at the old feed mill, now gone.

Here's a link to my thread with pics.
Hoytman @ A Place for a New Stove (Pics)

Yes he is a member of this group of nuts
He posted right below your last post, wsherrick.

Hoytman wrote:

joeq wrote:Are you thinking of purchasing an antique stove Hoytman? What are your requirements?

Yes...because of the guy on youtube and his Glennwood #6...I am leaning heavily towards purchasing an antique...but after I move into the new house and after I sell mine...unless I come across a stove on the cheap that's in need of a caretaker and a refinishing. That's something I'd enjoy doing...more than once. Would fit right in with my cast iron skillet hobby my son and I started a few years ago.

Requirements:
Well, other than needing to heat 1300 sq.ft. at the moment, and maybe more if we later add on to the house, I don't have any other thoughts on requirements since I'm just now starting to look and learn.

I love the things of the past and the old ways. We don't build anything like that in this country anymore...so some of us younger folks have to step up and take interest in preserving old things or they'll be gone forever.

I thank God for the men and women who had the foresight to save these pieces of American Heritage for generations to come. I wish more folks were interested in them. I thank God my wife and son (10) are interested. My son can fix a breakfast fit for a king, even at 10 years old...and he loves doing it in Pappy and Mammy's cast iron skillets. He can even season them on his own. He's interested in refinishing old skillets and wants to get into finding these old stoves too. Lord help us!!! LOL!!!

I wonder if that fella with #6 on youtube is a forum member here or anywhere else? Until seeing that video about a month ago I had only seen the old pot bellied stoves (never have seen one in action though), and a few old Warm Morning stoves that my great aunt had and one down at the old feed mill, now gone.

Here's a link to my thread with pics.
Hoytman @ A Place for a New Stove (Pics)

Well then, I have just the kind of antique stove that will go very well with that cast iron skillet hobby,.....
Cookin' With Coal

Paul

wsherrick wrote:Antique base heaters, hot blast designs for Bituminous, Oaks with indirect back pipes or the highly ornate mica base heaters which graced the homes of the well to do; all of these are worth of consideration.
You have so many superior features in most antique stoves that you just won't find in any modern box stove.
Don't be fooled by the nickel trim and fancy finials on top. These stoves are highly engineered, scientifically designed units that maximize the combustion characteristics of the fuel the stove was made for. They get the most BTU's possible out of a lump of coal.
They also use the nature of heat transfer to take that produced heat out of the stove and put it into the room.
No modern box stove can come close to the unbelievable efficiency of a base heater.
I often use this comparison: Modern box stove = ox cart with wooden wheels. Antique base burner/heater = Ferrari.

The drawback is that the demand for the old stoves is tremendous and therefore a restored one may be expensive, but; in my opinion they are worth it and they pay you back many times over for what you initially paid for it.

Thanks! Lot of good input in that post.

There is one thing I forgot as a requirement...

...and my mind could be changed on this...but I'd like to be able to cook on my stove if need be. That said, I was thinking about being able to use a #10 Griswold Dutch oven and at least another skillet. Like I said though, it's not totally necessary since I'll have a propane gas range to use should the electric go out.

scalabro wrote:Yes he is a member of this group of nuts
He posted right below your last post, wsherrick.

Well...I'll be darn. LOL!!!

Hoytman wrote:

wsherrick wrote:Antique base heaters, hot blast designs for Bituminous, Oaks with indirect back pipes or the highly ornate mica base heaters which graced the homes of the well to do; all of these are worth of consideration.
You have so many superior features in most antique stoves that you just won't find in any modern box stove.
Don't be fooled by the nickel trim and fancy finials on top. These stoves are highly engineered, scientifically designed units that maximize the combustion characteristics of the fuel the stove was made for. They get the most BTU's possible out of a lump of coal.
They also use the nature of heat transfer to take that produced heat out of the stove and put it into the room.
No modern box stove can come close to the unbelievable efficiency of a base heater.
I often use this comparison: Modern box stove = ox cart with wooden wheels. Antique base burner/heater = Ferrari.

The drawback is that the demand for the old stoves is tremendous and therefore a restored one may be expensive, but; in my opinion they are worth it and they pay you back many times over for what you initially paid for it.

Thanks! Lot of good input in that post.

There is one thing I forgot as a requirement...

...and my mind could be changed on this...but I'd like to be able to cook on my stove if need be. That said, I was thinking about being able to use a #10 Griswold Dutch oven and at least another skillet. Like I said though, it's not totally necessary since I'll have a propane gas range to use should the electric go out.

BTW, antique ranges are base heaters, too. But don't tell William I said that.

Paul

Well then, I have just the kind of antique stove that will go very well with that cast iron skillet hobby,.....
Cookin' With Coal

Paul[/quote]
My Lord!!!! Your'e killin' me...133 pages in that link. Looks like I'll be up awhile on that one.

Some high end, pre turn of the century base heaters, globe stoves and radiant stoves, had small ovens and cook plates built into the exhaust casting on the rear of the stove.