Confused About This Franco Belge

Self Reliance · Post by **Self Reliance** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 9:16 am

Since I have never seen or used a hand fired coal stove before, I wonder if I am missing some internal parts for this Franco Belge. No manual. I have attached some pictures. Besides the center shaker grate being sheared in two, seems like something else may be missing because the coal would likely pour right into the ash pan. Despite the risk of looking like a complete idiot, perhaps some one who has some expertise with Franco Belge stoves can give me some advice on what I need to get this stove functioning. If it is just the center grate, that's one thing. If there's something else missing, I may have to re-think this. There's a Warm Morning up for sale locally, and if this Franco Belge is too far gone, I need to get it this weekend. Sorry, but I am new to all this. Thank you for your help.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 9:36 am

If the Warm Morning is still available, I'd get it.. You don't mention how big your house is, but a Warm morning is a pretty good heater from the information I've read on the forum..
Teh Franco Belge stoves however, are prone to cracking of the cast panels. Clogging of the exhaust passageways in the back of the stove.. The broker grate is not uncommon.. Do a search on the site for Franco Belge or Franco or Belge.. you will find several threads and lists of places to get parts for them..

Some people like the Franco B's but from what I've read on the forum, it is a 'light duty' stove, prone to clogging with ash and cracking,, The Warm Morning stoves seem to be pretty good and reliable.

The forum had one owner who installed ductwork over a warm morning and turned it into a quasi-furnace..

Hope this helps.. I'm sure some FB and WM owners will post soon.

How much is the asking price on the Warm Morning?

Greg L

Self Reliance · Post by **Self Reliance** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 10:28 am

The WM is a model 414....$100. Worth it? Problem is, I'd have to put it in the basement instead of upstairs in the living room. Actually, maybe not a problem at all...My house is 1800 sq feet...Thanks.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 10:50 am

Personally I'd buy the Warm Morning, and if you don't like it, it should sell for $3-500 if it is in good shape and looks presentable..

Teh size of coal both of theses stoves use is either 'Nut' or 'Pea' neither of these names describes the actual size of the coal,, there are a few threads on coal size on the forum.. Nut is roughly walnut up to golfball or maybe small chicken egg.. Pea is Martini Olive up to walnut in size.. very little would fall through the grates in the FB stove.. some smaller pieces might, but only when added to an empty and clean firebox/grate..

Hope this helps..

Greg L

envisage · Post by **envisage** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 11:12 am

I think you are going to get a lot more heat out of the Warm Morning. But then, considering my avatar, I have some bias!

Post by **Richard S.** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 11:55 am

That looks quite different than most of the Franco Belges' I have seen, the ones I'm familiar with have a internal hopper and 3 round shaker grates. I don't have a real picture but this would be cross section of typical Franco Belge. The "hopper" in the middle is a cast iron plate, there's an additional removable cast iron plate on the backside. The fire doesn't go up into the coal because all the air is being pulled towards the front. I don't see anywhere on your stove where this would go.

Self Reliance · Post by **Self Reliance** » Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 12:39 pm

Here's a picture of the upper backside...There is a small removable cast iron plate/damper that leads to the exhaust. As you can see from the 4th pic, the upper right part of the firebox has a lip that is not duplicated on the left side. Suggests to me that it is there for a reason...maybe it supports something else? Don't know.

Confused About This Franco Belge

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