Old Coal Furnaces

Have you guys ever seen those old chimneys that start on the 2nd floor and were held up by 2- 2X12 and had some shelfs in between for added strenth.I often wonder how they stayed up for so many decades.
DON

I believe they were called dwarf chimneys.

My fathers parents lived in a mill house with the large grate in the middle of the first floor allowing the heat from the hand fired coal furnace to come up to the 1st floor. On the dining room wall there was a small ornate cast iron pointer with cool --- warm embossed letters on the housing, two small chains from this control went to the basement and operated the air damper below the grates to control heat output. On the 2nd floor all the bed rooms had cast iron grates in the floor that opened to the dining room and living room below, my father and aunts regulated the room heat with these. In the kitchen was a coal fired range with water heating coils and a 30 gallon copper water tank for hot water, the kitchen range was converted to kerosene when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade (early 50's). As typical there was a wood framed coal bunker in the basement near the hot air furnace, I think there was a primitive humidifier in the furnace air plenum, can remember my grandfather adding water to the top of the furnace.

I wish I had that kitchen stove now. I love those old things. Of course trying to get my wife to actually cook on it would be impossible

BIG BEAM wrote:Have you guys ever seen those old chimneys that start on the 2nd floor and were held up by 2- 2X12 and had some shelfs in between for added strenth.I often wonder how they stayed up for so many decades.
DON

I've heard them called bracket chimneys. My grandparents home had one and it was supported by heavy wood framing like you described.

What happens when "The Old Man" fights with the coal furnace:

Love that movie.

rockwood wrote:

BIG BEAM wrote:Have you guys ever seen those old chimneys that start on the 2nd floor and were held up by 2- 2X12 and had some shelfs in between for added strenth.I often wonder how they stayed up for so many decades.
DON

I've heard them called bracket chimneys. My grandparents home had one and it was supported by heavy wood framing like you described.

A year's supply of lead and oakum to the first person to post a photo of a dwarf chimney...

If you google bracket chimney you might find some.

Wood'nCoal wrote:What happens when "The Old Man" fights with the coal furnace:

A Christmas Story is such a classic movie. I have seen it countless times, and I still laugh my head off. If someone had told me that I would one day be burning coal to help heat my home I would have never believed it!!!

bear creek burnout wrote:

I can remember my father throwing dead rats that he had caught in the traps into the coal fire.

BBQ @ Gambler's

LMAO!

Wood'nCoal wrote:

rockwood wrote: I've heard them called bracket chimneys. My grandparents home had one and it was supported by heavy wood framing like you described.

A year's supply of lead and oakum to the first person to post a photo of a dwarf chimney...

That may cost you a lot.I still use lead and oakum a lot,not much in the last 3 months or so!
DON

That may cost you a lot.

When Steam Heat with Radiators came out it was a big thing. They made a song about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPbv3KAThLY&featu ... 1&index=11

My cottage I use to own on the Cape still has just a floor furnace in the center of the house. The second floor use to get chilly.