Pot belly stoves are an American tradition. Known as Franklin stoves, barrel, cylinder or parlor stoves as well as by several other names, these stoves were used in by-gone days to heat public places, to heat homes, and as a means of cooking food in the home or commercial setting. In the past, the stoves burned either wood or coal but today many replicas of antique pot belly stoves and even some real antiques have been converted so they can burn alternative fuel sources such as gas, pellets or one of the many other alternative fuels becoming ever more popular.
Made of cast iron, the traditional pot belly stove has a rounded middle section, reminiscent of a pig’s distended belly. Many of them have flat tops with removable grates to provide cooking surfaces. Others have enclosed tops and are used only to generate warmth for the home. The oldest traditional designs often stood on claw feet but more modern design have other types of bases. The door is hinged to allow a wide opening in order to place wood into the fire box and remove ashes and unburned fuel.
It can difficult to locate a genuine antique stove with a pot belly but there are many affordable replicas available in a wide variety of designs. These designs compliment any home that has a country décor or an Early American theme in furniture and accessories. The practical part of the pot belly stove is the heating efficiency. Compared to traditional open fireplaces, these units are much more efficient and today’s most modern replica designs offer extremely high efficiency ratings. The efficiency of a heat source is determined by how much of the fuel is consumed compared to how much is left as ash or other reside or exhausted through the stove pipe or chimney as smoke and gases.
Some pot belly stoves feature windows which allow you to see the fire inside. This makes it easy to see when more wood or fuel should be added to the stove. Today’s modern models even incorporate thermometers and thermostats, especially those which burn gas or alternative fuels.
Genuine antique pot belly stoves can be found in models as tall as six feet or as short as three feet in height. Some have fancy, highly detailed scroll work and embellishments while others are quite plain. Models with nickel to provide some silvery shine can be found to add charm to the cast iron.
If you want to add a pot belly stove to your home, be sure you have sufficient floor space because these stoves do require wall clearance for the stove and stove pipes. It is also a good idea to have a professional installer take care of installation unless you are quite knowledgeable and handy with this type of work. The installation must meet fire codes and zoning codes in your locale. The stove pipe exits through the roof of your house where a chimney cap prevents rain from coming into the home. If this part of the installation is not done correctly, leaks and drafts are possible.
i have a pot belly like the second one pictured on this page on the hearth it reads no.2 extra heavy bardes foundry cincinnati i would like to have more info on it if you could help