Stoves and Heater Compilation.Pdf

Stoves and Heaters

Lost-in-Time Museum Introduction

As popularity and affordability of kerosene lamps increased, advantages other than a convenient light source became evident. The large amount of heat produced by kerosene lamps spawned a new market: portable stoves and heaters. Some models were exclusive to one purpose, others served as lamp, heater, and stove. Lamp manufacturers often produced stoves and heaters in addition to their line of lamps.

Lamp Stoves Time-Period: 1870’s through 1890’s

Kitchen cook stoves were hot, dirty, and required daily maintenance. The concept of a small, portable stove that did not heat an entire room, was easy to light, did not require constant cleaning, and above all, was portable, provided relief for many households.

‘Lamp Stoves’, a reference to their similarity with oil lamps, were a transitional link to later stove designs using kerosene, gas, and eventually electricity as a fuel source. The traditional water heater, attached to the kitchen cook stove, would also be affected by these changes of energy source.

Lamp stoves were basic in design to that of a flat wick lamp, having a font, wick, and chimney. A sturdy metal frame with a flat top, designed for heating various items such as pots and kettles, replaced the otherwise fragile, glass chimney and font. Lamp manufacturers did offer heating attachments for glass lamps that were mounted on top of the chimney, but they proved to be too fragile and marketplace acceptance was mixed. Lamp stove wicks were usually about four inches wide and as many as four wicks were used in one stove, each requiring a chimney for control of the flame. A viewing window was provided for each wick to observe the flame. Mica sheeting, a thin, transparent sheet of heat resistant, crystallized mineral, was often used in place of glass. Some stoves had a large window to provide illumination as well as heat: a finger loop, similar to that of a finger lamp, was often part of this design.

Portable Heaters

Portable heaters provided warmth independent of the main household system, allowing greater freedom for activities in various parts of the home. Initial designs copied the two main styles of lamps: dead-flame flat wick, and center- draft round wick.

Flat Wick Kerosene Heaters Time-Period: late 1800’s to early 1900’s

Early flat wick heaters were essentially multiple kerosene lamps inside of a fireproof enclosure, usually made of metal, making the heater durable and easy to move about the home.

Round Wick Kerosene Heaters Time-Period: late 1800’s to present day

This style is fundamentally a large, center-draft, round wick lamp with a metal enclosure in place of a glass chimney. The metal enclosure regulated airflow to the flame and provided support for a top cap, which in some models doubled as a cooking surface. Round wick heaters used today still follow center-draft design basics.

Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: Patent date on font: June 1877 Patent date on wick raiser: March 29, 1881

Manufactured by: no identifying marks

Single wick with glass font, two large, mica windows.

‘Ideal H1’ Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by New York Hollow Ware Co.

Single wick, finger loop, metal font, one large mica window.

‘Beatrice’ Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Beatrice Foundry, England

Single wick, single grip, enamel-covered font, one mica window. See Beatrice #33 double wick stove.

‘Beatrice #33’ Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Beatrice Foundry, England

Double wick, dual grip, enamel-covered font two mica windows. See Beatrice single wick stove.

‘Brightest and Best #2’ Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Glazier Stove Company, Chelsea Michigan

Double wick, two mica windows.

Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: C.O. & C.S. Company, Gardner, MS

Triple wick stove, three mica windows.

‘Beacon’ Kerosene Lamp Stove

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: no identifying marks

Double wick, sheet metal frame, font, and drip tray.

‘Valley Star’ Kerosene Heater

Manufactured by: The Wheeling Stove and Range Company of Wheeling, WV

An excellent example of transitional design from lamp to heater. Two duplex, #3 size, flat wick burners (single burners are displayed) provided the heat equivalent of eight standard household kerosene lamps. Glass chimneys control and protect the flame while also permeating the room with light, giving the unit the feel of a fireplace. A pleated copper reflector increases the efficiency of both heat and light distribution.

‘Reznor Radiant No.1’ Gas Heater

Time-Period: late 1890’s through early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Reznor Co., Mercer, PA

Similar in design to the Valley Star lamp heater.

‘Lawson #0’ Gas Heater

Time-Period: early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Lawson Company, Pittsburgh PA

‘Clark Jewel’ Gas Heater

Time-Period: late 1890’s through early 1900’s

Manufactured by: Geo. M. Clark, Chicago Gas hose by New York Gas Tubing Company

‘Rome Auxiliary Heater’ Electric Heater

Time-Period: 1930’s

Manufactured by: Rome Mfg., Rome, NY

Copper frame, 660-watt heater. Notice the similarity of design and appearance to that of a kerosene heater, including the heating element, which mimics a center-draft lamp wick.

Kerosene Heater

Time-Period: dated 1898

Manufactured by: Standard Lighting Company Cleveland, OH

An early model employing the center-draft burner concept, this heater can also be used as a stove by removing the top cap.

‘Perfection 525’ Kerosene Heater

Time-Period: mid 1910’s

Manufactured by: The Perfection Stove Company Cleveland, Ohio

This piece was acquired in unused condition and is an excellent example of the original appearance of Perfection heaters.

‘Perfection 530’ Kerosene Heater

Time-Period: mid 1910’s

Manufactured by: The Perfection Stove Company Cleveland, Ohio

Similar in design to the 525, this unit has chrome accents and adjustable vents in the top cap.

‘Perfection 750 Firelight’ Kerosene Heater

Time-Period: 1950’s

Manufactured by: The Perfection Stove Company Cleveland, Ohio

The Pyrex glass-globe centerpiece mirrors early lamp, heater, and stove design concepts. The Firelight series was marketed as giving the warm glow of a fireplace.