Antique Wood Stoves: Classic Stoves For That Vintage Look

If you are on the lookout for an antique wood stove, you have plenty of choice, and the first thing you need to do is choose which type of stove you want. There are several designs and types of vintage wood burning stoves, but four of the main types are the cylinder stove, the pot belly stove, the Franklin stove and the parlor stove. All these designs are antique, and were produced in bulk around the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth. All have slightly different uses, and this article will take a look at each type and give some basic information and what needs to be considered before purchase.

The cylinder stove is usually a large stove, and can therefore be used to heat large space. Originally they were often used in businesses such as stores and restaurants, and nowadays the owner of an antique cylinder stove is likely to be a person who wants to heat a large space such as a workshop or artists studio. Many of the vintage cylinder stoves were produced during the Victorian era, and so have a lot of design elements. However these stoves are highly efficient, and much of the design work can actually help the stove to put out more heat. A cylinder stove will have an ashtray, which needs to be cleaned regularly, while draft controls will control the amount of air reaching the wood and regulate the amount of heat produced.

Potbelly Stove

The potbelly stove is one of the classic vintage wood stove designs, and as such is often sought after by those looking to add a vintage design element to a room. However, these stoves are excellent at heating rooms, and with their various sizes can be used for heating anything from a small living room to a large studio. The ash pan should be easy to remove and clean, and draft controls should effectively regulate the burn rate and heat produced by the stove. A potbelly can sometimes have a cooklid, which can be used to heat drinks or even cook a pan of food.

Franklin stoves are often known as Franklin Fireplaces, because a fireplace is actually what a Franklin stove is. However, the Franklin stove was designed to get rid of the problems with the traditional fireplace, which is that they were very smoky and inefficient. The Franklin stove is highly efficient, and allows much of the heat to go into the room, while at the same time giving the aesthetic qualities of real flames. With an antique Franklin stove you get the benefit of a stove's efficiency but the look of a real fire. Many stoves are made from cast iron, and are generally best used to heat a large open space.

Antique Parlor Stove

If the space you want to heat is not large enough for a Franklin stove, then an antique parlor stove may be a better choice. The parlor stove is of an oblong design, and has somewhat the look of a fireplace, except that the flames are usually hidden behind the door of the stove, although some stoves have a removable grate that allows you to see the flames. Some parlor stoves have footrests to enable you to warm your feet, and others have cooklids, enabling you to make hot drinks or cook food such as stew. An antique parlor stove is a good choice for heating bedrooms and studios.

As you can see, there are many choices of antique wood stove, and the one you eventually buy will depend much on the size of the room to be heated. Whether you go for the classic cylinder stove, the vintage potbelly stove, the Franklin fireplace or a simple parlor stove, an antique wood stove can add a vintage look and some great warmth to any room.