History of Wood Burning Stoves
A foundry in Lynn, Massachusetts was the first to construct a wood stove of cast iron plates. The boxy invention was introduced in 1642. Does this Spark an idea?
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Franklin's Stove
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Revolutionary patriot Benjamin Franklin developed his own cast iron stove design in 1744. His Pennsylvania fireplace surpassed the efficiency of other inventions, and is still a popular heating stove today.
Variations
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For about two centuries, the basic concept of a sealed firebox and controlled air intake did not evolve much, except in form. Shapes ranged from simple box stoves, to compact pot-bellies and convoluted Alsatian cylinder patterns.
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Wood Cookstoves
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In 1900, Benjamin Thompson, an American and a British spy, invented the first metal wood-fired cookstove, suitable for castle kitchens. Philo Stewart followed with a compact cast iron home kitchen version in 1834, which was so popular that 90,000 were purchased by 1864.
Modern Changes
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The oil crisis of the 1970s created new interest in wood stoves, and new efficiency standards. Regulations issued by the EPA in 1988 prompted innovative designs, with long burn times, and low pollution levels.
Modern Materials
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Modern wood stoves utilize airtight construction, and both steel and aluminum parts, in addition to cast iron. Other improvements include firebrick linings for greater heat retention, and catalytic converters to burn waste fumes.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Alsatian Stove from Wikipedia Commons at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fouday-Po%C3%AAle.jpg
