Wood Stoves: restoration hints and where to find parts & info, p.1 of 3

CRAWFORD
Crawford stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

Q. I also am interested in the refinishing of these wood stoves as I have two old Crawfords and one Glenwood baseburner that I want to restore.
One of the Crawfords has a cracked back and I would like to find out where to get it recast or where to find a new back to replace it with.

Anyone with any information also on who will re-nickel let me know. Thanks

Q. I have a C. 1809-1910 Crawford Fortress stove which has graced our summer home's kitchen for years. It was converted to oil (I believe kerosene, with two burners under the left two cooking plates)back in the 40's and we used it for heating through till the early 80's. I disconnected it as I felt it was not overly safe and it has not been used since. The stove is in great shape but since it has not been used for the past 30 years for anything other than a food prep area, the finish has deteriorated a bit (stains, a bit of surface rust, nickel discolored / pitted), etc. I would like to both refinish / restore the stove to bring back it's natural beauty, as well as, remove the oil burners and either replace with a propane gas kit, or go back to basics and get it back to wood.

Any advise or counsel on the questions below would be very helpful:

1) I want to re-plate the nickel pieces and would love to get a recommendation of a good plater. I read that it is very important to pick a good plater since quality varies considerably. I live in the Boston area and would appreciate any input on people that do a good job at a reasonable price.

2) What is the best way to restore the black finish? I heard that sand blasting is the best but that would require a disassembly and shipping it to a restorer or sand blaster. I really want to do it myself and would like to hear of any chemicals, mechanical devices or methods to restore in place.

2a) What is the best solution or chemical to clean up & degrease? Simple soap/water, or would a more aggressive chemical or solution speed up the process?

2b) Is it advisable to sand or wire brush the exterior once the grease and dirt is removed?
2c) Is there anything I need to consider with regard to preparing the surface for refinishing?

3) What is the best refinishing material, stove black?, High Heat spray paint?, If paint, was the original finish Flat, Matte, Semi-Gloss, Gloss, etc. I see that some restoration companies sell finishing paints but don't know if it is necessary to buy something special or simple paint from Lowes would work best.

4) Is it practical to think I can restore the stove in place without really messing up the kitchen? It would take a lot of convincing for me to get my wife to allow me to disassemble the stove, but if it is a must do, I could start working on it now ... any general advise is appreciated on this.

5) Any advise on propane gas kits for a six burner Crawford would be appreciated. I would like a burner kit that lays under the plates so when in use, you do not see the gas flame.

Many Thanks.

Chuck

Q. MY DAD HAS A CRAWFORD WOOD BURNING COOKSTOVE IN HIS KITCHEN.HE USES IT EVERYDAY, IN FLORIDA! IT'S BEEN A COLD WINTER THERE. THE FRONT HAS ABOUT A 4" THERMOSTAT. IT IS BROKEN. WHERE CAN HE FIND A REPLACEMENT? PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU, DEBRA

Q. My husband and I just purchased an older wood burning stove. We are unsure how old it is or if we got a good deal? (We paid $200) When we purchased it, the man told us that it needed to be sealed with a fireproof sealer ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . It can come apart and also needs some sort of a sealer on the door ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . This particular stove has a claw foot style at the bottom with a ash pan and a sliding vent. It has a round belly with a door, then a top piece with a cast iron circle lid on top. I have been unable to find it on the internet to compare prices, or find something out about it. If anyone knows any info. about my stove, I would greatly appreciate it:-)

BREAKFAST

Q. Have you ever heard of the Breakfast stoves made in Pa used in the early 1800s and do you have a picture of one. We found a door with that name and trying to find out info.

Q. Hi, am redoing a older wood stove for my teacher, and one of the legs is broken. is there a place that I can find NEW set.

Ed. note: A list of current sources for parts is now maintained in the Introduction at the top of the page

QUINCY
Quincy stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

Q. My mother asks if you have any books on Quincy stoves [adv: item on eBay & AbeBooks & Amazon affil links] . In the back of the stove is the numbers 43m467 and under that it read oil fire Monogram heater. Do you have any idea what year it was made and any information how to operate it. If so please answer soon as she plans to use this for her house to heat this year.

Q. Hi, we are inquiring about a Monogram stove 4c80, Monogram Industries, Quincy, Ill. Can you tell me if it is a gas, coal or wood burning stove?

Q. Hello,
I recently purchased a camp that has a Quincy Stove Manufacturing Co. Monogram wood/ gas stove in it. Is it possible to use wood in for the heat in the oven section of this stove? and if so, How would I go about doing this?

KALAMAZOO
Kalamazoo stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

Q. I am in the same process as you on a old Kalamazoo wood cook stove, What help have you found, and tips on care and where to find parts.

Ed. note: A list of current sources for parts is now maintained in the Introduction at the top of the page

Q. I purchased a Kalamazoo Presidential coal/wood cook stove. Does anyone have an installation manual or advice as to a thru the wall installation?

Q. Hey Everybody. In a jam and trying to find a door for cooking wood stove. I have a Kalamazoo wood stove. The dimensions are 8 1/2 wide by 6 1/2 high, between hinges is 3 5/8. Was a creme color, but don't care what color it is. Someone took a torch and cut part of the bottom off

Q. Beautiful Antique Stove! Please Help Me Find Information! I have been given a small cast iron stove. I'm a new hobbyist and have been restoring this stove for some time. The problem I have come across is that after cleaning the rust off this stove, I cannot find any numbers or name on this. I have been searching the internet and contacting numerous people trying to figure out what I have, so far I have gotten nowhere. To best explain my stove I can only say this: It looks like a cross between a baseburner stove and a parlor stove. The cylinder stands about 20 inches off the base and to best explain it, looks ribbed. The base is square with a small a rectangle vent at the bottom front which I do have an engraved cover for it. Off the front is the tray which comes out approx. 10 inches. The top of the cylinder is a flat ring with an engraved cover for it. The stove and details engraved are all black, there is no signs of ever having any plating on it. The height of this stove is almost 26 to 30 inches tall. I was told that it would have possibly been used as a small heating stove. The stove came with 4 different handles, only one has a number and I am not sure if this would help in any way. If there is any that could help me, I would really appreciate it. I am awaiting photos to put up.

MILLER
Miller stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

Q. My mother recently purchased an antique Miller stove. I believe it is made of enamel and porcelain. She asked me to find information about how to restore it and find parts for it and I'm not having very much luck. If anyone has any information regarding this, please let me know. Thanks.

Ed. note: A list of current sources for parts is now maintained in the Introduction at the top of the page

Q. Anyone know of any good sites to buy old stove parts?
Thanks.
Tim

Ed. note: A list of current sources for parts is now maintained in the Introduction at the top of the page

JACOBS
Jacobs stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

Q. Purchased at an Estate Auction a Jacobs Manufacturing, Bridgeport, Al wood burning kitchen stove...Model #88-18. Would very much like to have the right hand end shelf that attaches to it. Have been researching this for sometime now and am coming up empty handed. If anyone has any ideas or solutions would greatly appreciate a reply. Thanks!

Carole Lowe
- Burlington, North Carolina
2007

Q. Hello my name is V beaver. I was given a very small wood cook stove that needs to be restored. It was made by Jacob Manufacturing Co, in Bridgeport Alabama. There is writing on the oven that says "Wonder". I have been looking for information but can't find any. This little stove has a burner that is made to keep hot cereals from burning, very different than any I have ever seen. If anyone knows where I can get any information on this stove please help!

Q. We just bought a Jacobs Cook stove. Very small. The metal tag on back says Jacob's Heater corporation, Athens Alabama. Model # 117 540. We were told it's Wood/coal stove. We would like to buy new fire brick for this and CANNOT seem to find where to get them. Also need a grate shaker handle.
Thanks for any help....it's really appreciated.

Firebrick

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi Theresa. Fire brick is available on eBay and Amazon ⇨
and probably from local fireplace shops. It is very easily cut with a concrete saw (wear a dust mask ⇦[this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] at the very least!). I don't see why a homeowner couldn't use a tile saw if it's big enough to accommodate the thickness of the firebrick. Just check that the brick is the right thickness for your stove, then cut to the shape you need if standard size doesn't fit. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Q. I have a Diamond King wood burning cook stove made by Jacob's Mfg. Bridgeport Ala. that was used by my Husband's Grandmother. It seems to be all there, just needs TLC. Our problems, first, I can't find any information online about "Kitchen King" stoves. The oven door, although it does not seem broken or any parts missing, has no catch or way of staying closed.I would appreciate any help or advise anyone out there has. Thanks

Q. I have an old Jacobs Mfg co wood cook stove with the Diamond King name on it. There are some things on this stove I am not sure about. Controls ... There is a piece in the back with a protector spring on it; don't know what it does. There is also a flap under the oven door and don't know what that does either. Thanks for any help.

Q. Good afternoon, is there any information available regarding Jacobs Potbelly stoves? I have recently picked up a No 117 P from the curbside. Thanks!

GLENWOOD / GLEN
Glenwood/Glen stoves, parts, memorabilia on eBay [affil link]

A. TO CAROLE LOWE, I have a Glenwood F iron cook stove, one of the black iron type with nickel trim. It is missing a shelf on one side, and I have visited and written to folks who sell and restore them, but the response is always the same: They have dozens of these shelves, but don't want to part with them. The reason is because they make a lot more money restoring and selling a whole stove than they would if they sold me one shelf.

A. Hi Carole, hi Erika.

I'm not saying it's dead easy to find the right shop, but a small foundry (maybe even a hobbyist specializing in it) can pretty easily make a replacement casting, especially if you already have one of the item, so a sand pattern can be made directly from it. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Q. Just recently purchased a 1913/14 Glenwood wood burning stove. Need to find the fire grates. Area is 12 1/2Lx 13 1/2W. Any suggestions for who may have them would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your help.

Q. I have old wood parlor stove each piece is marked Glen w p 1903,1903 5 1903 2 3 etc. I am not having lot of luck figuring out how to assemble all the parts or if it is a remanufactured piece or a nice find. Please help.