Warm Memories of Our Old Coal Furnace

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Jmegena
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Joined: Wed. Apr. 05, 2023 8:25 am
Other Heating: Heat Pump Oil Backup

Post by Jmegena » Mon. Apr. 17, 2023 12:14 am

Who would have thought one could write a story around a Losch Series 900 Anthracite Stoker!

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davidmcbeth3
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Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Apr. 17, 2023 2:05 am

How many of his ex-wifes, now missing, went down that chute ? Ah, memories...good times. Back when I was a kid.....


 
hank2
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Joined: Sat. Dec. 10, 2011 4:07 pm
Location: Berks County
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1400 WH ciculator; 1880's small cannon in reserve
Coal Size/Type: Nut
Other Heating: small New Yorker oil fired boiler; mostly used for domestic HW

Post by hank2 » Thu. Apr. 20, 2023 12:24 am

Jmegena wrote:
Mon. Apr. 17, 2023 12:14 am
Who would have thought one could write a story around a Losch Series 900 Anthracite Stoker!
Great memories and nicely written. "You welcomed it on your cold face and hands, and it surrounded you like blankets in a warm bed you don't want to leave on a cold morning." :yes:

 
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StokerDon
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Location: PA, Southern York County!
Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Apr. 22, 2023 9:26 am

What a great story!

Thank you for making us aware of it. I have a lot of similar memories of my early childhood in a small town in Schuylkill county in the 1960's. The 3 story row homes that my grandparents lived in had the exposed steam pipes running from the coal boiler in the basement up to the third floor. And I burnt my finger on a steaming hot radiator more than once!

The Losch 350 and 475 were built like a Tank and would run for 40, 50 or 60 years before they needed to be rebuilt or replaced. These are some of the most common coal stoker boilers you can find in coal country basements. They burned the cheapest coal available and were very popular. Every coal supplier that I have used in the past 15 years used a Losch for their on personal use.

I had a Losch 475 for a while. Unfortunately, the stoker was missing a lot of parts so I put a Yellow Flame stoker in it. it worked great!

My New Toy, Losch Stoker Boiler
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-Don

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