Hello Harman MKIII - Bye Colebrookdale Darby

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Scottyjr
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Posts: 5
Joined: Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 10:07 am
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman MKIII
Coal Size/Type: Nut
Other Heating: Ceiling radiant electric

Post by Scottyjr » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 11:03 am

Hello All. I'm located in Pottstown, PA. I moved out my 30 year friend, a Colebrookdale Darby. A real nice looking cast iron stove. Didn't have reason to stop using it other than maintaining the stove itself; the inability to get parts (at least at a reasonable price). Now I'm glad that happened. Last night was the first use of a Harman MKIII. I'm initially very impressed. My first surprise was when I started a wood fire. That stove got hot quickly. The Darby would have taken a long time to get moderately warm even considering that there is more mass to heat in the Darby. This 3000 sq.ft. house is a lot warmer now too. Although early in this relationship, I get a sense that I'll be using less coal now (Reading anthracite nut with BIG nuts). I think I can get more useful BTUs out of the MKIII especially with the forced air heat exchange. I suspect a lot of the heat went up the chimney with the Darby. Another thing I like over the Darby is the shaker operation. Too much did not make it through the passages between the Darby's grate bars and pea coal got stuck at the ends of the bars, limiting shaker travel.

I have a new friend.

So what do I do with the Darby now? Is there any interest in procurement of it for any reason or is it most likely going to end up at the recycling yard?

- Scotty

 
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freetown fred
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Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 11:35 am

Pix S, we gotta have pix!! :)

 
franco b
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Posts: 11416
Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
Location: Kent CT
Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
Coal Size/Type: nut and pea

Post by franco b » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 11:51 am

The Darby is among the best looking modern stoves.

Put it on craigslist.


 
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michaelanthony
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Posts: 4550
Joined: Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 10:42 pm
Location: millinocket,me.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant 2310, gold marc box stove
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Gold Marc Independence
Baseburners & Antiques: Home Sparkle 12
Coal Size/Type: 'nut
Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace

Post by michaelanthony » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 9:37 pm

How many pairs of boots do you have? What do you do if you lose power with a fan assist stove?...or if you need a new blower motor? Nothing wrong with having a back up, or 3! :lol:

edit: that darby is a handsome stove!

 
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Hambden Bob
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Posts: 8535
Joined: Mon. Jan. 04, 2010 10:54 am
Location: Hambden Twp. Geauga County,Ohio
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman 1998 Magnum Stoker
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Blower Model Coal Chubby 1982-Serial#0097
Coal Size/Type: Rice-A-Roni ! / Nut
Other Heating: Pro-Pain Forced Air

Post by Hambden Bob » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 10:42 pm

Yeah ! Yeah ! You tell 'em,MA !! Coal Stovus Pack Rattus will be setting in upon this Poor Man !!

 
titleist1
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Posts: 5226
Joined: Wed. Nov. 14, 2007 4:06 pm

Post by titleist1 » Mon. Dec. 18, 2017 9:49 am

I happily used a Mark III for about 20 years before going the girly man route with my current stoker. I still have the Mark III in the corner of the basement ready for service in times of long power outages (since it doesn't have to have the blower). I got to use it last year for a few days! :D It's a nice heat monster!

The grates do well to clear ash but you may find the need to scrape along the firebrick on the sides and the back once a week or so to get rid of built up ash that the grates don't get rid of. I used a regular fireplace poker to do that effectively. I could see when the stove didn't run as hot at the normal air settings and know it was time to scrape.

I had a spare blower but never had one go bad. My Harman stoker has the same distribution fan. I swap them out and then clean the crud off the blades, oil it a little and have it on the shelf for the next cleaning cycle. I still use a blower in the rotation from the original Mark III bought in 1992.

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