BC Bibb Potomac - First Time Coal User

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NineSevenThree
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: BC Bibb Potomac

Post by NineSevenThree » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 8:17 am

Hello friends!

My wife and I just bought a house and it came with a Baltimore Heater. Actually - we just bought Baltimore Heater and it came with a house (ha!). It’s a BC Bibb Co “Potomac.”

It looks complete and we’re going to give it a trial run as soon as my local tractor supply re-stocks on nut coal. The kind folks on Reddit provided thorough instructions on lighting and safety. If I may beg the group’s expertise with a few technical questions, as a first-time coal user…

1. The stove has a push/pull rod on the left that opens the flue, and another on the right side whose function is unknown. What does the right side push/pull rod control, and what is the correct configuration for use?

2. There’s an arch-shaped sliding grate on top of the stove behind the magazine lid. It slides forward and backward to either block or allow airflow, but the push/pull rod to activate it is missing. What does this do, and shall I leave it in a default position, or replace the rod so I can control the grate from the front of the stove?

Any other tips or advice are welcome, including recommendations for an expert near Washington, DC. Photos attached. Thank you! Image

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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 10:33 am

It looks like the previous owners used it & left her in good shape--If it were me, I'd just do a test burn & see what happens---looks like you've done real good so far--AGAIN, light the old girl up----hopefully "WAL" will chime in--I believe he is our BALTIMORE guru in my opinion!!! :)

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 4:17 pm

Look how clean that liner is. Nice. I scope mine every 2 years.

 
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mntbugy
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Location: clearfield,pa
Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
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Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
Other Heating: Propain

Post by mntbugy » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 6:33 pm

DO NOT FIRE THIS HEATER!!

The rod on the left side controls draft/exhaust flow. Rod out sends exhaust straight out of stove and up chimney. Rod in sends exhaust into the left side exhaust pipe, down to bottom back side of stove. Across the backside to the right side exhaust pipe. Then up right side pipe to center exhaust pipe, then up chimney.

Top center left rod. Moves the luvers in the sheetmetal dog box cover. Rod out sends heated air up chimney chase (seperate from exhaust path) to room above stove, in the same chimney system, heating the room above. Rod in stops this function.

Top center right Rod out. Works the manual pipe damper in the open position, letting more air in stove for faster/hotter response times. Rod in slows everything down. Pic #4.

Lower right side rod is your check damper. Rod out, let's firebox air detour the fuel bed, making fire cooler on windy days. Rod in let's more air into firebox making fire hotter on less windy days.

I see alot of water damage around the lower left and right side. Water must be coming down chimney and getting into the stove body. Most likely the back side body and left and right exhaust pipes are rusted away to nothing.

The dome on top that slides front to back is the magazine cover. Fill stove with coal in front doors till full. Then push top dome back and fill the pipe with coal. Pull dome back to front position when pipe is full.

Looks to be mostly complete. Missing a couple rods and manual pipe damper.
See a few cracks also.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 8:55 pm

Whoops---my bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
NineSevenThree
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: BC Bibb Potomac

Post by NineSevenThree » Mon. Jan. 16, 2023 10:47 pm

Thanks MNTBUGY! More photos coming. The exhaust pipes on both sides look to be in good shape.

 
jsmlesotho
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Coal Size/Type: nut/anthracite

Post by jsmlesotho » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 11:29 am

Nice looking heater! It looks a lot like the BC Bibb "Arundel". There is a thread called, "Took a Gamble on a Baltimore Heater" on coalpail, check it out... The backside of the stove probably looks something like this,
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The shroud looks like this,
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The check damper mentioned above is located near the ashpan doors, circled in red...
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The "Arundel" is the same setup.

To be safe, I'd recommend refurbishing the stove before use. When you start taking them apart you find cracks and breaks that need to be addressed.


Where are you located around DC? I live and work near DC, I heated with a Baltimore heater for several years. Refurbished a few..


 
Wal
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Post by Wal » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 11:38 am

Hi Fred , Sorry to say I don’t know anything about this type of stove or it’s working, but I think Artie has owned one and he is very knowledgeable about American stoves . Suffice to say it looks beautiful, wish I owned one 😀.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 3:55 pm

Much thanx Wal. Yep, I'm thinkin Arties got it covered. :)

 
NineSevenThree
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Post by NineSevenThree » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 10:13 pm

Thanks all! The spots on the left and right base are peeling paint from where someone painted the baseplate black and also painted it brown. Both exhaust pipes have a little bit of surface rust but are intact and give a dull thud (not a ringing sound) when I tap them. The check damper doesn’t move.

I’m planning to remove the surrounding frame so I can get behind and take more pictures. Maybe this weekend!

 
NineSevenThree
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: BC Bibb Potomac

Post by NineSevenThree » Tue. Jan. 31, 2023 7:13 pm

I found this picture of the stove from 1991, when the house was originally renovated.

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mntbugy
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Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
Other Heating: Propain

Post by mntbugy » Tue. Jan. 31, 2023 7:29 pm

My Washington #2 by B.C.Bibb.

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NineSevenThree
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: BC Bibb Potomac

Post by NineSevenThree » Wed. Feb. 01, 2023 1:14 am

Super neat. The Potomac and the Washington No. 2 share some parts. Many of my castings have “WASH 2” on the reverse.

 
NineSevenThree
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: BC Bibb Potomac

Post by NineSevenThree » Wed. Feb. 01, 2023 1:40 pm

Here are some photos from behind the surround. The exhaust looks solid. There are a few places that could need re-sealing. Is there a recommended product for this, and is it a safety risk to fire the stove if the exhaust and some parts of the stove are not perfectly sealed?

Thanks!
Ian

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mntbugy
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Posts: 2041
Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2016 2:36 pm
Location: clearfield,pa
Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
Baseburners & Antiques: Art Garland 145,GW114 ,Clarion 115, Vestal 20 Globe,New Royal22 Globe, Red Cross Oak 56,Acme Ventiduct 38,Radiant Airblast 626,Home Airblast 62,Moores #7,Moores 3way
Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
Other Heating: Propain

Post by mntbugy » Thu. Feb. 02, 2023 7:21 pm

Left and right exhaust pipes look like patches on patches. Pull the stove all the way out of fireplace hole. Have local sheetmetal shop make replacement pipes.

Would be better off sending it out for a complete restoration. Then it should work like it was designed to.

You will get away with a couple band-aides for now, but sleep better with full restoration.

Or.
Sell it to me or pauliewog...lol
Hmmmmm.


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