Page 1 of 1

Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Mon. Mar. 14, 2011 11:52 am
by rockwood
Just came across this video.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Tue. Mar. 15, 2011 1:58 am
by Berlin
nice find rockwood.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Sun. Mar. 20, 2011 5:36 pm
by wsherrick
I wouldn't be surprised if this video was made in Knoxville, TN. I am sure there are still a lot of homes that have an iron fireman stoker in their basements. They were still quite common there when I lived there back in the late 1980's-eary 90's. Oiled stoker coal cost about 50 dollars a ton at that time. Fishing out clinkers is a daily chore. If you have an eye for it, spotting a house with a stoker in it is easy due to the ring of black surrounding the chimney on the roof. The forced aspiration on these things blows all the soot right out of the chinmey where it settles all over the roof.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Sat. Feb. 15, 2014 3:53 pm
by LsFarm
Bringing this back up to the top in the bitty forum.
The Iron Fireman stokers were the predecessor to the Wil-burt stokers available today.

The biggest problem we would have today, is the boiler. the old hand fed boilers that the stokers were
designed to work in, were huge, and finding a reasonable size boiler to bring into your basement will be a challenge.

Maybe some of the EFM, Gentleman Janitor, Van wert , etc boiler vessels could be used, with a custom made base. Not sure, A bitty stoker needs a flat area around the firepot for ash collection and clinker formation. not an ashpan area like the base under an Anthracite stoker provides.

Greg L

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Sat. Feb. 15, 2014 4:56 pm
by carlherrnstein
At least some Prill stokers have a rotating ash ring and a ash pan. However I think they were made to burn the western bit or sub bit coal. I'm sure they wouldn't burn Appalachian bit coal very well. Here's a link with pictures of a prill burn pot. Prill Underfed Stoker

I have often wondered how well a underfed bit stoker would work in a outdoor wood boiler. Of course it would have to be in a boiler shed to keep the weather away from it.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 9:21 am
by bksaun
I guess my Gentleman Janitor is the exception, it works OK with Bit, and an ash pan, guess I have really good coal.

Bk

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 12:35 pm
by Berlin
I'm doing the same with a setup for my parents (burning KY bit stoker) in an allen anthracite stoker w/ ashpan. I will be modifying it further to be able to burn less expensive higher coke button bituminous coal. Underfeed clinkering type stokers have their upsides and three are lower volume of ash, ability to burn just about any coal, and very high combustion efficiencies when properly adjusted. The only reason I'm pursuing use of a non-clinkering type stoker is because I'm doing an ash-auger, bin feed system for my folks that will basically allow them to not have to touch it; they're too old to be hauling ash and coal in and out of the basement.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Thu. Dec. 01, 2016 7:03 pm
by Bmills
My husband and I live in KY and own a home built in 1867. Ww have an Iron Fireman identical to this one, although the design of the stoked is a little different. The boiler was once converted to an oil burner, then a gas water boiler, which is what we use now. Very efficient. No problems with the boiler. Was wondering if the stoker has any value.

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Thu. Dec. 01, 2016 7:04 pm
by Bmills
Stoker, not stoked. Stupid auto-correct. :)

Re: Video of Iron Fireman Stoker and Boiler

Posted: Thu. Dec. 01, 2016 10:02 pm
by gregnel
I might be interested in some parts. I'll send you a PM.