Looking for XL; Sun Door

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I guess , I would like to know, how much were they brand new ? I have no idea .
 
Notice the triple door seal at the very top of door.
a Grandma or Grandpa seal is mid door and the arched top is just a facade that overlaps the stove front for looks. The seal is horizontal across top, not arched at top.

Insert hand painted doors w blower 5.jpg Insert with Grandma doors.
 
Since it was special order, I only have prices of regular models.
Around the time frame that one was built; (UL Listed)
Grandma retail was $559. Nickel Grandma $639.
Grandpa retail was $630. Nickel Grandpa $710.
So figure more than the Grandpa by 100 or so?

The old style was still being built with welded corners for about $100 cheaper. (never saw an old style XL) Probably because the XL was built with bent corners when designed back in 1978 and that style didn't show up until all models were changed to that in 1980. It was 2 years ahead of it's time.

To give you an idea of price increases, Papa was $350 when they first came out and was $555 on this price list of UL stoves after 1980.
 
What time frame would that be ? On the arched door design. I found a Grandpa Bear 32.5 " wide . So would that be a pre XL ?
 
After 1980. Before 1985.
No, XL was made in it's own form starting in 1978. Back when all stoves had angle iron corners. The stove that appeared out of Utah in the Deseret News had the Sun Door, Fireplace Legs, bent corners, stainless screen. The Fisher logo was different than any Fisher stove at the time. It was only made a couple years. Then in 1980 the entire line went to the same bent corners and arched top doors. That's why I say it was two years ahead of it's time. One showed up on eBay many years ago, and I wondered if it was actually a Fisher product since even the logo was different. Searching newspaper archives across the country and Canada, I found they were only advertised n Utah in the same newspaper. Let me see if they are priced anywhere in ads. I have a bunch to go through............

The extra large Grandpa was another story unrelated to XL. Usually found in the southern states, made by the Dunn Brothers.
 
Go it ! March '79 ; Regular price $679.00 on sale $610.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...YxLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IoADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3053,4603940

You'll notice in that ad is the latest development "Insert" with Cathedral doors. This was close to when the Insert was introduced, and the Cathedral doors were available as an option on other models. This would be the last year for flat top doors that co-existed with Cathedral doors until gone in 1980.
I just realized, made before the Insert, the XL would have been the first Fisher Stove without a Bear name too. Goldilocks started in '78 as well but at least had a Bear related name.
 
Great info , that's what I call history. I found a Grandpa Bear 32.5 " wide , for $ 400 , fairly close , rear flue collar , but not sure on how rare they actually are ? Is this a rare find ?
 
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No. An OK find if you have the rest and want an odd ball occasionally seen.

If I brought home a TF-88, my wife would be happy. If I brought home another XL, my wife wouldn't mind. (much) If I brought home another Grandpa "because it's different" she would not be happy. If I brought home an All-Nighter, she'd leave. ;lol;lol
 
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Coaly , do those XL doors easily slip off by pulling upward ? For lightening the load .
 
Yes, they lift right off. If hinge pins are stuck, you may have to tap and turn with WD-40 or penetrant until they pop out. I never move any stoves with brick in them either.
 
That's a good idea . Firebrick are cheaper than back surgery. I ' m not sure on the inside firebox dimensions . I think its 24 by 24" . Does anybody know if there good for heating ? Or do they gobble up the wood like crazy . Do they have a baffle already built in? It has a 8 " flue collar out the top . Would I lose a lot of heat out the chimney . Of course I ' ll use a chimney damper . Or would it serve better as a decoration ? Since I love my Fisher ' s . I want them all .
 
Once you get one brick loose, they normally remove without breaking.
Depends on the year if factory baffled. Not all do. Of course you remove it to move the stove as well.
The flue damper is used to control draft. If you have an outdoor large diameter flue you may not need to close it much.
Reducing is technically not allowed by code, so if it has to be inspected in your area, you may not be able to legally. I certainly would reduce to 8.
The damper is used during open door burning with screen in place. Close until smoke begins to roll in at top. Open slightly to prevent smoke roll in, yet prevent all the heat from escaping up flue. This becomes your only control in Fireplace Mode and is not considered a radiant heater with doors open.
ALL is a LOT of stoves. Concentrate on early, or late, and be content with what you get. You're not going to find them all, that's for sure.

XL in Kanab Utah ebay 2.jpg XL factory baffle.
 
Thanks a lot Coaly , but what are the inside firebox dimensions ? What happened to all the Fisher stoves made , there were tons and tons of them , were they scraped ? I don ' t want them all , just one of each model . I wish I could see your Fisher stove collection someday .
 
Inside firebox of XL without brick; 31 wide, 21 deep (front to back) 21 high from bottom to lower top at front. Subtract 1 1/4 inch for fire brick on sides, bottom and rear. It uses two courses of brick, so they basically go all the way up.

Many are in use. There have been ongoing incentives from dealer rebates to statewide incentives to get them recycled. It's estimated over a million and a half were made. But look at the number of Model T Fords made compared to how many exist.

I realize you meant one of each model, and that is a LOT of stoves. For instance I started with freebies many years ago and would switch from a black painted door model to a nickel or brass when I could. Upgrade from a used Papa to a new unfired one, or just luck out finding a model I didn't have brand new and do what I had to do to get it here. I'm partial to the early ones before trees on the doors, with the 3 piece top and pipe cap damper before the invention of the actual air intake damper. Since the first one was a side vent, I settled on the 3 first bears with side vents. The problem finding the first ones made, is those states were so populated with the stoves, that was the reason for the smoke regulations. (and insurance, and installation codes) Oregon became the stove hub, specifically around Eugene and Springfield. So states near there were the first to be banned and taken out of circulation.
It takes years to procure a prototype when you find one. I want mine displayed as a Showroom when they were first sold, so a Metallic Brown brass and glass Insert just wouldn't fit in a 1976 setting. So outside my little display will have to be the Honey Bears, Goldi, fancy double doors and Inserts. There's 4 inserts alone and they are the worst to move. An XL is a hollow chunk that is bulky but balanced and easy to move with the right equipment. No comparison to double walled Inserts that always seem to be in basements. They are heavy pigs with no legs to get under. From stacking paint cans under steps for support to using cushions from church pews to squeeze through a doorway, (yeah, I did that) there's a story behind every stove!
 
Looking for the sun door design. I believe there were two designs for the xl . The sun door and fir trees. Anyway I saw one on CL last year in Michigan and it was 34 1/2 " across and 29 1/2 deep. I believe it was the fir tree design . Totally the goliath of wood stoves . Some even had a 10 " flue collar.
I know this is old thread. But I just found a sun door XL on Dayton Ohio CL. ASKING 1000.
 

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That room looks very nice and the Fisher add some vintage flair.
 
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