1977 VC Vigilant, how do I know if it was the "multifuel" model?

BeGreen said:

Going way back in the old brain cells here but I think by the grates + ashpan. IIRC, the regular Vigilant didn't have grates or an ashpan.

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I always thought the grate and ash pan were a removable 'feature' and all Vigilants were either/or.

AKSHADOW said:

hmmm, I know that mine doesn't have either...

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Nor does mine. I don't know how you'd put one in, either.

I went in to see the local VC gurus to ask some questions about my used stove. When one of the guys mentioned the ash pan, I told him mine didn't have one. He looked at me as said, "Every Vig made had one, and I've been with VC since the very beginning". The other guy chimed in and said, "Well actually, Tim, you've been here since the original owners, but you came on a few years after VC started. The first Vigilants didn't have the ash pan".

The bottom plate on my stove is a solid casting right up to and including the ash lip. The grate is cast into the plate and is not removable. It is supposed to be left full of ashes, providing insulation both to protect the stove bottom and to keep combustion temps up in the ideal range. I'm considering cutting some insulating firebrick to fit into these spaces to enhance the heat retention capability.

As far as the OP goes, I believe the multi-fuel stove has a coal burning apparatus with a massive shaker grate inside it. Special alloys were use in these to take the extreme heat. I thought my manual would show it, but it doesn't. I've never seen one in real life, but I've seen photos and I think it will be pretty obvious. Also, the dang thing weighs about 130 pounds more than the regular Vig... 425 pounds. Maybe there's firebrick on the bottom adding some of that mass? I dunno.... look for it anyway.

Here's a shot of my 1977 non-coal burning stove on the inside for comparison:

I believe it was an add on kit like others said. Mine that I used to have did not have it. Some times you see the coal kit come up on ebay. I do nto think they are available otherwise.

I remember seeing coal stuff in the manual. I would look for an online manual if someone has one as I think it mentions it in there.

if it has the grates with the shaker handle on it, it should be a multifuel model. i have a first gen intrepid with that setup installed in it.

BeGreen said:

struggle said:

I remember seeing coal stuff in the manual. I would look for an online manual if someone has one as I think it mentions it in there.

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Good suggestion. The manual indicates the ashpan was not available on the non-multifuel units.

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You can sure fit more than an 18" log in that thing.