FISHER Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear Details (Bear Series)

Coaly - I took a closer look at that corner of rear and indeed it is stamped "4033". I thought the "FP" on the underside was for Factoryville, PA maybe. Just thought I'd get back to you on that number.

Added a pic of the hot Papa in action for my avatar. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for your help and Happy Holidays!

Hi,
I have a Fisher Wood stove that has D237798 on the front door. It also has two twist vents on it with the handle on the left. Height is 30.5 Width:20 and the length with the front ash catcher piece is 39 inches.
I have to get the manual for the inspector in order to install it. I think it is a Mama or Papa. If anyone has the manual they can email me or any info at all about my stove that would be great.

http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/8529a99d5734895193b2df8a6249feb7/

Sounds like you have a Papa Bear to me, same as mine. Above is the Wiki link to a Fisher manual for the Grandma/Grandpa series, but I would think the wall and ceiling clearances are the same for your stove. The only major difference is that the Grandma/Grandpa is 8" outlet and yours is 6". Most folks will recommend installing a damper in the section of flue pipe above your stove. (I have one).

When you say "inspector" do you mean building inspector? Some local codes/inspectors will not allow older stoves to be installed now, I am not clear on the rules/regs or where you are from but I'm sure there is discussion on this forum. My stove was already hooked up and I made sure I told my homeowners insurance the that I was using it and it is a pre-UL labeled stove, etc. I am not trying to suggest you shouldn't use it, as I am currently burning mine for heat and many here do also. The Pre-UL and pre-EPA means the older stoves were not rated for EPA guidelines of grams of smoke output; the Fishers are known to be smoky, but they also excel at heating! See what your inspector says and go from there.
Your stove looks older than mine; you should consider installing a baffle plate if it does not have one inside above the fire bricks. See the baffle related thread and photos on this site. The baffle helps to reduce smoke, increase efficiency, and improve burn times. There is a ton of good info on here on these Fisher stoves including tips on how to properly burn it, I suggest you just spend some time reading up on it. Hope this helps you get burning before 2013.

WOW, what a great forum this is!
So much great information on such a legendary stove.
My first introduction to Fisher stoves was about 14 years ago when my brother installed one in his cabin (located in mid Quebec Canada).
The stove was a double door grandpa bear and it did a great job (too great at times) at heating his cabin regardless of the outside weather conditions.
Winters in mid Quebec get cold for long periods of time. Its very common for the area to fall into the -30 to -35deg C (-22 to -31deg F) for weeks at a time with dips at night into -40s being common.
Yet, despite the cabin having only 2x4 construction, 40 year old insulation and an uninsulated floor, the big fisher always kept us toasty.
In the winter the only access to the cabin is by crossing the lake (either x-country ski or snowmobile).
After a cold, windy crossing nothing made you feel better than stepping into that cabin after the big Fisher had been roaring for a few hours!

Anyhow, my wife and I recently (October 2012) purchased a cabin in the same bay, on the same lake as my brothers cabin.
The cabin we purchased was not well looked after by the previous owner but we're excited to fix it up and make it ours!
One of the first things we decided to improve was to replace the old GSW wood stove (I thought they only made water pumps?!?!) with a new Jotul Black Bear F118CB......
What a waste of time, money and resources this has been!
To make a long story short, we just found a Fisher Papa Bear that will need some love but will be our Jotul replacement!
It's too late in the season for a stove replacement now, but next year I'm looking forward to being heated out of my cabin

Thanks to everyone who has contributed (especially Coaly, my new personal hero) to this forum, it is a great testament to a really great stove!
Everyone who has contributed to this forum should be very proud of the heritage you're helping to preserve.
Sorry this reply is a little off-topic, I just wanted to share the Fisher Love!

Cheers:

coaly,
I'm not sure if this information is still accurate, or you may already be familiar with it, I have had it for awhile, but this was given to me about a year ago when I was looking for some Fisher information. Supposedly the guy that owns this shop only rebuilds and sells old Fisher stoves and parts.
The Wood Shed Stove Shop
64 Eagleville Rd
Orange, MA 01364
781-544-2758

Nice forum. I am looking at buying my first stove. Found a Papa bear similar to the one Coaly posted a picture of on this thread but with a few differences. I was wandering why the door is a lighter color? The stove I am looking at has the same door but without the second 90 degree bend in the handle and has ball feet. I copied the picture Coaly posted below. Thanks for any information.

Thanks Coaly!
Your log cabin sounds like my kind of place....
Looks like we went with a grandpa bear intead, I think it will still have no problem heating our cabin!
I totally agree with your statement of having "twice the stove normally required to bring a cold building to temp quick".
Cheers

I am looking at a fisher stove to buy that looks just like a mama or papa bear but it has no legs on it. is this a insert or were the legs possibly cut off at one point and is this a easy fix? It is the only one that i have seen like this. It does not look like a traditional fisher insert. I am not sure if it is worth it?

Thanks coaly for the information I think i am going to get the stove. It sounds easy enough and i would hate to lose my chance at this good deal. Thanks again.

We have a Baby Bear and have been using it every winter for over 30 years (we think we installed it in 1979). The firebricks and the pipe connecting it to the flue need to be replaced and the piece of metal that catches the door latch to hold it shut needs welding. Does anyone know if there is a "life expectancy" for these stoves? It has served us well and saved us a bundle in oil bills and we'd prefer not to have to spend a bundle to replace it anytime soon.

I've been checking several threads here to try to date my Fisher Baby Bear with a flat top 3 tree door, 3-1/4" diameter aluminum draft cap with fins extending beyond the OD, and "PATENTED D 237798" cast on the door. I've found no other markings on the bottom or the back of this stove. From other posts I am guessing it is between 1975 and 1979, but was wondering if the door and draft cap can narrow down the date.

So I read all I could on the forums yesterday and impressed the pants off of my husband last night about our Fisher Mama Bear. We want to relocate the stove into our new home and have been asked by the county permit office to provide manufacturer specs and a UL listing. From all the info I gleaned on this website, I believe we have a 1973 Mama Bear, pre-UL with no printed specs available. Notice the four trees on the front and the Pat No D237798 Patents Pending. I did find a few welding marks under the body and ash tray. Can anyone confirm the year and provide assistance on how to convince the county to let us use this beautiful antique to heat our home? Many Thanks!

The RJ is about 3 inches tall under the belly of the stove and the 53(?) takes up the entire ash pan. The stove is in Florida but family recalls it being purchased out of Georgia. Where would the UL be if it was on a stove? Thanks!

Oh what wonderful information to have! And thank you for clarification on the use of the NFPA standard vs. having the UL code.

Have you ever seen a btu rating listed for the Mama Bear; one guy said about 52,000btu depending on conditions.