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How do I find the age of my Early American Franklin Fireplace?

Post in 'Classic Wood Stove Forums Pre-EPA (prior to 1988)' started by Britt, Oct 11, 2010.

  1. Britt New Member

    joined: Oct 11, 2010
    3 posts
    Wisconsin
    Does anyone know how I could find out more information, especially the year, of the Franklin fireplace that I have just bought. The model numbers are 143.84521 and 143.84531. I do have the owner's maual. It says that the fireplace is from Sears, Roebuck and Co. I am very interested in learning about the year of this fireplace and its value.
    Thank you Brittany
    Britt, Oct 11, 2010
    #1

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  2. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Is there a copyright date somewhere on the manual? Usually these fireplaces are not worth much more than their scrap value.
    begreen, Oct 11, 2010
    #2

  3. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,915 posts
    Northern Virginia
    U.S. stove company started making their revised Franklins for Sears in 1963. When the oil embargo came along in the mid-seventies they were pushing around four hundred a day out the door. I paid $175 for mine new in November of 1977. These days they make really classy plant stands. I left mine in the house when I moved in 1985 and the last time I passed by there, over ten years ago, the chimney was gone so I figure that they scrapped the stove. It was a scary thing to burn in.

    They are on craigslist for sale around here constantly.
    BrotherBart, Oct 11, 2010
    #3

  4. Britt New Member

    joined: Oct 11, 2010
    3 posts
    Wisconsin
    Thank you for all of your advise.
    No there is not a copyright on the manual.
    Since it isn't worth anything to sell it, do you think it is a good stove to use to heat a home?
    Britt, Oct 12, 2010
    #4

  5. jharkin Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 21, 2009
    2,060 posts
    Holliston, MA USA
    If its a true Franklin (open in front) its heating efficiency is somewhere between an open fireplace and an a smoke dragon, much closer to the fireplace end of the spectrum. If I had to guess Id say maybe around 10%. Plus you have all the issues of an open fire - no control, safety concerns.

    So no, its not worth the effort to use as a heat source.
    jharkin, Oct 12, 2010
    #5

  6. tickbitty Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 21, 2008
    1,486 posts
    VA
    tickbitty, Oct 12, 2010
    #6

  7. Shari Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 31, 2008
    2,143 posts
    Wisconsin
    We have an old (non functioning) pot belly stove in our kitchen. The firebox holds our 3" (diagonally measured) TV. Maybe use your stove for a 13" TV cabinet?

    Shari
    Shari, Oct 12, 2010
    #7

  8. spadafore New Member

    joined: Sep 4, 2008
    128 posts
    northwest ohio
    Do not use it in your home. Safety must come first for you and your family. Trust me I had the same questions and the same stove when I joined this site. I was very reluctant to hear that the stove is better left for scrap than to be used, but it is the safetest and most efficant decesion to buy an EPA certified stove.
    spadafore, Oct 12, 2010
    #8

  9. Dune Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 14, 2008
    2,647 posts
    Commonwealth Of Massachussetts
    Yep, just hauled one out of my parents basement. Still on a pallet. Been there since '73. Right to the junkyard. Felt kind of weird, but knew it was the right thing to do.
    Dune, Oct 12, 2010
    #9

  10. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,915 posts
    Northern Virginia
    That Franklin of mine was one expensive stove:

    Stove - $175

    Installation w/pipe - $300

    Palomino Elephant Hide Tony Lama boots - $400

    Carpet replacement in a brand new house - $300

    Log rolled out on fire and I managed to catch it on the toes of the new boots trying to save the carpet. Embers exploded from the log all over the carpet anyway. And when I went into the attic to get stuff down when we moved two ceiling joists were charred from the heat from the single wall pipe they had installed all the way up.

    BB - Owned a Franklin and lived to tell about it.
    BrotherBart, Oct 12, 2010
    #10

  11. tickbitty Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 21, 2008
    1,486 posts
    VA
    BB, pics, or it never happened!! I especially want to see the boots.
    tickbitty, Oct 13, 2010
    #11

  12. webbie Administrator

    joined: Nov 17, 2005
    10,917 posts
    Western Mass.
    As mentioned, this is probably not an antique or original Franklin with special value.

    It's probably best for a decoration somewhere.
    webbie, Oct 13, 2010
    #12

  13. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,915 posts
    Northern Virginia
    U.S. Stove actually did a major change for that stove they called a "Franklin". It looks and works nothing like old Ben's original stove.

    Attached Files:

    BrotherBart, Oct 13, 2010
    #13

  14. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,915 posts
    Northern Virginia
    Twenty bucks to brotherbart@paypal.com and they are on their way. If I can find then. They are probably still around here somewhere. Mildewed in the basement probably.

    Man, they were good looking boots. Before that log happened. Never have seen another pair like them.
    BrotherBart, Oct 13, 2010
    #14

  15. Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle Minister of Fire

    joined: May 27, 2008
    3,992 posts
    Ridge, LI, NY
    [quote author="BrotherBart" date="1286939443"]
    Stove - $175

    Palomino Elephant Hide Tony Lama boots - $400

    quote]

    Woooo Hoooo !!! :coolsmile:
    Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle, Oct 13, 2010
    #15

  16. Britt New Member

    joined: Oct 11, 2010
    3 posts
    Wisconsin
    Thank you to everyone who replied to my posts. I have come to accept that I did not buy a treasure but instead a plant or TV holder. I am very glad I did not pay a lot for it. It is still interesting to know that it is over twenty years old and in excellent condition.

    Thanks for your advice
    Britt, Oct 13, 2010
    #16

  17. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,915 posts
    Northern Virginia
    After the old feet got too old, the reason that I swear that "Ropers" got so popular, I had Allen Edmonds make me a pair of alligator boots. Perfectly matched gator skins. Just your basic $2,800 pair of boots. Not what ya wear mucking out the barn.

    Attached Files:

    BrotherBart, Oct 13, 2010
    #17

  18. tickbitty Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 21, 2008
    1,486 posts
    VA
    [IMG] or... [IMG] or maybe we're talking [IMG]
    tickbitty, Oct 13, 2010
    #18

  19. tickbitty Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 21, 2008
    1,486 posts
    VA
    BLR, check out the links I put up there, there do seem to be others out there, and some do, apparently, fetch a good price whether it's for decor and not heat, I don't know! But it's interesting anyway. And like a couple other folks on here said, that's where they started!
    tickbitty, Oct 13, 2010
    #19

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