Took a ride to the Woodstock Co. today

Went to "just" look at the FireViews and well,,,,,,,,,,wound up putting a deposit down for a June pick up. Lorin showed the wife and I around . It was lunch time so we had the whole place to ourselves. Wow was I ever impressed!! Even saw a set of dial calipers on one bench. That's attention to detail! Talk about parts! I can see why no one ever waits for a part if ever needed. I was fortunate to see a FireView being shelled. What a simple clever designed stove. Saw the Progress, that was a bigger stove then I thought it would be. So we're deciding on a Matt Black or charcoal finish. I took a look at the screen that everyone is taking about on the Progress. They are working on making that more removable. What great people getting right on any issues! They did have a FireView in R&D mode with a front glass set up like the Progress. I love how any wear Items on the Fireview just unbolt. Dennis I did tell Lorin to tell everyone you said hello. She laughed and said she would tell everyone. She asked who I was on the Hearth.com , and said she had seen my post about coming over, so they do look at the Hearth.com. Now I know after going and seeing the company first hand , why everyone loves their Woodstock stoves Craftsmanship, people who care about what they build.
Charlie

Hi Charly

Woodstock is an amazing company. I have been there a bunch of times and never get tired of visiting. Lorin and Ron were unbelievably helpful when I bought my Progress. I am thrilled to hear they are working on that screen. It's funny, the first thing I noticed when I uncrated my Progress was this screen has to change. They are great at listening to customer feedback and making good changes. I wish more companies were any where near as responsive.

You should try to make it to the next Woodstock Pig Roast, it's a great time to meet the other Hearth members.

Good luck with the Fireview, you will love it.

I will make it a point to go this year.

Did you happen to notice any other differences besides the glass on that R&D Fireview? Like an ash pan? I heard they are looking into a few new options for their other stoves.

I'm looking forward to the next BBQ, I've wanted to go there the last few years but something always comes up.

Todd, I'm sorry I didn't notice an ash pan. They removed some of the ornamental webbing over the narrow stones off of the front side irons More just plain rectangular irons. I was told they are working on a new stove that will be very basic and affordable, like a no thrills but very functional stove. I'm still blown away by how nice their stoves were to see in person along with their whole production set up. Just great people! How can you not want to keep a company like that going by buying their product. I asked if the glass would retro back to a current FireView or could I get that glass on mine , but that had not been determined yet. More glass means a change in the amount of heat generated out front, so clearances change. Adapting it to an older FireView might not meet the stoves current UL specs. That would be an issue. Well worth going to see things first hand. You know your getting a great product from Woodstock. They're working on getting "stacked" combusters as well.
Charlie

Wow, working on another new stove already? Good for them, it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Makes me glad i switched,and this company has a number you can call.

Thanks for the report Charly. Lorin is great to talk to as are many others. And yes, several of them check hearth.com sometimes daily. Occasionally Ron or Mike will post but not often. I hope you got a chance to talk to Lewis too. How about Tom? Tom and I talked about changing the Fireview when we were there last fall. He has many other ideas too and that is great that they constantly attempt to improve.

Todd, I do hope you can make it to the open house this fall. You too, Bub and Charly. I also hope that Punky and his son get there.

Should I take some wood to the open house?

I will try and make it our vacation.

I would love a front loader slightly smaller than the Fireview that would fit halfway into my fireplace opening. I love Jotuls, but that would make me switch. Can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Dennis: !! Just please don't ask me to split it!!

But that might take away some of the fun!

I'm interested in knowing what that might be. Hopefully it is just a straight cat stove. I still think the Progress would be squirting out 20 hour burns if it was cat only.

I'd take a front loading, cat only, Progress and wedge the thing into the kitchen fireplace.

Any place that offers up free pulled pork sandwiches, Woodchuck cider and a chance to win a free woodstove is a great business in my own opinion . . . oh yeah, I hear their customer service and innovative stove designs are pretty good too.

I wish their stoves weren't so ornate, i would have loved to have been able to support a local company. though I may have to take a ride up there sometime and check out their operation.

I never cared for how ornate their stoves are . . . but I thought the Progress was not quite so fancy or Victorian looking.

Whoever has not made a trip to Woodstock should definitely make it a point to go.
The open house last year was not only a blast but a great learning experience.
Tom and his staff are top-notch.
I found the staff not only very informative but friendly as hell. Many are members here at Hearth.
I know that for a fact because several of them addressed me as "Gamma Ray"....
We are planning to go again this year.

They are a top notch outfit up there. I hope Mrs. Flatbedford and I can make it up next year. I'll bring my Fiskars splitters and some of my super dry Black Locust.

So Steve, should I bring wood again but ask you to split it rather than Tony?

I'll split it Denny....

I'll be there just to see gamma wielding a maul!

I'll remember that Gamma.

Sounds like a challenge...

Not so much a challenge as an interesting side show. I can already hear the silver clanging as the maul swings.