Antique Coal/Wood/boiler

[machinistbcb]

Found this boiler for sale. The owner says its a WEIL-McLAIN MODEL 407 SERIES 1 rated at 280,000 btu and is rated to burn wood/coal/oil/gas. Has any body ever had any experience with anything like this ? Also what are the two small doors on the top of the boiler for ? I know it's probably not real efficent but I love old stuff and I bet it's good for another hunderd years.

 

[berlin]

they're not terribly innefficient as you would expect from it's age. the doors on top are cleanouts for use with coal or wood. ideally these boilers are fired by a coal underfed stoker; which, can still be purchased new today should you really want to put that boiler to good use.