HELP?!?! Black Bart

[red235]

Hello. We bought a house that has a Black Bart stove. It is a model 3200 and says that it is for wood or coal. It has some sort of a fan attached to the back - that I don't think works. I thought that this was going to be great for helping with heating costs - we have oil heat- but it doesn't seem to heat much. I've had regular fireplaces that have put off more heat. I'm going to try and attach the pics that I took. Also - there was something inside the stove that is in a seperate picture - I have no clue what this thing is. How do you use coal?

As you can tell, I am completely clueless about this thing so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
red

okay - well i took pictures but now my camera isn't connecting
i thought the thing inside was a grate at first, but it is solid - maybe to put coal on?

 

[webbie]

Sorry to say, it's old and pretty junky. Was built back in about 1980 as a "value" unit which sold for less than the big brands - about $500 new. Without the fan it will do little or nothing. You can get parts for fan and thermostat, check with Stove Parts Unlimited at:
https://www.hearth.com/prod.html (bottom of page).

You cannot use coal. That was BS in their advertising. The thing inside is probably firedogs (grate) to allow some air under the logs. -

 

[swestall]

I bet you can get a little cash at the scrap yard for that stove; the price of scrap is up. Then you can continue to look at wood/coal/pellet stoves and reviews on this site. Make a choice that is for the fuel you can most easily handle/afford. Buy a GOOD stove and it will last you for years and years; when oil is just going to go up and up. Good stove, good heat, managed cost and this site to help you get use to it; what more is there? Oh year, the great atmosphere it brings to your home! Good luck!!