Mama bear serial id help

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scenic529

New Member
Apr 13, 2015
2
Tennessee
Greetings from new member and long time lurker! Great site and have always been able to answer my questions thru searches. Have acquired a Mama Bear with following stamped at left rear upper corner: 'DBM' and just below that '1101'. This has over-stamped the number '2001'. Draft knobs are alum 4 vane and door handle is single 90, close spiral stainless. Has been in a home in Wytheville, Va since new. So, with this info can anyone help with identifying probable year, mfg location, and sequence ? Many Thanks !
 
Dunn Brothers Manufacturing. Salem VA. It's not a serial number, it's a stove number that was consecutive numbers as they were built. Not sure about the double stamp.
The Dunns bought their license in the fall of '75. (September I believe) Unknown how many they made the first year, but the thousandth stove would probably be after the new year if they were making about 15 a day. That's what Bob's own shop was turning out. So late 74 or early 75. No idea how many they employed at start up, but that is one licensee Bob guessed wrong about thinking they wouldn't do well.
Welcome to the Forum!
 
Dunn Brothers Manufacturing. Salem VA. It's not a serial number, it's a stove number that was consecutive numbers as they were built. Not sure about the double stamp.
The Dunns bought their license in the fall of '75. (September I believe) Unknown how many they made the first year, but the thousandth stove would probably be after the new year if they were making about 15 a day. That's what Bob's own shop was turning out. So late 74 or early 75. No idea how many they employed at start up, but that is one licensee Bob guessed wrong about thinking they wouldn't do well.
Welcome to the Forum!

Thanks for the info Coaly. Looking back on these years, I'm reminded that this is about the time we began heating with wood. At that time, in Tennessee the Forest Service would issue anyone a free permit to cut firewood on specified public lands. It was a program to help offset effects of the 'fuel crisis'. The only requirement was you could only cut what was already on the ground. We would make many trips to different locations and always found plenty of good hardwood. I wonder if other states had such a program? Flash forward to today......can you imagine even remotely getting such a thing environmentally approved? Much less the lawsuit exposure from having a bunch of yahoos out in the woods with chainsaws lol!
 
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