Questions about Fisher Baby Bear stove

[rallison203]

Hi, new member here. I have a question about my early 70s era Fisher Baby Bear wood stove.

A couple years ago I picked up a Baby Bear stove. The stove has a flue mounted on the right side, and a pellet hopper attachment on the left side. There is no side or rear flue collar.

I have two questions. Did Fisher sell these Baby Bear models with a side exhaust/flue? Or has mine been modified?

Similar question about the hopper attachment. Does anyone know if Fisher sold an optional pellet feeder hopper for this stove?

Thanks for any information.

 

[bholler]

Hi, new member here. I have a question about my early 70s era Fisher Baby Bear wood stove.

A couple years ago I picked up a Baby Bear stove. The stove has a flue mounted on the right side, and a pellet hopper attachment on the left side. There is no side or rear flue collar.

I have two questions. Did Fisher sell these Baby Bear models with a side exhaust/flue? Or has mine been modified?

Similar question about the hopper attachment. Does anyone know if Fisher sold an optional pellet feeder hopper for this stove?

Thanks for any information.

I am not sure about babies but momma and Pappas were made with side exit. And no the pellet hopper was not an option. Pellets were not a thing while fishers were being made

 

[coaly]

Baby Bear was available with rear or side outlet. The first stoves were made to set across the fireplace hearth in front of the blocked off fireplace opening. The outlet faced the hole cut through the block off plate for connector pipe to pass through. This prevented the stove from protruding out into the room, and fit on the raised non-combustible hearth.

This was the reason for left and right hand doors. When sideways, the door should open against the fireplace side, against the block off plate to allow easy loading without door in the way.

Other models were available with side, rear or top outlets. It is unknown how many Baby Bears were special built with top outlet. Customers could have special built stoves since they were sold at showrooms where many licensees fabricated the stoves in the rest of the same building.

If the outlet pipe on older models is original, it will measure 6 inches outside, not inside like newer stoves. The wall thickness of the pipe will be thinner than newer 1/4 inch thick wall pipe. It should extend into firebox 3 inches.

 

[rallison203]

Baby Bear was available with rear or side outlet. The first stoves were made to set across the fireplace hearth in front of the blocked off fireplace opening. The outlet faced the hole cut through the block off plate for connector pipe to pass through. This prevented the stove from protruding out into the room, and fit on the raised non-combustible hearth.

This was the reason for left and right hand doors. When sideways, the door should open against the fireplace side, against the block off plate to allow easy loading without door in the way.

Other models were available with side, rear or top outlets. It is unknown how many Baby Bears were special built with top outlet. Customers could have special built stoves since they were sold at showrooms where many licensees fabricated the stoves in the rest of the same building.

If the outlet pipe on older models is original, it will measure 6 inches outside, not inside like newer stoves. The wall thickness of the pipe will be thinner than newer 1/4 inch thick wall pipe. It should extend into firebox 3 inches.

Thanks coaly, I'm in Washington too. Love these Fishers; I have three of them.

From your description I believe my side-vent Baby Bear stove is all original, except for the pellet hopper modification that I removed.

Here's something else that's interesting. I looked at both the early and the later Fisher owners manuals, and neither one describes the allowable clearances to combustible surfaces for side vent stoves.

 

[coaly]

Thanks coaly, I'm in Washington too. Love these Fishers; I have three of them.

From your description I believe my side-vent Baby Bear stove is all original, except for the pellet hopper modification that I removed.

Here's something else that's interesting. I looked at both the early and the later Fisher owners manuals, and neither one describes the allowable clearances to combustible surfaces for side vent stoves.

Pre UL or any appliance without UL Label is 36 inches US without approved reduction shown in NFPA -211 13.6. Refer to table 13.6.2.1 for approved clearance reduction methods.

 

[rallison203]

Thanks yes I have the guidance in hand.

Here are a couple of photos before / after. The holes left over from the deleted pellet hopper are now welded up, and the stove has been sanded and painted with hi temp stove paint.