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Pot Belly Stove History

Pot belly stoves are a quintessential piece of Americana, often pictured as a gathering place for folks in a general store or as a heat source in a one-room schoolhouse. The hey-day of the pot belly stove was in the 1800s, when they were a popular appliance that provided heat in a variety in train cars and a variety of different buildings ranging from town halls to individual homes.

History
- Pot belly stoves became a popular heating source in the United States in the 1800s.
Use
- These stoves were primarily used as a heat source, though a flat cooktop could be used to cook food in pots such as stews. These stoves were typically found in railway stations, train cars, general stores, schoolhouses, churches and town halls.
Materials
- Antique pot belly stoves are made of solid cast iron.
Fuel Source
- Pot belly stoves can be fueled using either coal or wood.
Sizes
- Potbelly stoves come in a variety of sizes. The larger the size, the more heat produced, meaning the more rooms that can be heated. In addition, large-size potbelly stoves have a longer burn-time, ranging from 8 to 14 hours, whereas small potbelly stoves only have a 6 to 8 hour burn-time.

Antiquing