The brass knobs are not just cosmetic. When the fire is on, and you are on your knees tending it, it is all to easy to reach out and burn yourself on the hot upper surface.However if you reach
for the knob, burning yourself is unlikely. I have not burned myself on my Frankilin for over thirty years - although I did to begin with!
This stove does not have the sophistication of an air wash system and could be regarded as fairly basic. As I understand it there is very little difference in the design from the time that Benjamin
Franklin first designed it in the 1700's. It is not the most fuel efficient stove on the market as there is no seal around the doors and the vent air intake adjustment is very basic. However when used as an open fire with the doors folded back it is much more attractive than any of the closed door models and it does give a really good heat output. We have found that it is worth sacrificing some of the efficiency of the modern stoves for the look and comfort of this much simpler and more basic stove. It is a delight on a cold winters night to see the open fire and feel the heat emanating from it.
When supplied this stove came without ANY instructions, either for fitting or use, and lacked some of the fitting nuts and bolts. This resulted in numerous telephone calls to the supplier before
initial installation was completed - and a near "divorce" from girlfriend as smoke and fumes filled the house on first lightup! After this initial disaster the performance has improved. However, although the build quality of the cast iron base unit is OK, the "furniture" is irritatingly poor. One of the glass panels is not properly secured by its clips and the door fasteners (soft metal "brass lookalikes") have already failed by "sinking into" the doors therefore ceasing to function. Rather than chasing the manufacturer who seems more than "Cavalier" in their support (NOT the supplier - more later) i will probably lash something up myself.Now the good bits! Stoves Online got the unit to me pre Christmas at very short notice in time for my builder to fit it within my project timescale. Their support advice has been excellent (although it shouldn't have been necessary!) and the stove looks really good (without close inspection of the previously mentioned detail).Value for money - yes - but only as its a rather cheap option on the stove market.Would i buy again - NO - rather pay more and have a truly well built functioning unit. That having been said i like "rough rustic" in my house and it certainly is that.A final note:- with no built in cover plate in the stovepipe, chimney sweeping is "interesting" especially when a large crows nest is involved.Adam StoalingStove installed December 2008First use January 2009This review posted 12 April 2009
Great as open fire, which is what we wanted: needed to have a stove to get the draw to take smoke up and out. Had to re-drill couple of holes to get bolts through. Even using the paste to seal
all (huge) gaps around the body panels, the doors leak so much when shut it's rare to get it to keep going all night as it's simply not designed as an efficient or slow burning stove. Long as you realise that it's terrific!
Stove expert replied:
Yes couldn't agree more. The Franklin is a fireplace/stove hybrid and not a modern efficient well sealed stove. They can throw out some heat though - I used to have one which effectively heated a 10 x 5m room.
