Franklin Stove Facts Did You Know About This Iconic American Stove

The invention of the Franklin stove can be attributed to a person fondly referred to as ‘The First American’, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin conceptualized this safer and more efficient model as an alternative to conventional wood-burning fireplaces.Throughout his life, Benjamin Franklin has made significant contributions to the field of science. From bifocals to flexible urinary catheters, he has been the brains behind some popular inventions. He pioneered the creation of newer, better technologies.Franklin stoves were box-shaped, cast-iron fireplaces that boasted an open face. On average, they stood 30 in (76 cm) in height and weighed between 198-800 lb (89-363 kg). The flue of the chimney, which was placed at a distance of a few inches away from the back of the box, was U-shaped, and the smoke outlet was initially placed at the bottom of the stove. The complex siphon system was designed to redirect any escaping smoke and convert it into heat. Franklin’s name has outlived some of his inventions, and though these stoves can rightly be named the predecessors of modern stoves, their popularity has since died out.Keep reading to know some interesting Franklin stove facts. If you like this article about inventions, then don’t forget to check out pulley facts and solar energy facts!Fun Facts About Franklin StovesAlthough Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of America, is exclusively credited with the invention of the Franklin wood stove, some historians believe it was developed earlier.However, it was popularised by Ben Franklin, who refused to even obtain any fundamental patent rights for the stove. He wanted the technology to serve the interests of common people and did not want to gain any financial profits for himself.The Franklin stove, which was named after its inventor, also went by the names ‘Pennsylvania fireplace’ or ‘circulating stove’. The original model was later modified by David R. Rittenhouse, who redeveloped the U-shaped siphon system and changed it to an L-shaped one to facilitate better ventilation.Franklin Stoves’ UsesFranklin stoves were invented as an alternative to conventional wood-burning fireplaces at a time when colonial America was faced with a crisis of wood shortage. A major advantage of this stove was that it required less wood.You can cook on a Franklin stove even today at many places. The design developed by Benjamin Franklin improved heat regulation, dissipated heat uniformly around, and produced less smoke in comparison to an open fireplace.Furthermore, the design of the Franklin stove was focused on improving the drafting issue of the chimney to minimize the loss of heat. An added perk, as Ben Franklin noted, was the significant reduction of exhaust smoke and other by-products of fire which would prevent the chimney from smelling foul. In this way, he paved the path for the use of modern clean-burning technology.Franklin Stoves’ CharacteristicsFranklin stoves were characterized by two discernible features, one being the hollow baffle that was positioned at the rear of the stove and the second being an inverted siphon which was designed to provide a more effective method to extract heat from the fire.The original model of the Franklin stove fireplace had an open face. As a centralized heating device, these stoves had an incorporated baffle to draw out some of the fumes released from the fire. An inverted siphon or the flue was placed to redirect the escaping fumes and, therefore, radiate heat in all directions. The iron walls of the cast iron furnace would retain warmth and release heat for longer periods of time.Facts About Franklin Stoves’ SignificanceAs most of the hot fumes generated by a conventional wood stove would escape through the chimney rather than being converted to heat, Franklin was focused on eliminating the problem of heat dissipation and devising a more effective method of warming by using principles of convection.Although Benjamin Franklin is exclusively credited with the invention of the Pennsylvania fireplace, it was Gauger’s and Desaguliers’ ideas that inspired him to conceive the original model. Ben Franklin inferred from Gauger’s works that rarefied air has a tendency to rise and thus, leaves condensed cold air to fill the space. He then employed the technique in his own model.Desaguliers, who was in favor of the idea that masonry should be substituted with cast iron, inspired Franklin to design a freestanding, cast iron fireplace. Although an innovative invention, the Benjamin Franklin stove was unsuccessful in the market mainly due to a major design flaw - its baffle failed to improve the drafting issue. It was observed that the smoke would often cool off before reaching the chimney and, therefore, circulate the exhaust smoke within the room.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Franklin stove facts, then take a look at amber facts or American flag facts.