Belle #18 Cast Iron Stove by Richmond Stove Company
notes: label: Description
content: This “Belle” model cast iron stove was manufactured by the “Richmond Stove Company in Richmond, Virginia.” The “Belle” is relatively compact in size, making it smaller, slimmed down model of a pot belly cast iron stove. In addition to their use in domestic interiors, these stoves also heated school buildings in the mid- to late-19th and early 20th centuries. Fuel could be wood, coal, or dried cow patties depending upon the school’s budget and location.
label: Description
content: The lid on the top of the base is marked with “18” and is topped with an ornate finial. The finial can be used to raise the lid to reveal a flat, removable cook surface. There is a circular opening at the stove’s back which is for a pipe (not included). The vent in the front bottom is used to radiate heat. Stoves often include draft controls to adjust the heat. Several old repairs are found in the body under the circular plate with the stove’s name and manufacture. These are indicated by darker color metal pieces of varying sizes and shapes that are adhered by large screws. There is some rust on the surface of the body, lid, and legs which are also decoratively ornamented.
label: Description
content: The Richmond Stove Company (also known as the Richmond Stove Works) was established in 1851 and incorporated in 1871. It was one of two large companies in Richmond manufacturing most of the stove output in the South in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, stoves manufactured in the South were thought to be better quality than the typical stoves sold in other regions, so the products reached a wider geographic area
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Virginia, Richmond
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Education
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Dr. Richard Lodish American School Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2017.0095.405
label: accession number
content: 2017.0095
label: catalog number
content: 2017.0095.405
objectType: label: Object Name
content: stove
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: iron (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: cast (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 34 in x 15 in x 18 1/2 in; 86.36 cm x 38.1 cm x 46.99 cm