The method of using wood for
heating homes and offices is almost as old as dirt. It goes back to the 1700s when Abraham
Darby used methods of smelting where iron was discovered to provide a cost efficient way
of producing heat.
However, it was during the Victorian era when fireplaces started to gain popularity.
During the Victorian era, people saw in addition to the production of heat, fireplaces
added a touch of class. It somehow provided homes a cozy and old-fashioned environment.
Over the years, housing styles changed, as so did the fireplaces, along with the
technology. Fireplaces evolved and became more stylish, providing sand casting techniques,
thus providing an opportunity for manufacturers to create even
better designs.
Even with all the changes and development, the basic fireplace it still consists of two
elements - the surround and the insert. The surround portions of the fireplace is the
mantle and sides and is usually constructed of wood, marble, granite, and sometimes iron.
The insert is the portion of the fireplace where the fire is burned. This part is
constructed of cast iron and often decorated with elegant tile of various colors and
designs.
Benjamin Franklin also played an important role in the invention of fireplaces. Benjamin
Franklin discovered that fireplaces lost a large amount of heat through the wall. This
gave him the inspiration to create the first freestanding firebox. The freestanding
firebox became to be known as the Franklin stove. He placed his first stove in the center
of the room; this answered his problem on how to find ways to heat a room. The result of
the test was that the entire room was heated thoroughly and evenly. His other discovery
was that by using heavy cast iron, even when the flames went out, the heat continued being
produced.
Even with all his great discoveries, Benjamin Franklin's attempt had a flaw. The problem
was air cannot be drawn in, this is because smoke was vented from the bottom. David
Rittenhouse, A man living in Philadelphia saw and decided to use Benjamin's creation but
innovated it by adding an L-shaped stovepipe as a way of moving the air through the fire
and then vent the smoke out through a chimney. This addition proved quite successful and
by the late 1700s, these freestanding stoves were being used throughout the country.
Although David Rittenhouse made the stove a success, but people still knew it by the name
Franklin Stove.
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