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INVENTORY

KALAMAZOO Star

Text and illustrations are taken from 1908 Kalamazoo Catalog.
Michigan Usa

To read the 1907 "Kalamazoo-Direct To You" Catalog, click here.

This is a strictly high grade, air tight, parlor heater, for wood fuel, which in material, workmanship and construction is as nearly perfect as a stove can be made.

For economy of fuel and great heating copacity, we do not beleive it has a superior in wood stoves. It is oval in form and handsomely finnished.

No Linings The majority of airtight wood heaters require linings because the castings and sheet bodies in them are so light. In the Kalamazoo Star, the base, main bottom, sides and ends that come in direct contact with the fire are all made out of heavy cast iron, so constructed that no linings are required. This construction increases the heat radiation of the stove and makes it a powerfull floor heater.

The Bottom plate is heavily ribbed and so constructed that we guarantee it against fire-cracks and warping.

Ornamental Cast Legs fit in sockets and are also bolted to the bottom so there is no danger of their working loose.

Cast Sides, Front and Back which practically for the fire box, are of pleasing design and are made with socket joints and bolted together with quarter inch bolts, making it possible for them to pull apart or warp.

The Steel Body is made of wood 's refined steel, is bolted to the sides and front in such a manner that it is impossible for it to warp or pull away from the cast sides. We place the steel between the firebox sides and back and a cast gasket and, when bolted in place, it is just the same as if it were in a vise.

The Fire Door is 11 x 13.25 inches in size; it makes it possible to burn very large chunks, so that it is not necessary to cut the wood so small. The door being extra large, makes it easy to remove large ashes, and it is equipped with a large nickel grip turnkey which can be opened with a poker. A loose smoke door prevents the smoke from entering the room when putting in fuel.

The Large Nickel Scew Register Damper in the cast main front admits the draft and is fitted inside with a spark guard, making it impossible for fire to be thrown out of the opening. When closed, it is air tight, therefor the fire can be perfectly controlled.

Cast Main Top is beutifully carved, is fitted with a lid and surmounted with an ornamental open-work swing top which in turn is also surmounted with a handsome and strongly made nickeled urn.

The Check Slide in main top beside the pipe collar makes it possible to keep the fire under perfect control and retain fire overnight.It also prevents creosote from forming in the stove pipe when open and the fire is checked.

The Pipe Collar is on the main top and by this method of construction it is possible to set the stove up with one less elbow that would be the case if collar were in the back.

Notice also the massive nickeled foor rails firmly bolted to the cast sides. They tend to deflect the heat to the floor, thus serving a double purpose.

We do not hesitate to recommend this stove to prospective purchasers of wood heaters, as it is without question one of the most durrable, economical and practically constructed wood heaters on the market.


The Popularity of the type of heaters known as "oak stoves" has increased every year of its use, and now after 34 years' test, it is more IS popular than ever. We make the Kalamazoo oak heaters in four styles, the "Brilliant Oak", the "Regal Oak" and the finest wrought "Hot Blast Oaks." The same general plan of construction is followed in all, the difference being in their finish and ornamentation and the hot blast feature.

MATERIALS - The Kalamazoo Oaks are made of the best procurable pig-iron, selected with great care by one of the best buyers of iron in the country. No scrap iron whatsoever was used in their construction. The steal used for the body is the best grade of heavy wood's refined homogenous wrought steel, highly finished. We give our broadest and strongest guarantee to the materials and workmanship of these stoves, and ask customers to compare them with others in order to appreciate the exceptional high value we give at our exceptional low prices.

AIR TIGHT JOINTS - The Joints are all air tight and the doors are ground to a perfect fit. The accompanying illustration shows the air tight joints of the sheet-steel body and the fire-pot. The body has a cup shaped flange which is fitted into a recessed cup on top of the fire-pot and is held in position by the outside fire-pot-lugs, thus securely fastening the sheet-steel body to the fire-pot, without the aid or necessity of rivets, which burn off, allowing the body to buckle, lose shape, and admit air around the top of the fire pot.

BASE - The base is broad and deep and beautifully carved. It gives ample room for large, heavily wired and bailed ash-pan, so placed as to receive all ashes. The ash-pit door joints are all ground to a perfect air tight fit, as is the screw draft damper which controls the admission of air under the grate, and gives perfect control of the fire.

GRATE - For coal we provide our patent center-cone and draw combination grate, acknowledged to be by far the best grate made for burning coal in an oak stove. (fig 24 & 25). For wood we give a draw-center shaking grate of the most approved pattern.

THE FIRE POT is of heavy corrugated cast iron, full sized and heavy enough to require no troublesome and expensive linings. It is fitted to the base in air tight pocket-joints. The scientific construction of the fire-pot and grate makes the "Kalamazoo" an exceedingly strong floor heater and has had much to do with its great popularity.

THE BODY is made of very heavy wood's cold rolled refined wrought steel of the best grade.

THE FEED-DOORS are large and admit the putting of a large stick of wood into the stove. They are provided with loose hinged smoke doors, which prevent smoke from entering the room when the feed door is opened. (fig 27) The feed-doors are fastened with extra heavy nickeled turnbuckles, so made that the doors can be opened and shut with a poker when too hot to be handled with the fingers.

A special feature of the Kalamazoo Oaks is the manner in which the steel is joined to the fire-door frame making the admission of air at this joint impossible. They are in fact as well as in name, airtight stoves. The combustion of fuel is under absolute control, which makes them the greatest of all fuel savers. A screw check-draft, fitted air tight in the feed-door of the Regal Oaks, aid in controlling the fire.

They are handsome stoves of perfect proportion. They are durable stoves, made of the best materials. They are economical stoves, the fittings being exact and perfect. In short, they are the best oak stoves in the world for the price.

Do not be influenced to buy an oak stove altogether by it's weight. Many things are more important, and the weight ought to be only where it is needed.Many oak stoves have heavy bottoms and bases as well as tops. Excessive weight is a drawback in these parts. The Kalamazoo Oaks have heavy corrugated fire-pots, also exceedingly strong and are well made throughout. Each stove bears our strong guarantee; our 360 days approval test applies to it and it will last many years if given ordinary care.

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