Everything Fisher

[coaly]

Nice stuff, but that's not a 1973 stove.
I thought you might have had a receipt dated 1973, and called a Papa Bear a Mama....... Only Papa Bears were made in '73. The 10th Papa Bear (the first model made) wasn't made until May 10th 1974 and cast iron doors started after that one. Any that old would have a 3 piece top, not bent top, steel plate door, and pipe cap dampers. The patent was filed on your draft cap type Nov. 76. Making yours a 77 or 78?

At the expense of being called a stove nerd, I'll post the early dealer lists I compiled. Enjoy

 

[coaly]

1974 Dealer List

Fisher Stove Licensees 1974 Location Notes

Paul Zyri and Claudio Querin B.C Canada

Frank and Barbara Jorgenson Seattle Washington Barb, Bob's cousin
(Their worker they taught to build stoves went on to copy and build Sigman Stove)

Ted Howe Oregon coast argument w Dee
Pererra over boundries

Mat Cullen Canby Oregon

Jake Jackson Redmond Oregon loaned $1000 for 1st
steel order/ 2 door idea
Frontier Stove Works

Art Beevor Beaverton, Oregon

Mark Williams Silverton, Oregon 30 mi. radius outside
Salem

Tofflemeir Oregon argued with Art
Beevor over territory

8 Licensees at end of 1974 unsure if Tofflemeir bought in 74 or 75 ??

 

[coaly]

1975 Dealer List

Fisher Stove Licensees 1975 Location Notes

Eugene Robinson Colorado

Floyd Gullickson Wisconson

Roy Smith and Loren Trachsel Minneaoplis, MN not welders hired fab.
Self Suffiency became
Sierra Stove
Bernard Mulligan Canada Bought out by Jim Craig
and Bob Warman

Cal Cotton Boise, Idaho 3/75 later became Timberline
with Duncan from S. IL.

Stan Cheney Flagstaff AZ. Bob had
Carol get rid of 9/75

Arnold Dunagan NH.

Woody and Ginny Taylor KS, NB, OK, AR one piece top idea, brochure
Heart attack,sold to Dunagan

Merle and Betty Bidwell Indiana; (Carol's sister Betty)

Duncan S. Illinois Pig farmer went with Cal

Roy, George, Walt Dunn Salem, VA.. And W.VA

Ron and Susie Correll Medford OR. Bob gave territory from own
Gave welder, torch, grinder, saw, and material
for first 10 stoves.

Theo Hawks TN and Miss. Brother to Doyle

Doyle and Bev Hawks N.C. related to Geo. Dunn's wife
Linda (Nov. 75)

Ray Bruce CA. double door w oven on top
became Buffalo Stove owing
$27,000 in doors & royalties
Charles (Chuck) Dynes and
Gary Wismer Ontario, Canada

Dick Higgins Post Falls, Idaho w 2 friends Jerry Hilperts
and Nicky Parrish

Arnold Dunagan ME & VT $25,000

Calvin Cotton NY $5000 hired Mgr for Boise
Moved to NY.

Marion and Mary Moore PA related to Cal / Fisher Stoves
Of PA sold to Dave and
Bridgett Hoff now DBA
"Fisher Stoves Factory
Showroom"

John Jordan Miss.

Carl Boughman GA.

These were the licensees that were getting behind in orders. Bob had to get Hesston Corp. in Wichita KS involved (Co. with Mennonite origin) When he went back to sign had a stroke. Revoked Cal Cotton and Duncan license.

 

[fordracer]

Nice stuff, but that's not a 1973 stove.
I thought you might have had a receipt dated 1973, and called a Papa Bear a Mama....... Only Papa Bears were made in '73. The 10th Papa Bear (the first model made) wasn't made until May 10th 1974 and cast iron doors started after that one. Any that old would have a 3 piece top, not bent top, steel plate door, and pipe cap dampers. The patent was filed on your draft cap type Nov. 76. Making yours a 77 or 78?

At the expense of being called a stove nerd, I'll post the early dealer lists I compiled. Enjoy

Hey coaly,well thats strange,because my sn tells me march 1973,and i checked the other 3 stoves just to make sure i was looking at it right,i even went saturday and looked again,just to make sure the 3 wasnt an 8.oh well,could have been a mistake when it was stamped,i delivered my uncles grand pa bear back to him yesterday for fathers day,he liked it so much that he wouldnt put it back in the garage,instead we put it in his basement to be hooked up and moved his basement stove to the garage,glad my cousin and his 4 buddies were there,made it alot easier on mine and my uncles backs,lol,and i will be working on getting the grandma bear hooked up,i got it in the basement sitting on dollys now,just got to clean the chimney and its ready to be hooked up.

 

[coaly]

There's a simple reason why your stove wasn't made in March of '73. The first airtight stove, a Papa Bear wasn't invented until October of 1973 !

Here's a list of the first and only (6) stoves built in 1973.

Bob designed and built the first one in October of 1973. (his own, with a loan from his mother)
An elderly couple (Peterson) up the road he lives on wanted one when they saw his, as well as people in Springfield (Evans) They paid him material + $100. This paid for the material to make his mothers stove and Ed's next door. (Ed is Bob's wife Carol's cousin who rented her house next door, also the guy who said "whew" these bears are heavy, and Bob said, "yeah, a Papa" and the name stuck) Ed then loaned him money for materials to build the first 10 to sell. Only one was made before Christmas 1973, and that first one took 10 days to sell! That loan for materials took him to May 1974, and those were all Papa Bears with steel plate doors. The first cast iron doors (1974) had no trees, and used pipe caps for air dampers. Yours is the later door with Fir trees added, and has his dad's invention, the 4 fin patented draft cap.
All these early stoves didn't have a one piece bent top like your newer model. And the handle was a 1 3/4" solid ball. (with a tiny set screw). 1974 looks like this; There are no numbers or tags, that all came later.

So far the only 1973 stove I've found is in Bob's basement.

Whatever you're looking at, isn't a date for the stove pictured. There was a patent number, 237,798 on the door that started in 1975, these early stoves had no other numbers. A picture of whatever number or tag you're looking at would help.

 

[DexterDay]

(broken link removed to http://ashtabula.craigslist.org/hsh/2456455598.html)

Stumbled across this Fisher stove while searching Craiglist today.. Seems like its in Good Shape. (No mention of Cracks in Welds, Cast Door, etc)

What model is this? (((From my reading of this whole thread and the ENTIRE "Fisher Story" (WOW< What an amazing story), I believe it to be a Mama Bear based on size))) Around what year? And finally is that a "Fair" Price? (Could prob be had for $400-$450)

 

[coaly]

The length in the picture looks like it could be a Papa Bear. Wouild have to ask the seller if a 30" long log would fit inside, or 24" (mama) to know for sure.
First style spring after solid knob and first style 4 fin draft caps after the original pipe cap type should make it a 76 or 77. It's always possible a fabricator could have some older parts still going on stoves in '78, but not likely.
That's about what they go for. Whenever I find one in the $200 range, it's such a long drive the fuel and time makes up for the cheap price.

I'll have an original copy of the Fisher Stove Story for sale soon. $10 if anyone is interested.

 

[mhambi]

Whenever I find one in the $200 range, it's such a long drive the fuel and time makes up for the cheap price.

.

Too bad Utah is such a long drive... I came across this one in my continuing search for a small 'classic' stove for the kitchen area. Doesn't fit my needs, hopefully will serve someone well!


http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=16229469&cat;=&lpid;=&search;=

 

[Redbear86]

I live in Idaho, just south of pocatello, i'm originally from richmond Va, between my family coming back and forth we have at least 2 pickups going all the way back and forth a year, might collect a few of these to send back, maybe pay for gas! Going to have about $100 bucks into a fully restored '76 grandpa bear, but its going to look too good in my living room to sell, think i'm going to paint the draft knobs black and all the stars and picture silver, found a cool steamer to go on top on ebay with a bear on it but they want $100 bucks for it (as much as i'll have into the whole stove!) I was going to try to tape off the stars letering and trees and use silver hi temp spray paint, way too messy, anyone know where i can get brush on hi temp silver paint---for cheap?

 

[Redbear86]

Coaly i was wondering about what year you'd place this stove with the rear exhaust?

 

[coaly]

Hey, it's a lefty!

1974

You can bring that one to the East Coast with you, and add it to my collection the next time across. I'm minutes off Rt. 80.

My 3 piece top Baby Bear came from Athol, and the side vent 3 piece top Papa Bear came from New Plymouth.

 

[Redbear86]

yea he's asking kinda a steep price, about $400 bucks, don't know if theres enough collector market to buy it

 

[fordracer]

Well,finally got grandma bear installed after reparing flu liner and extending brick hearth to accept it,ready to give grandma a run,lol.

 

[ilmariners]

Hello All,
After reading your thread Coaly, I've come to the conclusion that I needed to join Hearth.com and learn more about wood stoves, specifically the Fisher line. I read the history of the Fisher and learned that the stove I recently inherited is an off-shoot of the Fisher thanks to you. It's a Frontier and looks very similar to the Fisher. When I turned it up to look at the bottom, I saw the 79 inscribed on the bottom that looked similar to the 79 I saw in one of the pictures of the Fisher stoves.

My Frontier has been sitting in a barn for about the last 6 years after the owners took it out of their house and replaced it with a pellet stove (this I don't understand). So needless to say, it has some surface rust and needs a new coat of paint. My question is can anyone recommend a good way to prepare the surface for new paint and also which paint should I use?? I'm not afraid of some work and want to do it the right way the first time.

The stove I'm replacing is a Earth Stove and has cracked across the font on both sides of the door. I've been told that it needs to be replaced and is not safe to repair. This is why I came across the Frontier.

I'd love to have some advice on this topic and will anxiously wait for it. Thank you,

signed hearth.com newbie

ilmariners

 

[coaly]

Welcome to the forum;
A wire wheel in a drill works OK, if you don't have anything larger to put a bigger wheel on. I have an old polisher like an angle grinder that I use a wire wheel with. A "cup" brush type seems to last longer for me. And a "knotted" wheel is the most aggressive for speed. If the rust gets to be deep pits, it may need some sanding in spots.
The only high temp paint I don't like is Rustoleum BBQ Black due to it drying to a very dark gray instead of black. Must not have dark enough pigments? My favorite would be Stove Bright Satin for an original look. Stove Bright Metallic Black makes for a class A finish, usually a buck more, but the surface needs to be really smooth to get a perfect finish. Stove Bright makes a primer too for a body shop quality finish with metallics. Before stove paint is cured with heat, it's very soft and easily removed with spirits or thinner. So take your time and get it the way you want before firing for the final cure. Once cured, it requires sanding or the wire wheel to get off.
Just stay away from Stove Black on a steel plate stove ! It's for cast iron only, and forget painting it after that stuff is put on.

I picked up a Mama Bear yesterday off Craigslist, and found it to be covered in the baked on goo. I believe I may be able to get it off the steel plate parts, but the cast door, forget it. That will always be stove blacked now. Tried mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, paint stripper, PB Blaster, and soap and water. Hit it with a wire wheel after all that, and it shines up like stove polish still....... The surprise is that I found BROWN paint under the stove black on the legs and back, so it was a brown Mama Bear. The aluminum draft caps are still brown too.

 

[bpm44]

Hey Coaly is that copy of the Fisher story available yet? Sold already? I'd be interested. Thanks.

 

[ilmariners]

[quote author="coaly" date="1314499684"]Welcome to the forum;
"A wire wheel in a drill works OK..."

Thanks for all the great information Coaly!! I can't wait to get to work on it. Sounds like the Stove Bright Satin is for me. I'll try to get some pictures going to show progress along the way. I'm sure I'll have some more questions to ask to. I picked the Frontier up yesterday and notices the damper knobs on the front of the doors won't budge. I'm guessing there'll be some work there too.

 

[comstock1869]

My house came with a Grandpa Bear III located in the master bedroom. The bedroom is about 20 x15 with attached walk-in closet and bathroom so good size but way too small for this monster. Basically I get a fire going at 4pm when I get home and I am trying to draw the heat out of the 85 degree plus bedroom before bedtime. I basically have to run smaller fires that go out at night to keep from burning us out of the bedroom. From the descriptions I have read in this thread, I figured out my Grandpa Bear is a III because of the welded angle iron legs. Mine is nickel plated on the door trim reliefs and damper reliefs with the recessed areas painted to match the rest of the unit. I also have the nickle bear feet. My house was built in 1979 and there was a Fisher dealer in town at the time, as I found out through an odd coincidence during a building evaluation I dealt with.

My neighbor also has the same model without the nickel upgrades. They wanted to scrap theirs for a modern stove but I convinced them to give it to me. So I have a no cost unit I will be installing it in my dining room/kitchen. I would like to upgrade this unit to match mine. I am searching for the bear paws for this unit if anyone has an affordable set they wish to sell. Money is tight as always. I am also looking for a screen for this. My bedroom unit's screen is rectangular with two knobs for turning to the sides to latch onto the side of stove frame. The doors can be left on with this screen.

Does anyone know what nickel plating might cost for the doors? This is a nifty upgrade I would like to do to my "new to me" Grandpa Bear III.
Thanks!
Chris

 

[comstock1869]

My current stove

 

[coaly]

Welcome to the Forum, and congrats on the second stove!

It's a Grandpa III that started in 1979 with optional Cathedral Style doors. The one piece box, with bent corners III started in 1980. In the change to go to the arched top doors in 1980, a few in 79 had the old style box like yours, with the new style optional doors. Some fabricators continued the old style box with angle iron corners as well as a cheaper alternative. The redesigned stoves with Roman Numeral III had bent corners, no weld on corners, and a UL tag on the back shield.
Camfan on this site has his last screen for the arched top Grandpa Bear on eBay right now. You may never see one again. Never know. Grandma screens are common due to fitting the Insert as well.

Those feet wouldn't fit a Gp III. The bolt on legs on the newer models are too wide to fit into the foot. They are for the old style like you have. A Gp III uses bolt on angle legs, or as an accessory a cast iron fancier set, or the cast iron bear legs with paws that are all one piece.



Here's some pics of the later III Model

 

[comstock1869]

My current screen does not look at all like the one on eBay. My screen is rectangular, which matches the inside of the stove. Notice the backside of the screen with the latches that when turned to the outside latch on to the said of the box for a fail proof tight fitting screen. Those dog ears on the one on eBay seem more hassle then it is worth and my screen fits with the doors swung open as well.

 

[coaly]

Your screen is for the old style, flat top doors, and the arched doors were just starting to be used when yours was made. They were still using the old style screen. The rectangular flat top screen attaches with clips to the door opening and will work with either door. (same hole size) The older rectangular flat top screens (older than yours) have tabs that stick out like ears. That will not fit yours. That type will only fit the old style box with old style doors. The hinges are closer together on the new arch top doors. Yours has hinge plates welded farther apart, for the flat top doors, so the new style screen (arched top) with ears that sit on the hinge plates fits yours. (and gives it the newer look) When they are mismatched, the ears hang on the top hinge, and won't reach the bottom hinge.

Here's a picture of the older screen with tabs that attach into the opening instead of hanging on arched top doors.
Here's a picture of what NOT to do with a screen made for arch doors only, installed on a flat top door. Notice the ears don't reach the bottom hinge plate. This is a Metallic Brown Insert screen on an older model to contrast the color to see the height difference.

 

[comstock1869]

Wow yea that is scary.

All good stuff here to know and great info. I am appreciative of your knowledge. If you know anyone selling bear paws for a reasonable price, as well as a proper screen, please let me know.

Washington outlawed the Fisher stove so they have ended up scrapped with parts hard to come by. Idaho has no issues with these but they are growing very scarce. I will keep mine going strong and get the "new to me" one installed and heating. I have plenty of firewood access so if the Fishers burn less efficiently then modern stoves, it id not that big of an issue for me.

Thanks!

 

[coaly]

The "proper" screen for the arched top doors is that one on ebay, yours isn't like that because the company that made the screens for Fisher wasn't making screens for the new doors yet. So that newer style will work on yours, it just wasn't made until 1980. You may find a rectangular one, but don't count on it to match your old one. Here are a few examples of varieties.
For those that don't know what the one Camfan has, here it is; Not trying to sell his screen, but in the years of collecting stoves and data on them, this is the second Grandpa screen for arched top doors I've EVER seen come up on ebay. (without the stove) I don't expect to see many more. Grandma rectangular screens are more common since the GM door size also fits the Insert, Goldilocks and Teddy Bear.
Grandpa only fits Grandpa.
Having most all the models here makes comparison easy.

Highest selling screen prize (below) goes to Singed Eyebrows on this Forum for $195 !! (without the stove)

 

[comstock1869]

A buddy of mine said he could weld up a copy of my screen for $60-$80, including the spring handles. I am considering that. If there others out there that need this style of Grandpa screen, contact me and we can get the price down on making a few at a time.