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NELLIE:... The fireplace insert was the hottest wood burning appliance of that time. This one had it all. It would take a twenty four inch log, burn all night, baffled, fire brick lined, glass doors, blower, adjustable fireplace cover and glass cross flow air wash all first presentations in this wood stove venue. If they had a see though fireplace, I would build them a see though insert with class doors on both ends. what ever there problem was, I could do it..... I had a hard time being convinced that I should build a fireplace insert for the biggest part of the market at that time, the truth was to much heat lose up the chimmy although the insert was at least one hundred percent better. I loved the free standing stove concept and wanted to keep designing my new and innovating stoves keeping ahead on technology plus it was another 5 to 10 grand investment. Certified wood stove testing, brochures, instruction books, photo sessions, artist drawings, new patterns for new casting or a pattern change, all new jigs and fixtures, all stuff I had to do myself... some with my direction..... plus all the printing cost ..conception to market in less than 3 months. ..... But I caved and did them one, my Nellie, leaping to #1 in sales for me very fast. Every one was happy the fans and my stove works was humming with a 2 month back log, now I could get back to the core, back to my free standing proto types getting ready for a new year with new stuff and some custom commissions and still had to run this whole thing. It was all working so well, rewarding my sole when it just stopped. The Tec/dot com revolution was on, gas was cheap again and it was back to PG&E/the thermostat-easy street and another bubble begins. It was a good run for my wood stove career 1974 to 1985 but got bit by the spider in the wood pile. So we all went home. That was when I said I'm going to pay the price and do my art. I had saved the banana box's. Nellie was my mother Ugene McCalligan.....master stove builder |