Price: $3,800
1907 Symbol 26 Airtight Wood Stove – Serial No. 26 | Fully restored, copper-plated accents
Forged by the Detroit Stove Works in 1907, this compact Symbol 26 airtight parlor heater—standing 32" tall—embodies Edwardian opulence with its domed copper finial, intricate floral scrollwork, and claw-foot base. The airtight design minimizes drafts while delivering steady 20,000 BTU from a single load of hardwood, warming up to 800 sq ft with patented damper control for all-night efficiency.
A guardian of hearths in turn-of-the-century Michigan farmhouses, it once stood sentinel against blizzards, casting golden light through its mica door. Professionally rebuilt with new gaskets and mica panels; ready for modern chimney venting.
One stove. One watch. Timeless warmth.
Backstory
Rosalie Thibodeaux, a Cajun midwife from Bayou Lafourche, traded a week’s worth of deliveries for the Symbol 26 in 1907. She hauled it up the levee in a pirogue, named it Rosalie—“She’s got my curves and my temper”—and set it in the corner of her shotgun house where the cypress walls sweated in summer and froze in winter.
Every midnight call, Rosalie lit the stove with driftwood and Spanish moss, warming her hands before catching the next baby. Mothers swore the copper and nickel finial glowed brighter when the labor was tough, like it knew.
When the 1927 flood took the house, Rosalie floated out on a door, rescued by Rosalie’s grandson in 1952. It warmed his Baton Rouge bait shop until Katrina, then sat in a shed until her great-great-grandnephew brought it home.
Light Rosalie now and the copper still shines. Somewhere in the crackle you hear her whisper: “Breathe. Push.”
Restoration Details
Our restoration process focuses on preserving historical authenticity while enhancing each stove’s functionality. Key restoration features include:
- Replated Nickel Trim & Decorative Finials – Polished to their original brilliance.
- Hand-Poured Cast Iron Components – Carefully cleaned, treated, and reassembled.
- Functional Heating Capability – Restored to provide practical warmth if desired.
- Authentic Detailing – Intricate engravings and clawfoot bases skillfully restored.
This stove is ready to serve as a functional appliance and stunning focal point in any home, business, or historical display.
Current Location
This stove is currently displayed at: JNT Company
Would you like to see it in person? Feel free to visit or contact us for more information.
