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RUMFORD FIREPLACES
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Count Rumford, for whom the fireplace was named, was born Benjamin Thompson in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1753. He spent much of his life as a high ranking official of the Bavarian government where he received his title, Count Rumford. Rumford is primarily known for the work he did on the nature of heat. Rumford wrote two essays detailing his improvements on fireplaces, one in 1795 and the other in 1798. He was well known and widely read in his lifetime and almost immediately in the 1790's his “Rumford Fireplace” became state of the art worldwide and remained so until wood burning fireplaces went out of fashion (in favor of coal and later, gas fireplaces) in the 1850's.
Rumford thought that fireplaces should be a lot smaller than they were in England in the 18th century. They wasted too much heat up the chimney and pulled too much cold air into the room.
He also knew from his study of heat that if the fireplace is shallow (ideally one third as deep as it is wide) and the coving (or sides) are angled a maximum of 135 degrees to the back wall, the fireplace would reflect more heat into the room.
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RADIANT HEAT
Tall and elegant, a Rumford fireplace is a very effective radiant heater. The tall shallow firebox with widely splayed side walls radiates more heat into the room.
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STREAMLINING
Rumford streamlined the throats, or in his words “rounded off the breast” to remove those local hindrances that forcibly prevent the smoke from following its natural tendency to go up the chimney. With an intuitive understating of fluid dynamics far beyond the science of his day, Rumford created a venturi nozzle that propels the smoke and air up the chimney. By eliminating turbulence the air stream is much easier to control, and the throat opening can be reduced for maximum efficiency.
| CLEAN BURNING
The straight back and streamlined throat have a beneficial effect that Count Rumford could never have imagined, by keeping the smoke hotter further up the chimney, more particulate is burned, making Rumfords the only clean burning traditional fireplaces. Rumfords have been lab tested and meet wood burning appliance emission regulations.
| DECORATING
The beauty of masonry is in the infinite choices of decorating the fireplace and chimney. As with any fireplace, Rumfords can be decorated with any method and material that meets building codes. Deep surrounds block some radiant heat, and the surround should never drop below the leading edge of the throat. No matter how you decorate, you will still have an efficient heating fireplace.
| SIZING
24" and 30" are ideal for dens, bedrooms or less than 200 square feet and conversions of Victorian coal or gas burning fireplaces. 36" and 42" Rumfords are suited to living rooms, dining rooms, and family rooms of 200 to 400 square feet. 48" Rumfords are for use in large rooms with tall ceilings, or as Rumford would say “Great Halls.” Fireplaces larger than 48" are often used in lobbies, and lodges with large open spaces.
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