Blower for a Fireplace
Having considerable trouble with a smoky fireplace when trying to start a coal fire in the basket grate, I decided to make a blower of sheet iron. A blower covers the upper part of the fireplace and forces the draft through the basket grate until the fire gets a good start, then it can be removed. Before making the blower I again had trouble one morning when the chimney would not draw, and the whole room became filled with smoke; I then grabbed a newspaper and held it up against the upper part of the fireplace like a regular blower. To my surprise the suction of the chimney held the newspaper in place without any outside aid. In a few minutes the fire was roaring, and best of all, when it became hot, the newspaper caught fire and was sucked into the flames. This in reality became an automatic blower, as it removed itself when no longer needed.—Contributed by Charles F. Kopp, Amite, La.