Some of the best things about historic houses are the antique appliances and lighting fixtures and bathroom fixtures… assuming that they operate safely and effectively. Our new (old) abode boasts such features, but right now my fixation is on the kitchen stove.
Gas and wood (or coal?) stove by Hardwick Stove Company.
It is made by the Hardwick Stove Company, but that is all I know. The house dates to the late 1920s. Looking at this picture: the right side has four gas burners, an oven, and a broiler at the bottom. The left side has a large compartment for wood (or coal?) with warming plates on the top. There is a Robertshaw temperature control on the exterior. The entire stove is cast iron. The hood does not go with the stove.
Does anyone know how to find a particular model name or number? I want to date it to the late 1920s/early 1930s, but that’s just a guess. Has anyone restored such a stove before? Is it safe? Is it expensive? My online searching has not been fruitful yet, and the Hardwick Stove Company is not mentioned often.
Can anyone pass along information about the Hardwick Stove Company? So far, I have found a bit of history from rekitchen.com:
A brand name that is now owned by the Maytag Corporation, Hardwick was once a company that produced wood cooking appliances and later gas and electric stoves for residential use. Hardwick stoves are no longer produced, but used or antique versions are still sold by individuals and specialty companies.
Hardwick’s History
The Hardwick Stove Company was started by Bradley Hardwick in Cleveland, in the late 19th century as a manufacturer of cast iron stoves. Control of the company stayed in the family, passing to Bradley’s son Joseph, who in turn passed it down to his son C.L. C.L. maintained control for the rest of his life.
During World War II, the company switched its production from stoves to airplane parts. In 1945, it resumed its production of stoves, with a new process of quality control. The next decade brought changes, as they began to manufacture electric stoves, as well. The company was finally acquired by Maytag in 1981, which later combined it with several other brands to form Maytag Cleveland Cooking Products.
I’d really like to find information about particular Hardwick models, as well as learn of successful stove restorations. Any help is much appreciated!
Preservation in Pink 
Kate, this peaked my curiosity. This is a gas stove and range, probably from the ’40s or ’50’s — the left side compartment is a warming area/storage unit. Looking at some websites, I think you may be able to find the model number somewhere on the oven door, the frame around the oven, the lower drawers, back of the unit, or interior hinges. I searched rehabbing antique stoves on the internet and came up with a number of businesses that do it (many for a pretty penny), including one in Goshen, MA called the Good Time Stove Company.
Just want to ask a question—I have an cast iron stove that has this on the side—COZY 119 18——what is this?
I worked at Hardwick Stove Company in Cleveland TN while I was in college from 1957 to 1961. I believe that the stove pictured was made between 1958 and 1960. We continued to make the bungalow during this period and as I remember, most of them were shipped to Canada. I cannot remember the exact numbers but we made around 400 stoves each day and perhaps 5 or 6 were bungalows. I remember that they were extremely heavy in getting them on the conveyor at the end of the assembly line and getting them off to crate for shipping. The earlier model stoves had more rounded corners and I worked in the pattern shop when we developed the more square look about 1959 or 1960.
Jim. I would appreciate you reaching out to me. I am investigating the omnand off valves for a Hardwick stove and oven. I would love to send you a photo and get your opinion. Please email me at. Goclaw@icloud.com. Thanks. Ken
i have a model No R3676w-49A ,Serial NO .444 Con.Sec No. 2010
I wanted to know are they valuable of like do people collect this type of things. Because we might just recycle it and i prefer someone having it than being recycled.
Hi Gio,
Try advertising on craigslist or a neighborhood forum. Many people are looking for old stoves!
Good luck.
Kaitlin
Hello there, I have an opportunity to purchase a hardwick almost identical to the one above. I was wondering if you had pictures if what the original back looked like in it? The one im going to purchade is missing a part to cinnect the smoke stack and im trying to fmdetermine if I can fabricate it.
Hi Adam, sorry, I do not have any photos and the stove is no longer mine! Good luck!!
We have an old Hardwick as well – duel fuel. Don’t know when it was made but we still use it everyday. It cooks great. We don’t use the wood side, but have considered hooking up the pipe and giving it a try. Does anyone know the value of these fabulous old stoves?
Linda,
Is there any way you could post a picture of the back of the stove? In particular, the back where the flue pipe attaches.
Thanks,
M
Back in the 80’s I bought a Hardwick stove. I loved it, it was new at the time. When we moved into our new house in 2012, I bought an Elmira Stove from the Elmira Stove Works in Canada. You should check them out.
What do I need to do to convert from natural gas to propane
Hi John, I’m not sure. Maybe someone in this conversation can answer!
we converted a stove from natural gas to propane in our apt. building. It is a matter of changing an orifice in the stove. your gas company should be able to help.
that is correct
Reblogged this on annladenberger and commented:
From preservation in pink
There are people out there who restore old stoves, and people who wull pay big money for them once restored. Of course, its expensive to restore them, too! Google (duh) some keywords or check out the great blog retrorenovation.com for some tips and links.
In a family home we own there is an old Hardwick from the late 40s or early fifties. They clean up really well and ours has a room heater on the left side. Thing works well and puts out a prodigious amount of heat.
I recently inherited my uncle’s house and found an old “tobasco” Hardwick Stove Company potbelly wood burning stove in the basement behind some stuff. I’m trying to found out more about this stove like the year it might have been made.
I love Hardwick stoves. I had one back in the 80’s. Someone, somewhere must work on them. Keep searching.
help would be awesome. Have a Hardwick propane cookstove that I love. It’s leaking from a part under the stove top that isn’t even shown in the manual. I have all the original paperwork, from about 1989. I don’t want to replace my stove, I want to repair it.
Any help would be so greatly appreciated.
I had a Hardwick in the 80’s. It too began to leak and the fuel company refused to deliver propane. No one could repair it. I had to get a new range. Now, I live elsewhere, but if you LOVE the vintage stove look, check out Elmira Stove Works. I have a black Elmira in my kitchen and I have never had a stove I love this much. We are ordering one for our lake cabin in Oneonta. It reminds me of the old coal stove my Aunt used to cook on.
I miss all the great people from the 1980’s at Hardwick, I would go to meet them every year during autumn. Cleveland, Tennessee, all of Tennessee is beautiful during that time of the year. I dealt with Joe Webb and Bob Lansford. What a wonderful time to do business, only with a handshake and your word. The trust between buyer and seller.
Has anyone else had their Hardwick stove explode on them while lighting the ignition in their 50 year old gas oven? This was a terrifying accident, and I suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my arm, neck, and face. If I can get any response to this happening to others, it would be greatly appreciated.
I did not have that happen when I had my Hardwick but as I wrote earlier the propane company could not repair it and would not deliver propane until I replaced it. Kelly, it is time to let that stove go. You had a very serious accident. If you want the vintage look but modern safety and convenience, please check out Elmira Stove Works, Elmira Canada. We just put one in our summer camp on Goodyear Lake. We had to get the smaller model than the one in our year round house because of space at the summer camp. It takes 6 weeks to get it because they build it when you order it. Mine is a dual fuel, gas cook top, electric oven. You will totally love it.
What can I clean the surface with. A family member has a Hardwick stove in her apt and uses it for heat and cooking on the stove top. It looks like the stove top might lift off. But I haven’t tried it yet. If it comes off, I’m hoping to put it in the kitchen sink and spray it with a cleaner. I’m not sure what to use.