See Also
The 1930s: Passing The Torch From Coal To Oil HeatHeating with an Old Octopus Furnace - OldHouseGuy BlogThe 1920s: Ushering In The Modern Age Of HeatingA Brief History of Home Heating | Shiptons
How many of you remember this monstrosity and where it comes from? You earn10 extra points if you remember the last name of the family! Now the true test of knowledge comes into play when we ask, does anyone know what type of furnace this is; other than it being a scary looking furnace?
Correct, it’s a gravity furnace. The hallmark of the gravity furnace is the “octopus” arms of duct work that come up and out of the unit, running to and fro all over the basem*nt. Gravity furnaces were mostly coal fed furnaces and while they were incredibly inefficient, they managed to heat homes quite thoroughly. Learn more about Gravity Furnaces and read all about the movie too!
