miniature coal stove

That's a handle to open and close the loading door. I think its a retrofitted steel item. Or maybe in a train which was vibrating it was a way of keeping the door closed reliably. Could be orignal. As for the base I guess that would depend on where the stove was installed. Perhaps if it is in a train you need that (as you would in a boat) but if it was in a shed with a solid floor there's no need for it.

I guess what you had was the same basic casting.

If I remember correctly the loading door was held in place by some heavy lugs in the bottom of the door - in no way did this create a seal between door and casting!

Was quite easy to balance a 7 inch saucepan or kettle on top of the raised sides - maybe not as secure as something that sat properly on the hotplate (or summer ashtray, as I used it for!)

No more pictures from you of fake boats then.........

Well I asked someone selling a stove with a similar opening on the front and they said that the way to control the air into the stove is to block the hole with ash to damp down then poke the ash out to get a blast of air. Crude but effective and less moving parts.

Sounds like an enjoyable stove to have around

Did a test burn yesterday. Bodged the stove into the boat and got it going with some wood and a small amount of Brazier smokesless fuel.

It all went swimmingly. Chucks out loads of heat. Its for use in one of my boats which has a 10ft x 8ft living cabin 6ft headroom. I m also installing a Refleks 66 and a Force 10 Cozy Cabin flued propane heater. Hopefully that will do the job.

Today I pulled out the Villager Puffin and removed all the -built like a brick shithouse-tiling and associated heat proofing which consisted of 3mm steel plate And ~18mm master board all screwed down plus tiles on top. The flue itself is welded into the cabin top plating. I realise its a belt and braces "are the Russians going to send a SMD or whatever it is over here and all our houses/boatd are going to shake about a lot ?"
but flues corrode and replacing a welded in one is going to be a ballache unless you do your own welding. I prefer the old school cast collars myself. So the flue needs cutting out next.

Will do that internally with a slitting disc or two. Then reuse the external part for the new smaller flue. Reason for this is that the external part is nicely levelled on a slight slope on the "roof".

Anyway this tiny French stove is OK. Not ideal for primary heating or the only heating but nice thing to have. I'm moving to oil for primary heating on this boat (Refleks) anyway so I think it will be okay. The top is great for cooking on .