Fuel to the Fire
Fire is sometimes called mankind’s greatest discovery. Since time immemorial, humans have heated their dwellings in countless ways.
The oldest ‘heating method’ is undoubtedly wood fire. From prehistoric campfires to modern fireplaces, burning wood has long been a source of heat and light.
In the last few centuries, wood has been replaced by coal or briquettes more and more often. Briquettes are compressed remains of brown coal or coal. The first act of the day was usually getting the fire started in the fireplace. One or two loads of coal would usually get you
Over the course of the nineteenth century, stoves that used coal gas or city gas appeared. Gas was produced in factories by heating coals. Many cities had a distribution network for gas that also served to provide street lighting.
Gas stove by LeselectNEMO Science Museum
Some gas stoves were modelled after fireplaces.
City gas contained a flammable mixture of hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide. If the latter leaks, there is a risk of poisoning.
Radiant heater by RobertsonNEMO Science Museum
At the end of the nineteenth century, electricity also proves to be a handy source of heat.
Early electric stoves used ‘lamps’ that had a glowing wire made from carbon, like in an incandescent light bulb. The glass keeps the wire away from oxygen, which prevents the wire from burning.
Radiant heater (1916) by InventumNEMO Science Museum
This electric stove from 1916 was made by the Dutch brand Inventum and uses a metal filament that does not burn.
The copper background reflects the heat.
Radiant heater (1921) by InventaNEMO Science Museum
The Municipal Electricity Works (GE) in Amsterdam provided private citizens with free electricity connections in the period between 1914-1918.
GE shops sold household equipment and stoves to boost energy consumption.
Radiant heater by BellingNEMO Science Museum
Just like some gas stoves, electric stoves were reminiscent of a fireplace.
This design has a large copper reflector that spreads light from two radiant heat elements in the bottom. It looks like a real fire.
This model is mobile and can easily be aimed at a person. It is also called a solar stove.
Stoves that run on fuel oil or petroleum were made until roughly halfway through the twentieth century. This petroleum stove was developed in the 1950s and also needs electricity to operate.
Some heating units combine energy sources. This device from the 1950s is a petroleum burner and an electric radiant stove in one. Ideal for when there is either no electricity or no petroleum at hand.
In 1959, a large natural gas field was discovered in the province of Groningen. The Netherlands quickly got a gas network. Almost every home ultimately got a connection for a gas stove.
In the second half of the twentieth century, central heating gains popularity in the Netherlands. This system uses water that runs through tubes and radiators and spreads heat from a central-heating boiler which in most cases runs on gas.
The electric stove never completely disappeared. Mobile models in particular continue to be popular, often to temporarily heat rooms.
By Francis MillerLIFE Photo Collection
A new method of electric heating enters the scene to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A heat pump is in fact reverse air conditioning: it extracts heat from the outside air and uses that to heat the house.
Every house in the Netherlands should be free from dependence on natural gas by 2050.
Object of the Month – November 2021
Each month, NEMO Science Museum spotlights one item from its collection of 19,000 special objects. These objects, which were once part of people’s everyday lives, show us how technology changes over time.
