It is possible that the heat is supplied by a source outside the oven
chamber, either a different chamber that surrounds the oven or is
below the oven and has a different door and does connect to the
chimney, or electric elements built into the floor and walls of the
oven and controlled by a thermostat you have yet to discover.

Indirect heat is the way the Romans built the heating for their bath
houses, or others built their heating in their medieval houses, with
the fire in the outside chimney warming the room on the other side of
the brick wall. If the oven is for use, that would be my best guess.
It may have gas heating somewhere if the house as gas, or it could
have electric elements built into the brickwork under the terra cotta.
See if you can find out who installed the thing, or if the neighbours
know anything about it, or if the prior owners are still around and
can fill you in.

RsH

------------------

On 26 Dec 2004 11:55:33 -0800, (Dave Berger)
wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I am a first time poster here. I have just moved into a house with an
>installed Portuguese pizza / bread oven. This is made out of
>terracotta and has no chimney and a cast iron door. Our problem is
>that we can't seem to get it working with charcoal without smoking
>ourselves out. I am tempted to put a chimney on it and just light a
>fire in there.
>
>Is this a bad idea? Any advice?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dave

R.S. (Bob) Heuman - Toronto, ON, Canada
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