Bristol Studio
Gas Fired Kilns
1977-2007
"Thirty years
of great service" |
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| This kiln was removed in April of 2007. It
functioned well, for thirty years, but had to come down when Robert
renovated the studio.
A new Car Kiln will be built on the site. A new concrete floor was poured unifying the various levels of the studio and kiln building. |
The Car Kiln was built in 1977 when
Robert's business was
primarily making
Aquariums and
Fountains.
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Gas Kilns
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1977-2007 Gas Fired
Car Kiln
A load of copper red glazes (in the center of the kiln) indicates a
variation in reduction between front and rear.
Robert finds that the advantages of having his own showroom means a wide range
of customers coming in each week.
While Robert might like a particular look from the the copper reds, many
customers prefer tones would not be his favorite.
This makes for a win win situation for he knows a wide range of results is for
the best. |
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From 1973-1990 this kiln was fired weekly with glaze
firings of Robert's Water Sculpture Business. When Robert built his
wood kiln in 1993 the use of the gas kiln changed and it was used primarily as
a bisque kiln before it was demolished in 2007. |
This kiln was constructed primarily of
insulating fire brick. From 1973-1991 the kiln was fired weekly. All firings
were glost, as his water sculptures were green glazed and "once fired". It was fired up to 50
times a year. |
This gas car kiln was fired over 500 times. |
Gas Kilns
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| The Gas Fired Car Kiln incorporated a
system with two winches. One for cranking the car in to the kiln, and the
other for pulling the car out.
This made for smooth traveling of the car, preventing the ware from jolts of stop and start pushing. |
The frame of the cart is now clearly exposed. The
V-groove wheels ran on inverted angle iron track. One improvement Robert
would have made (in this particular car) would be to
increase the size of the wheels. His use of a 4" diameter wheel did not allow the car to roll as easily as
it would have, if it was built with a 6" diameter wheel. |
Gas Kilns
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| The last bisque firing was
completed in late March 2007. |
Even after over 500 firings many of the IFB (Insulating Fire Brick) were in very good condition.
Most will be re-used and incorporated into the replacement kiln that is
to be built on this site. |
Gas Kilns
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 |
April 2007
View of Gas Car Kiln once the wall into studio was removed. See photo at right
of the same perspective, but once the kiln has been removed. |
April 2007
The wall has been removed between the main studio and the kiln building,
and a level concrete floor unifies the studio. A glass wall will be
installed to separate the kiln from studio, thus allowing light into the
interior work area. |
Gas Kilns Have "Come and Gone" at
the Pottery
 |
The
Wood Kiln Noborigama 250 c.f was built on that
site in 2004.
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1994-2000
Gas Fired Salt Kiln This Gas Fired Salt
Kiln served Robert well.
In March of 2000 it was demolished to make room
for his new larger
Noborigama Wood Kiln 250 c.f. |
|
1994-1999
Alpine, Fast Fire Wood
and Wood Cross draft.
All these kilns have been dismantled, the building deconstructed and then
doubled in size.
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Gas Kilns
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1974-1977
Gas Fired Two Chambered Kiln
This was Roberts first kiln at the Bristol studio.
Constructed entirely of insulating fire bricks, it had a two chamber
design.
The waste heat from the first chamber to bisque fire green ware
in the second chamber. An article about this design was
published in
1975 Ceramic Review, December Issue London, England
"Two Chambered Kilns, A New
Approach",
Written by Robert Compton |
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| Foot print (right) of the two chamber
gas kiln |
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Robert Compton Pottery
2662 North 116 Road, Bristol,
Vermont 05443, U.S.A.
Phone: 802-453-3778
E-mail: Robert & Christine
04/17/08
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