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Hoffman Kiln
Palmerston North, New Zealand
2006
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This is a "continuous firing kiln" used for making bricks.
It contained 14 chambers. The chambers were really nothing more than 14
doors, as seen to the right. When in use an internal temporary wall was
built between chambers. Once started this kiln was fired for up to 6 weeks,
cycling several times. It gained it's efficiency by recycling the waste heat
from one chamber to preheat later chambers. During the
firing, as many as 6 chambers would be in some form of firing at a time. The
other chambers would be in the process of cooling or being loaded. |
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| The kiln's interior is like a race track allowing the
rotation of chambers without ever reaching an end. This photo was taken from
the end of the chamber where it wraps back on itself. |
Hoffman was the term used to describe this type of kiln. It is one of two left in New Zealand. The other Hoffman style kiln, on the
South Island, is badly deteriorated. |
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Its unique series of flues, one for each chamber,
allowed the chamber just behind the chamber being fired to be
cooling. Chambers that were finished a few days earlier would be cool
enough to begin being unloaded. |
Hoffman was the term used to describe this type of
kiln. It is one of two left in New Zealand. The other Hoffman style
kiln, on the South Island, is badly deteriorated. |
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| Robert standing in one of the 14 doors (chambers) of
the Hoffman 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
05/14/13
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