The two principal ironmongers in Oxford are Ploughman and Edwards; the former has an economical modification of Methley's fireplace (V. 238., and Encyclopﾵdia of Cottage Architecture, ﾺ 2061. fig. 1843.), which deserves general adoption. The fuel chamber is narrowed at the bottom, by the back and sides being beveled inwards; and the price is greatly reduced, by the front bars and the grate being of cast iron unpolished, and plain beads being substituted for enriched mouldings. This fireplace may be seen in some of the parlours of the Golden Cross Commercial Inn, Oxford. Mr. Edwards manufactures, besides the improved form of Witty's furnace mentioned in p. 108., an excellent light and strong hand-glass of tinned iron; a barrow engine, the frame of which is wholly of iron; an excellent tin roaster; and an oval tin hip-bath, which may also be used as a child's bath, foot-bath, sponging-pan, or washing-tub. We have sketches of these articles, which we may probably give in our Architectural Magazine. Mr. Edwards has applied one of his improved Witty's furnaces to a baker's oven in Oxford, which we examined, and to some bakers' ovens on a large scale in London, which we intend to see. The advantage is, a great saving of fuel, by the consumption of the smoke; and of labour, by avoiding the trouble of cleaning out the soot every time the oven is used. He has also applied these furnaces to the boilers of breweries and of wash-houses.
