Rare R.D. Cole Mfg Co Antique Cast Iron Chimney Cleanout Door – Circa 1870s – Newnan GA Foundry – Museum-Quality Southern Artifact

Type

Antique Chimney Cleanout Door

Antique Cast Iron Chimney Cleanout / Ash Dump Door Maker: R.D. Cole Manufacturing Co., Newnan, Georgia Circa: 1870s–1880s Dimensions: 15.5” W × 14.5” H × 1” D Condition: Excellent — solid cast iron with original structure intact, no cracks or repairs. Freshly painted deep red for preservation. Includes heavy-duty metal display stands. This extremely rare architectural artifact was produced by the R.D. Cole Manufacturing Company of Newnan, Georgia — a legendary Southern foundry active since the mid-1800s. Known for building water towers, steam engines, and industrial ironwork throughout the Southeast, Cole’s work is part of Georgia’s architectural and industrial legacy. This piece is a cast iron cleanout door, also referred to as an ash dump access panel, typically installed at the base of a fireplace chimney. It provided access for removing ash and soot, and its bold foundry stamp and large dimensions place it solidly in the Victorian era, estimated around 1870s.