While string roasting is always an option for roasting in front of the fire, there are times when one wants a mechanical spit. The spits listed here are mechanical spits. It is fairly easy to modify electric barbecue spits to work on a fireplace. What I want to emphasize here, and what is clear to readers of my book, The Magic of Fire, is that spit roasting takes place IN FRONT OF THE FIRE, never over the fire. The spit is placed in front of the fire, over a drip pan that sits on the hearth.

Fuf Girrarosti

An Italian clock-work spit! This is a beautiful web site. It is in both English and Italian. The spit is based on an early 19th century model. I have been told that the Le Capucin (see below) in more robustly constructed, but I have not seen this spit myself. This spit is imported to the USA by Brice Frankel, a Bruce Frankel, a reader of my book, The Magic of Fire, who was so inspired by it that he started a business importing the Italian Fuf Girrosoti spit. His company, Spitjack Hearth Rotisserie, is located in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Le Capucin: La Bussière, France

This is the largest French company producing reproduction clock-work spits. Le Capucin spits are based on an early nineteenth-century model. As of this writing the web site has no English. Tel: 05 49 48 17 44, from the US: 011 39 5 49 48 17 44. I have heard that the La Capucin company is difficult to work with. If you do order a spit from them, please let me know how the ordering process went.

Ball and Ball: Exton, Pennsylvania

Specializing in reproduction hardware from the eighteenth century through the Victorian period, Ball and Ball are an excellent source for period American fireplace tools. They also manufacture, on a custom basis, an exquisite, and expensive, eighteenth-century reproduction spit. (800) 257-3711