this stove was here when I bought the house, and yes it is quite simple. friends who know welding have told me that it is very well made. we heat 2200 sq. feet. stove is in the lower level, so it keeps us pretty warm with strategic use of a couple of box fans and the furnace fan when it's really cold. some parts of it are 3/16", some are 1/4". very hard to measure the thickness of the firebox with no exposed edges. it's surely one or the other. clearly, this is meant to be used as a free standing stove. whether or not it could be used in a fireplace is above my pay grade to say.
Giles, the new stove will likely not get here for a few weeks. this project is probably going to get done before Labor day.