[Bryan Steam Letterhead]

September 29, 1998



Dear Stockholder:

     On behalf of the Board of Directors of Bryan Steam Corporation.  ("Bryan"),
I am pleased to inform you that on  September  23, 1998,  Bryan  entered into an
Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger  (the  "Agreement")  with  Burnham  Corporation
("Burnham") and Burnham Acquisition  Corporation,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Burnham ("Purchaser"),  pursuant to which Purchaser has commenced today a tender
offer to purchase  all of the  outstanding  shares of Bryan's  common stock (the
"Shares"),  at a price of $152.00 per Share in cash (the  "Tender  Offer").  The
Tender Offer is currently  scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight,  New York City
time, on Wednesday, October 28, 1998.

     Following the  successful  completion of the Tender Offer and upon approval
by stockholder  vote, if required,  Purchaser will be merged with and into Bryan
(the "Merger"),  and all Shares not purchased  pursuant to the Tender Offer will
be converted into the right to receive $152.00 per Share in cash.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TENDER OFFER AND
THE MERGER ARE FAIR TO, AND IN THE BEST  INTERESTS OF, BRYAN,  ITS  STOCKHOLDERS
AND ITS OTHER CONSTITUENCIES,  HAS APPROVED THIS TENDER OFFER, THE AGREEMENT AND
THE  MERGER,  AND  RECOMMENDS  THAT YOU ACCEPT THE TENDER  OFFER AND TENDER YOUR
SHARES PURSUANT TO THIS TENDER OFFER.

     In arriving at its  recommendation,  the Board of  Directors  gave  careful
consideration   to   a   number   of   factors   described   in   the   enclosed
Solicitation/Recommendation  Statement  on  Schedule  14D-9 which is being filed
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  Among other  things,  the Board
considered the opinion of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. to the effect that
the  consideration  of $152.00 per Share to be received by the  stockholders  of
Bryan pursuant to the Tender Offer and Merger is fair, from a financial point of
view, to such  stockholders.  The enclosed  Schedule 14D-9 describes the Board's
decision and contains other important  information  relating to that decision. I
urge you to read it carefully.

     On behalf of the Board of  Directors,  I thank you for the support you have
given to Bryan.



                                                       Sincerely,


                                                       /s/ Albert J. Bishop
                                                       ------------------------
                                                       Albert J. Bishop
                                                       Chairman