Abstract: A melt and hold furnace includes a melt and hold chamber configured for containing a molten metal bath and having a tap for withdrawing molten metal and a preheat hearth disposed above a top surface of the molten metal bath. A sealed combustion chamber is disposed above the melt and hold chamber and is separated therefrom by radiation plates for radiating heat into the molten metal and hearth. Disposed in an operative relationship with the combustion chamber is a recouperative type burner for causing unimpeded circulation of hot combustion exhaust gases over the radiation plates from the burner and return to exhaust ports disposed within the burner. Conduits, passing through the combustion chamber and into the molten metal provides additional heating of the metal by heat conduction and the introduction of hot non-oxidizing gas into the metal.