Introducing The Lustron Home
- Thread starter launderess
- Start date
Launderess Luv,
You posted the link to the article for "The Day the Music Died". hehe. I am glad I am not the only one who does that.
Christopher
You posted the link to the article for "The Day the Music Died". hehe. I am glad I am not the only one who does that.
Christopher
launderess
Well-known member
It certainly is, ummm, Utilitarian looking, that's for sure. It just looks cold and sterile.
Chris
Chris
Bill Turner, an antique radio parts supplier, has a few pages about his Lustron house.
See link at bottom of page
http://www.dialcover.com/
See link at bottom of page
http://www.dialcover.com/
launderess
Well-known member
Listen Luvs
It were after war time wasn't it? Most would take what they could get and be glad of it.
It were after war time wasn't it? Most would take what they could get and be glad of it.
I've been by one of these in Minneapolis - beautiful!
You hung pictures with magnets - no holes. The dishwasher/clothes washer combined with the kitchen sink was a Thor - not automatic though, Thor didn't produce an automatic washer until 1954 and Lustron was out of business in 1950.
You hung pictures with magnets - no holes. The dishwasher/clothes washer combined with the kitchen sink was a Thor - not automatic though, Thor didn't produce an automatic washer until 1954 and Lustron was out of business in 1950.
Very true. I agree that times were tough after the war and that things were hard to come by during that period. My mom who grew up during those years has regaled me numerous times on what it was like back then. Though it seems like we are going through something very similar right now. Who know's, maybe the government will need to start building more of these things for all the people who are being foreclosed on. Scary thought, no?
Chris
Chris
IIRC, there are three of these in Waterloo, all next to each other along a main drag residential road. Neighborhood is a post War area, with most of the homes having been built from 45ish to about 55. Possibly turquoise/aqua, yellow, maybe salmon were the colors. I could be wrong. Maybe it is time for a photo.
I think a friend of mine has a sister who either currently owns one or had lived in one at one time. Would love to go through either of them!
Ben
I think a friend of mine has a sister who either currently owns one or had lived in one at one time. Would love to go through either of them!
Ben
Fascinating! I bet these would be way too expensive to manufacture these days in the same quality.
The Best Years of Our Lives
Near the end of this movie, the Fred Derry character is wandering around in a field full of junked B-17 airplanes. He encounters a workman who tell him "We're using this material for pre-fabricated houses". I never did understand the line, thinking it meant house trailers or something like that. It must have meant this sort of Lustron design.
Near the end of this movie, the Fred Derry character is wandering around in a field full of junked B-17 airplanes. He encounters a workman who tell him "We're using this material for pre-fabricated houses". I never did understand the line, thinking it meant house trailers or something like that. It must have meant this sort of Lustron design.
launderess
Well-known member
Homes For GIs
Like many other things post WWII, these homes were built for returning GIs and their familes. The Lustron company got some funding from the US government as well.
For a young GI,his wife and probably one or more youngsters, owning their own home (with indoor plumbing, hot and cold water, along with all the mod cons), at such an early age was really unheard of. Considering how tight housing was post WWII, it certianly was seen as a blessing. Remember there were plenty who grew up in cold water flats, shacks and housing not much better than what one saw in "The Grapes of Wrath".
When one is speaking of builing entire areas of affordable housing cheaply, pre-fabricated and or "assembly line" construction is the way to go. Levittown amoung other places were all built along the same process. Workers moved down the line builing the exact same model, block, after block, after block.
Such homes probably were not meant to last a family forever, but just something that would do until they could move on. However in many cases, persons stayed put and redid their homes to suit. Again with Levittown, one can find homes that have been remodeled, additions added and so forth to the point they hardly resemble the shoe boxes they once were.
L.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lustron_house
Like many other things post WWII, these homes were built for returning GIs and their familes. The Lustron company got some funding from the US government as well.
For a young GI,his wife and probably one or more youngsters, owning their own home (with indoor plumbing, hot and cold water, along with all the mod cons), at such an early age was really unheard of. Considering how tight housing was post WWII, it certianly was seen as a blessing. Remember there were plenty who grew up in cold water flats, shacks and housing not much better than what one saw in "The Grapes of Wrath".
When one is speaking of builing entire areas of affordable housing cheaply, pre-fabricated and or "assembly line" construction is the way to go. Levittown amoung other places were all built along the same process. Workers moved down the line builing the exact same model, block, after block, after block.
Such homes probably were not meant to last a family forever, but just something that would do until they could move on. However in many cases, persons stayed put and redid their homes to suit. Again with Levittown, one can find homes that have been remodeled, additions added and so forth to the point they hardly resemble the shoe boxes they once were.
L.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lustron_house
Wow, I'd never heard of these, before. Here's an interesting video about saving a Lustron home. (Thanks, YouTube!)
Like Bill Turner points out, these homes still look as fresh as the day they were built. And still have their original porcelain over steel "shingled" roofs. We have a few scattered randomly in the area in addition to the ones Ben mentioned, including one accented with porcelain enamel diamonds! Forget vinyl siding.
Radio reception inside is a different matter, however.
Radio reception inside is a different matter, however.
> For a young GI,his wife and probably one or more youngsters, owning their own home (with indoor plumbing, hot and cold water, along with all the mod cons), at such an early age was really unheard of. <
Not post-WWII. The GI Bill was passed in 1944 and not only provided a first home for veterans (through loan guarantees), but also a college education. It was among the most successful government programs in U.S. history:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm
Not post-WWII. The GI Bill was passed in 1944 and not only provided a first home for veterans (through loan guarantees), but also a college education. It was among the most successful government programs in U.S. history:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm
launderess
Well-known member
The Best Years of Our Lives
Great film! One of the best at showing just how hard some men had it after being "de-mobed" and returning home, only to find "home" wasn't what it once was.
Best bits to moi:
The young man who looses an arm in service, and thinks he is going to loose his girl and all chances at being a husband and father, only to have the girl step right up to the plate.
The aforementioned service man (the one who walks through that yard of junked air planes), who finally finds a happy life after being throw over by that hussy of a wife (who apparently spent the duration on her back).
L.
Great film! One of the best at showing just how hard some men had it after being "de-mobed" and returning home, only to find "home" wasn't what it once was.
Best bits to moi:
The young man who looses an arm in service, and thinks he is going to loose his girl and all chances at being a husband and father, only to have the girl step right up to the plate.
The aforementioned service man (the one who walks through that yard of junked air planes), who finally finds a happy life after being throw over by that hussy of a wife (who apparently spent the duration on her back).
L.
beadsobleach
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 179
Gas-Station
Working as a land surveyor back east, I saw one of these, at the time it reminded me of those old gas stations that used porcelain panels for the building. It was on a small lot and the whole yard was asphalt. I remember thinking all you needed was a hose to do the yard work. I wonder if its still there, I'll have to try to find it someday.
Working as a land surveyor back east, I saw one of these, at the time it reminded me of those old gas stations that used porcelain panels for the building. It was on a small lot and the whole yard was asphalt. I remember thinking all you needed was a hose to do the yard work. I wonder if its still there, I'll have to try to find it someday.
launderess
Well-known member
Pre-Fab was really big with things such as gas stations, diners and other type of buildings. Indeed the Lustron company got into the pre-fab housing business because of it's work with building that sort of gas station.
The prototype for the Lustron
was the Armco-Ferro House, built for the Century of Progress International Exposition (1933 to 1934 World's Fair). It is now in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Five of the prototype houses from the fair were bought by the developer of Beverly Shores, and moved there as a publicity generator. See the link below for a NY Times article.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpa...2A05751C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
was the Armco-Ferro House, built for the Century of Progress International Exposition (1933 to 1934 World's Fair). It is now in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Five of the prototype houses from the fair were bought by the developer of Beverly Shores, and moved there as a publicity generator. See the link below for a NY Times article.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpa...2A05751C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
Another link
for the web page of the Armco-Ferro House at Indian Dunes National Lakeshore site.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/indu/History/Armco-Ferro House.htm
for the web page of the Armco-Ferro House at Indian Dunes National Lakeshore site.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/indu/History/Armco-Ferro House.htm
Odd coincidence
I just went to an estate sale two weeks ago in a Lustron Home. There are a few in Riverside, Illinois. This one was grey with blue trim.
I had to go visit this one...
This Lustron home had seen better days, but the original design was unmistakable. Just loved the built-in metal china cabinet. Sweet.
Quite honestly, it had the charm and warmth of a prison cell. You can use refrigerator magnets anywhere. The kitchen was unforgiving when it was time to replace appliances with those of another dimension. Newer electrical wiring was surface mounted.
Fun? Yes. Unique and Americanaesque. After seeing one would I ever live in one? ...Kids, I love vintage but this one just ain't for me...
I just went to an estate sale two weeks ago in a Lustron Home. There are a few in Riverside, Illinois. This one was grey with blue trim.
I had to go visit this one...
This Lustron home had seen better days, but the original design was unmistakable. Just loved the built-in metal china cabinet. Sweet.
Quite honestly, it had the charm and warmth of a prison cell. You can use refrigerator magnets anywhere. The kitchen was unforgiving when it was time to replace appliances with those of another dimension. Newer electrical wiring was surface mounted.
Fun? Yes. Unique and Americanaesque. After seeing one would I ever live in one? ...Kids, I love vintage but this one just ain't for me...
hooverwheelaway
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2005
- Messages
- 1,490
Check your libraries...
This is a wonderful DVD - I've also seen it aired on PBS. --see link-- The video really explains in depth, the idea behind the Lustron, and why it fizzled out.
In the end, it was politics that killed the Lustron. Quite a sad story, actually.
I know of a few that are scattered around Milwaukee. They would periodically pop up in a newspaper article.
I'd be sure they've been talked about on this forum before now.
I'd love to live in one, but without a basement, well... impractical.
There's also a great book about the Lustron... again, check your library.
http://www.lustron.org/
This is a wonderful DVD - I've also seen it aired on PBS. --see link-- The video really explains in depth, the idea behind the Lustron, and why it fizzled out.
In the end, it was politics that killed the Lustron. Quite a sad story, actually.
I know of a few that are scattered around Milwaukee. They would periodically pop up in a newspaper article.
I'd be sure they've been talked about on this forum before now.
I'd love to live in one, but without a basement, well... impractical.
There's also a great book about the Lustron... again, check your library.
http://www.lustron.org/
That brings back some memories....
When I was looking for a house in the Chicago area around Palatine in 1995, my agent showed me one of these houses. I thought it was very neat, and certainly a throw back, but it wasn't for me. They were probably asking $125k for it back then
When I was looking for a house in the Chicago area around Palatine in 1995, my agent showed me one of these houses. I thought it was very neat, and certainly a throw back, but it wasn't for me. They were probably asking $125k for it back then
hooverwheelaway
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2005
- Messages
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There was one for sale in Milwaukee about 2-3 years ago. It was in an 'okay' part of town, I think it went into default. I called and inquired about the listing price, it was $47,000, I think.
There were two, right next to each other. It was the tan one on the right that was for sale.
There were two, right next to each other. It was the tan one on the right that was for sale.
whirlcool
Well-known member
What part of Riverside, IL were those Lustron homes in (street name?)I have relatives who lived in Riverside when I was growing up so I am very familiar with the suburb. You can't hardly touch a home there now for less than a million!
launderess
Well-known member
Those ARe Rather Large Lots
For such small homes.
Have to say one would be tempted to take them down and build something new and slightly larger.
Also am not a huge fan of such overgrown trees that close to the house. Just waiting for a good wind to blow them the wrong way.
L.
For such small homes.
Have to say one would be tempted to take them down and build something new and slightly larger.
Also am not a huge fan of such overgrown trees that close to the house. Just waiting for a good wind to blow them the wrong way.
L.
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