Joseph Gordon-Leavitt Buys a Pristine 1940's Home in LA

[combo52]

1940s House

I have a hunch that the house is a little newer than 1940 and that the kitchen,[ with cook-top and wall ovens ] being orignal to the house.

 

I have never seen any evidence that TD made and sold built-ins till after WW-2, I know that the idea was being floated around before hand.

 

Samuel, could you look up when this house was actually built?

 

[tomturbomatic]

From the July, 1939 Electrical Merchandiser, pg. 40:
"Thermador Ranges,
Thermador Electrical Mfg. Co. Atlantic Blvd and S. Riverside Dr., Los Angeles, CA

A featured model, the Thermador Bilt-In range, presents a new idea in range construction: Surface units, baking oven and warming oven are available in separate units to be built into kitchen fixtures, allowing every unit to be placed in the most convenient location regardless of its relation to other units; for instance the oven may be placed at waist level to avoid stooping." It is not exactly the cooktop in this home, but they were making them in 1939.

Also, on the same page, "Globe Stove and Range Co. Div. of Globe American Corp, Kokomo, Ind. announces Model Dutch Oven model 3231MTL

Selling Features: Dutch oven cooks with retained heat, equipped with cast bottom plate with recessed T-K closed element; spring-seal oven door prevents heat loss; Wilcolator thermostat oven termperature control; automatic timer clockl smokeless broiler in top of oven has 2 broiling positions: High 3400 watts, low 2200 watts; large white utility and warming compartment equipped with 360 watt T-K unit; 2 large utility drawers; three 5 speed T-K surface units and a 6 quart Dutch oven cooker with a 3-speed unit: 625 high, 125 medium and 100 watts low; modernistic louver-light lamp and condiment set; 1-piece white acid resisting porcelain enamel cooking top." SO, They Made Electric Ranges At One Time, not just the gas ranges like the ones for Maytag!

In January, 1939, Barton introduced the Model C8S Controla Speed Washer with three speeds for washing and wringing."changes from one speed to another accomplished by finger-touch control lever on washer skirt."

 

[gansky1]

That's interesting Tom, I wonder if the Globe Co. sold a lot of ranges under their own label?  And electric, I don't think I ever saw any doc. on Maytag electric Dutch Oven ranges.  They were likely as slow as the gas version with the same cast iron plate.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Greg, I don't think Maytag sold anything but gas ranges, but you are right, that was probably a slow preheating oven although, if Wilcolator thermostats had the same preheat feature back then that the Wilcolator thermostats on some later Frigidaire ranges had where you could engage the broiler to help preheat the oven, it might have heated up faster than your gas Maytag.

 

[hydralique]

John . . .

I did a little research and found that both the County Assessor and LADBS (Los Angeles Dept. Of Building and Safety) list the house as having been built in 1940. The assessor additionally lists an “effective date” of 1945 so some work was done then. I also found an unverified but likely true note elsewhere that Paul R. Williams was not the original architect for the house but designed a remodel or addition for the second owner.

My guess is that in 1945 the house sold and Williams was hired at that time. I would not be surprised if he did the poolhouse; it would have had a permit for a new building which would explain the two dates of 1940 and 1945 at the assessor. To my eyes much of the kitchen looks later than ‘45, more likely the mid ‘50s  although the cabinets are very simple in design so could have been modified and added to rather than replaced completely. The last owner bought it in ‘57 so I wouldn’t be surprised if he freshened up the kitchen shortly after purchase since it would have been 17 years old and possibly getting a little tired.