norgeway
Well-known member
Does anyone here have any stories about Lustron homes, Donald has gotten interested in them recently and so of course I have too, an all metal porcelein enameled house sounds GOOD to me!!
Lustron Homes!
- Thread starter norgeway
- Start date
There is a great article about Lustron Homes in the recent edition of Atomic Ranch magazine and more information online about them.
If you order one, make sure to get the Thor dishwasher-washer electric sink option!
http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/stories/journals-of-yesteryear/the-lustron-home/
If you order one, make sure to get the Thor dishwasher-washer electric sink option!
http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/stories/journals-of-yesteryear/the-lustron-home/
They met a sad fate. In a paradox of bad times making for bad results, the building unions got legislation passed against them in almost any locality where a group of them were planned to be built. Since all of the plumbing and electrical work was already built into the buildings, they were often ruled as not up to local codes. In a time when many people were out of work, especially in the construction trades, they did take away jobs. On the other hand, they did offer modern, low-cost construction that would have provided upgraded residences for many.
The porcelain did chip which led to rusting.
There was one in Greenbelt and inside it sorta reminded many of the inside a submarine with all of the then revolutionary fluorescent lighting sort of builtin.
Hobart Corporation was a big builder of these steel homes.
The porcelain did chip which led to rusting.
There was one in Greenbelt and inside it sorta reminded many of the inside a submarine with all of the then revolutionary fluorescent lighting sort of builtin.
Hobart Corporation was a big builder of these steel homes.
dynaflow
Well-known member
I go past one of these Lustron homes somewhat often. It's located on OH725 (Franklin St. aka Miamisburg-Centerville Rd.), a few blocks West of downtown Centerville, OH.
Until 3 or 4 years ago, it was the original yellow color; however, at that time it was painted an orange shade. Some kind of business is in there currently.
Another one is in Lynchburg, OH; not sure of the street. It's either blue or gray.
Until 3 or 4 years ago, it was the original yellow color; however, at that time it was painted an orange shade. Some kind of business is in there currently.
Another one is in Lynchburg, OH; not sure of the street. It's either blue or gray.
polkanut
Well-known member
There is one here in Wausau, on the SE side of town. It currently looks a little tired and worn, but it wouldn't take much to spruce it up IMO.
Once upon a time I considered buying one in Birmingham. I believe that was back in 1985. Anyway, I made the mistake of going to look at it in the dead of winter and the house was vacant, with no working utilities. Needless to say, it was COLD in that house. I loved the mid-century innovation of the house but just couldn't get past the feeling that it could never get warm. As I think back I believe it still had the radiant heat system in the ceiling (basically closed-loop forced air system housed between steel panels in the ceiling) and it was a slab-on-grade house, probably with no form of insulation under the slab. I have maintained my fascination with the houses and their history but never really considered buying one.
Lawrence
Lawrence
Hi Hans, the Lustron homes have always fascinated me, both the design and also the history of the company and its demise. There are a few areas of the country where several were built, one of which is in Northern Virginia. There are about six of them still in Arlington County (plus one that was donated to the County but which the County had to remove from the property, and so they disassembled it and have it in storage and put on occassional display). A sad story is that there were over 50 of them built as housing on the Quantico Marine base in Northern Virginia, but which were to be removed a few years ago. They were out for bid solicitation, to remove them, but removing them for reassembly on your lot would be expensive, as I recall that there is asbestos used in them, therefore extra care and cost for deconstruction. Not sure how close you are to New Bern, NC, but there are at least two there, one of which I toured on a house tour last year. Very cool, but they are small by today's standards... even to a modest home, let alone to a mcmansion!
philr
Well-known member
There were a few other threads about these homes here.
Here's one:
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?33679
Here's one:
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?33679
norgeway
Well-known member
looked at three
this weekend one in winston-salem 20 miles from home and two in greensboro about 45 miles from home they all looked good on the outside, one not as nice as the others... BTW this is donald not hans this time.
this weekend one in winston-salem 20 miles from home and two in greensboro about 45 miles from home they all looked good on the outside, one not as nice as the others... BTW this is donald not hans this time.
I'm sure it's not news to many that Minneapolis is home to more that a few of these homes. Everyday on my way to work I pass by 6 of them on the East side of the 5100 block of Nicollet Ave. S. i am told there are also a number of them over on Cedar Ave. S. Some day i will have to investigate those....
westingman123
Well-known member
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- Jun 24, 2009
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St. Louis
has several of these in small clusters. Most of the original White Castle restaurants were Lustron, but sadly they are being razed and replaced with ugly new "castles".
has several of these in small clusters. Most of the original White Castle restaurants were Lustron, but sadly they are being razed and replaced with ugly new "castles".
New Bern,NC is about 20 miles south of me.
whirlcool
Well-known member
White Castle has a division named "Porcelain Steel Buildings"(1937) to manufacture their own restaurant buildings.
Read the "News & Information" on the linked page. The company is still in business today.
http://business.highbeam.com/company-profiles/info/614869/porcelain-steel-buildings-co
Read the "News & Information" on the linked page. The company is still in business today.
http://business.highbeam.com/company-profiles/info/614869/porcelain-steel-buildings-co
I visited one. Yuk.
Here was one case where vintage didn't float my boat.
An estate sale was in Riverside, Illinois in a Lustron home. Had to go.
The house was small with a cold, clammy feel about it. Fun to experience once but that was enough.
The "updated" wiring in that house was run on the surface of the interior walls. It used those metal wiring channels like you see in institutions and commercial applications. It just made it uglier.
Everything was gray, gray, gray. Blech.
If you like feeling like you live in a filing cabinet - go for it!
Here was one case where vintage didn't float my boat.
An estate sale was in Riverside, Illinois in a Lustron home. Had to go.
The house was small with a cold, clammy feel about it. Fun to experience once but that was enough.
The "updated" wiring in that house was run on the surface of the interior walls. It used those metal wiring channels like you see in institutions and commercial applications. It just made it uglier.
Everything was gray, gray, gray. Blech.
If you like feeling like you live in a filing cabinet - go for it!
yogitunes
Well-known member
Interesting thread........I just came across homes built out of storage/shipping containers....and rather unique I think......
check out the link.....
check out the link.....
Basements?
Does anyone know if any of these were built with basements? I know they were intended to be built on slabs, rather than wood platforms. I imagine a concrete slab over a basement would be somewhat expensive for what is supposed to be an economical house.
I would think new wiring or plumbing could be installed inside the walls without too much trouble. I believe the interior wall finish panels are bolted on and could be removed and replaced rather easily.
Does anyone know if any of these were built with basements? I know they were intended to be built on slabs, rather than wood platforms. I imagine a concrete slab over a basement would be somewhat expensive for what is supposed to be an economical house.
I would think new wiring or plumbing could be installed inside the walls without too much trouble. I believe the interior wall finish panels are bolted on and could be removed and replaced rather easily.
I drive by the White Castle porcelain steel construction headquarters building at least once a week, it seems. They also used a similar construction technique for Texaco service stations. It is a durable construction technique, and quick and easy to assemble. However, it doesn't mesh well with making changes or personalizing. Paint doesn't adhere well to porcelain without roughing up the surface, which sort of defeats the concept of easy-care porcelain surfaces. If you cut holes in the panels, then it provides a place for rust to start.
If you think of one of these homes, inside and out, built like the surfaces of an all-porcelain washing machine, then it gives you an idea of the pros and cons of a Lustron.
If you think of one of these homes, inside and out, built like the surfaces of an all-porcelain washing machine, then it gives you an idea of the pros and cons of a Lustron.
whirlcool
Well-known member
If somebody wants to see what a Lustron home looks like on the inside, follow the link.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3930-Park-Ave-Brookfield-IL-60513/3886116_zpid/
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3930-Park-Ave-Brookfield-IL-60513/3886116_zpid/
Here's a link to some good information and original photography. It's a lengthy publication, but fortunately the Lustron information is first.
Lawrence
http://www.thebeacher.com/pdf/2005/BeacherMar10.pdf
Lawrence
http://www.thebeacher.com/pdf/2005/BeacherMar10.pdf
Pretty neat-the homes with the markerboard walls!Perfect for home schooling-just get a box of markerboard markers!For decorating-just hang wallpaper,posters,pictures and such with magnets.I wonder about the add on vinyl siding that some of those homes had put on them---that porcelain steel is going to be more durable than the vinyl!Esp in cold climates.Guess what folks didn't like about their Lustrons was the ceiling heater.And what about air conditioning-would think a house like this would be HOT in summer.Guess you put in window units.
Why was there a housing shortage after WW2? There was in UK because of the bombing but I've never heard of USA being bombed. We had a lot of prefabricated houses in UK but they were made largely of asbestos. I think the ones in Britain were supposed to last for 10 years but a lot of them were still in use in the 1980s.
Housing shortage
Many men went into the service (Army, Navy, etc.) right out of high school. When the war was over, a lot of them had married or were about to marry, and didn't want to return to live with their or their spouses parents. Not enough older people had passed away to free up housing.
Many men went into the service (Army, Navy, etc.) right out of high school. When the war was over, a lot of them had married or were about to marry, and didn't want to return to live with their or their spouses parents. Not enough older people had passed away to free up housing.
maytagbear
Well-known member
Also
before the United States' entry into WW II, the country had endured over 10 years of The Great Depression, which also delayed building of new housing. Plus, low rate mortgages were part of the benefits package that military personnel received, along with discounted university tuition.
I love the concept of the Lustron house, and they are why I bought the current issue of Atomic Ranch.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
before the United States' entry into WW II, the country had endured over 10 years of The Great Depression, which also delayed building of new housing. Plus, low rate mortgages were part of the benefits package that military personnel received, along with discounted university tuition.
I love the concept of the Lustron house, and they are why I bought the current issue of Atomic Ranch.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Lustrons in SD
There are three or four lustrons located in the mid-50's neighborhood on Sioux Falls, SD. The addresses are all located within a block or so of West 26th and Eulcid. One appears to be the duplicate of the one in New Bern.
There are three or four lustrons located in the mid-50's neighborhood on Sioux Falls, SD. The addresses are all located within a block or so of West 26th and Eulcid. One appears to be the duplicate of the one in New Bern.
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