Modern Living: Part One
- Thread starter Ultramatic
- Start date
Help Support :
As always, loving these ads, Louis!!
I wanna go back to 1957 and get the living room grouping shown in reply #28!!
Very interesting that as far back as the early 20s, the idea of 'live better electrically' was already being floated. I suppose at the time that many, many homes didn't have any serious, if any 'housepower'. Vive la Knob and Tube... LOL
I wanna go back to 1957 and get the living room grouping shown in reply #28!!
Very interesting that as far back as the early 20s, the idea of 'live better electrically' was already being floated. I suppose at the time that many, many homes didn't have any serious, if any 'housepower'. Vive la Knob and Tube... LOL
My pleasure Paul!
Yeah, that Kroehler set is just beautiful! Would love to find something like that. When I was a toddler, we had a very similar set, but in deep blue fabric. And of course it was covered in clear vinyl.
Yeah, that Kroehler set is just beautiful! Would love to find something like that. When I was a toddler, we had a very similar set, but in deep blue fabric. And of course it was covered in clear vinyl.
Kroehler
Is that not the set that Jerry Moparwash has?
Is that not the set that Jerry Moparwash has?
'live better electrically'
By early in last century while many homes were wired, outlets were often lacking. Instead lamp sockets were used which not only proved dangerous, obviously limited how many appliances could be used at once.
Even if the circuit could easily handle say a light blub and iron, well you can't screw both into same socket.
It was truly a case of the tail wagging the dog. Once electricity came upon scene not long afterwards more and more various appliances were introduced. Gradually all things that once required heating on a stove/range (gas, coal, or whatever), now had their own internal heating elements.
So you're a 1920's housewife laying out breakfast. Electric coffee pot, electric waffle iron, electric toaster, electric fry pan, etc... Obviously that one lamp socket or whatever just wasn't going cut it.
By early in last century while many homes were wired, outlets were often lacking. Instead lamp sockets were used which not only proved dangerous, obviously limited how many appliances could be used at once.
Even if the circuit could easily handle say a light blub and iron, well you can't screw both into same socket.
It was truly a case of the tail wagging the dog. Once electricity came upon scene not long afterwards more and more various appliances were introduced. Gradually all things that once required heating on a stove/range (gas, coal, or whatever), now had their own internal heating elements.
So you're a 1920's housewife laying out breakfast. Electric coffee pot, electric waffle iron, electric toaster, electric fry pan, etc... Obviously that one lamp socket or whatever just wasn't going cut it.
“Even if the circuit could easily handle say a light blub and iron, well you can't screw both into same socket. “
There were “Y” sockets that could be screwed into the light socket therby giving the ability to use two electical appliances at once, or a light bulb and an appliance. I found that Lowes still sells them. I believe that I’ve even seen adapters in old movies that allowed for three appliances or bulb at once, but they probably were not very safe if too much wattage was used at the same time.
Also, pay attention to old movies, and you’ll notice that many older homes and apartments were retro fitted with electical wiring that ran down the walls, usually near a door frame, as I’m sure that going through the lathe and plaster walls would have been prohibitive for people without means.
Eddie
[this post was last edited: 9/13/2018-11:30]
There were “Y” sockets that could be screwed into the light socket therby giving the ability to use two electical appliances at once, or a light bulb and an appliance. I found that Lowes still sells them. I believe that I’ve even seen adapters in old movies that allowed for three appliances or bulb at once, but they probably were not very safe if too much wattage was used at the same time.
Also, pay attention to old movies, and you’ll notice that many older homes and apartments were retro fitted with electical wiring that ran down the walls, usually near a door frame, as I’m sure that going through the lathe and plaster walls would have been prohibitive for people without means.
Eddie
[this post was last edited: 9/13/2018-11:30]
General Electric 1921
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cosco 1951
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
General Telephone & Electronics 1960
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Waxtex 1950
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bakelite 1955
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Twinkle 1956
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kentile 1959
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Those old Cosco Stools and Carts
Are worth their weight in gold. Versatile, well made and built to last.
Have been on look out for one nearby instead of eBay and having to deal with shipping.
Are worth their weight in gold. Versatile, well made and built to last.
Have been on look out for one nearby instead of eBay and having to deal with shipping.
Early convenience outlets weren`t grounded either. At least you couldn`t ground an appliance over the outlets as there was only the two prongs plug, so washers usually came with grounding wires which had to be attached to a water pipe or similar to be electrically safe.
If the outer casing of a light socket would be grounded but your faulty washer on a wet floor isn`t grounded then I`d actually prefer to touch a non grounded socket to unscrew the plug.
If the outer casing of a light socket would be grounded but your faulty washer on a wet floor isn`t grounded then I`d actually prefer to touch a non grounded socket to unscrew the plug.
When Rossmore Leisure World opened in California, Life Magazine was full of ads touting how they were built for the retired set. One of the things they liked to show was that the electrical outlets were chair high so that people in wheelchairs and otherwise unable to bend easily would have less difficulty connecting plugs on cords to wall outlets.
I grew up with a Cosco stool, although it was not used for much. My sister made sure to take it out of the house when we emptied it. It is red.
I grew up with a Cosco stool, although it was not used for much. My sister made sure to take it out of the house when we emptied it. It is red.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I always wondered what Ann Pillsbury looked like. No resemblance to the Doughboy at all. </span>
reply 58
we lived in a National home in Mooresville Indiana in the early 1970's. It was a 3 bed 1 bath slab-on-grade with a 1 car garage that had been converted into a family room.
The kitchen and bathroom shared the same wall and plumb runs to minimize costs on piping. It was built in 1958. I recall it must have come with an oil furnace orginally but when we purchased it in 1971 or 72 it already had a natural gas furnace put in. My bedroom was the far one on the right front of the house
I put the google street view link in the URL. It is the house with a portable basketball goal in the front yard. The family room behind driveway now has a much larger window and the arch covering the front door has been removed. IN case the link does not work the addy is 21 maryvale court mooresville indiana. If you are able to pan around and move around some of the adjoining streets, you will see pretty much ALL the homes were National homes. IN fact, they were dime a dozen back in the Midwest.
I recall many happy memories living there. We were Penny's folks, from appliances to clothes etc. I was a very happy little boy with my $2 keds from Ben Franklin 25 cent comic book 2 cent bazooka joe bubble gum and soda with sugar.
In light of recent loss of family I can say without reservation that I really miss those days and would give anything to go back.
we lived in a National home in Mooresville Indiana in the early 1970's. It was a 3 bed 1 bath slab-on-grade with a 1 car garage that had been converted into a family room.
The kitchen and bathroom shared the same wall and plumb runs to minimize costs on piping. It was built in 1958. I recall it must have come with an oil furnace orginally but when we purchased it in 1971 or 72 it already had a natural gas furnace put in. My bedroom was the far one on the right front of the house
I put the google street view link in the URL. It is the house with a portable basketball goal in the front yard. The family room behind driveway now has a much larger window and the arch covering the front door has been removed. IN case the link does not work the addy is 21 maryvale court mooresville indiana. If you are able to pan around and move around some of the adjoining streets, you will see pretty much ALL the homes were National homes. IN fact, they were dime a dozen back in the Midwest.
I recall many happy memories living there. We were Penny's folks, from appliances to clothes etc. I was a very happy little boy with my $2 keds from Ben Franklin 25 cent comic book 2 cent bazooka joe bubble gum and soda with sugar.
In light of recent loss of family I can say without reservation that I really miss those days and would give anything to go back.
Ben
I know just what you mean about missing those happy childhood days. We were content with so much less then, and it was a safer world for little kids.
My little brother and I used to walk all over the neighborhood from the time we not much more than toodlers, and my parents didn’t have to worry about us being safe. People looked out for one another then. This was a neighboorhood in Richmond, Calif. and the homes were all built just before the Second World War, all pretty much alike. This was the first home my parents bought after my Dad passed the Bar Exam in 1952. I’m pretty sure they had a VA loan on it. It was a 3 bed 1 bath house. I took my neice to see it in 1995, and it still looked the same as it did in 1954 when we moved from there. And it was just like I had a homing device, I drove right to it, just like I still lived there.
We had a Servel Gas refrigerator and a 36” O’Keffee and Merritt gas stove and a gas floor furnace that you needed a furnace key to turn on and off. I remember standing on the grate while it heated up, until it got too hot and started to burn my feet. We had a GE wringer washer on the service porch off of the kitchen, no dryer, but a nice clothes line that Mom could reel in and out, so she could just stand on the back porch and hang the laundry, and then reel it back in when it was dry.
I used to go next door the Mrs Brennen’s house next door and really just invite myself in, when I was only 3 yrs old,and she treated me like I was an honored guest. We would sit down at her kitchen table and have Ovaltine, just like she was having coffee with an adult. I always felt safe and loved. I’m glad you have those same kind of happy memories too.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/14/2018-18:13]
I know just what you mean about missing those happy childhood days. We were content with so much less then, and it was a safer world for little kids.
My little brother and I used to walk all over the neighborhood from the time we not much more than toodlers, and my parents didn’t have to worry about us being safe. People looked out for one another then. This was a neighboorhood in Richmond, Calif. and the homes were all built just before the Second World War, all pretty much alike. This was the first home my parents bought after my Dad passed the Bar Exam in 1952. I’m pretty sure they had a VA loan on it. It was a 3 bed 1 bath house. I took my neice to see it in 1995, and it still looked the same as it did in 1954 when we moved from there. And it was just like I had a homing device, I drove right to it, just like I still lived there.
We had a Servel Gas refrigerator and a 36” O’Keffee and Merritt gas stove and a gas floor furnace that you needed a furnace key to turn on and off. I remember standing on the grate while it heated up, until it got too hot and started to burn my feet. We had a GE wringer washer on the service porch off of the kitchen, no dryer, but a nice clothes line that Mom could reel in and out, so she could just stand on the back porch and hang the laundry, and then reel it back in when it was dry.
I used to go next door the Mrs Brennen’s house next door and really just invite myself in, when I was only 3 yrs old,and she treated me like I was an honored guest. We would sit down at her kitchen table and have Ovaltine, just like she was having coffee with an adult. I always felt safe and loved. I’m glad you have those same kind of happy memories too.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/14/2018-18:13]
