With Lustron houses, as with other buildings, some of the components are structural-without them, the building would collapse. The same can be said for Lustron. The one in Rockford had the staircase along the utility wall between the furnace and the back door. One of them was the display model and residence of the local sales representative. “Back then, people were trying to fix Victorian and Italianate porches before there were publications like Historic Preservation Briefs or OHJ.” It often takes some innovation to get the job done, which Zeiger says usually happens through a process of sleuthing, first figuring out how things work together and then finding a way to fix the problem without destroying the house’s integrity. More challenging was the assembly of the built-ins incorporated into many of the non-bearing walls. To maintain and repair a Lustron house, you have to understand the various subsystems that make up the structure, as well as how these subsystems are incorporated into the overall Lustron system. They were delivered by train or truck and bolted together.Slab foundations and single story. The wall frame sections were assembled at the factory with doors and windows pre-hung. Its base was supported by a locking tab extending perpendicularly from the foundation. Lustron houses were manufactured homes constructed almost entirely of steel. Moving to the interior, the first priority was the plenum, which was supported by the bottom chord of the roof trusses. Because the porch is considered historically significant, it must be restored to its original appearance, and Zeiger is still seeking out period-appropriate fiberglass panels to fix it. Steel enameled ceiling panels served as the base of the plenum. In Kansas City there are at least 10 or more. The interlocking sill plates, resting on 30-pound saturated roofing felt, were anchored to the concrete foundation at 4′ intervals. Some Lustron Homes came with basements when built. There were approximately 3300 individual parts in a complete house loaded on a single trailer. Individual houses are listed in the following syntax: (STATE) – … The full load of potential replacement parts that we worked to preserve were loaded into a dumpster, all bound for the steel scrap yard. Along with that, you will also see that some of the old switch plates damaged wallpaper/paint. Interestingly it appears that there was no document which identified all the parts of the Lustron. The Lustron designers created the house to be maintenance free, therefore they didn’t design the home so that components could be removed and replaced if they needed to be. Due to lots of governement bureucracy … >> To other parts of this story. A renovated Art Deco home on Chicago's Astor Street. The Pittsfield one was had the basement staircase on the back of the house by the back door (had a Lustron breezeway). A vapor barrier was applied in vertical strips on the interior face of the inside studs of walls on the house’s perimeter. All of these parts would be mass-produced in the factory and shipped to the building site, where they were assembled to a standard plan on a concrete slab that served as a foundation. I love cute little Lustron Homes! Less than 2,500 of these futurist homes were built before the creator and owner … This pace, however, assumed an experienced team; the first time through, it often took up to 1,500 hours. A shipped Lustron home contained well over 3,300 parts, 350 hours of labor to piece together in approximately 2 weeks of time. Three-light and/or square aluminum casements with interior screens were standard on all Lustrons. The straightforward description, however, belies the complexity behind the manufacture and erection of a Lustron house, which contains over 3,300 parts. The finished pieces were all modular, so once the custom-designed trucks arrived on site, the 33,000 individual parts could be built into a house within three days. Only one lane of traffic can pass around the truck and traffic is at a virtual standstill. We had to measure the depth of the face and then just follow the installation instructions on the back of the package. According to Lustron expert Tom Fetters, there were 60 units with serial numbers between #200 and #300. “The idea of a prefabricated, all-steel house fascinated me,” says Zeiger. 4. I’ve been in a 3 bedroom extended Lustron in Pittsville, IL and a 2 bedroom in Rockford, IL. I, Googled Lustron homes and found an image of 1204 Broad St. the home is the 2120 Sprunt St. home. These all steel houses were built post World War II and were meant to ease the housing shortage for returning military men and their families. Made by the Lustron Corp., the residences were supposed to be the answer to the nation's need for inexpensive, quick-to-build housing as tens of thousands of GIs returned home from World War II. For more information on repairing your Lustron, click here. When reassembling the parts, of course, it is best to follow the original order of erection, so using our example of the gutters; you would reinstall the repaired gutters, or install appropriate replacements. Sears Homes on November 26, 2018 at 9:42 AM Thanks for answering this question, Dale. Recognizing ageless structure beneath vines and crumbling mortar, Bob and Macon Hilton turned a 1790s estate on Virginia's western frontier into a family retreat. She was a leader on the team that saved the house, disassembled it, shipped it to … The sides and top of the plenum were continuous walls of 3/16″-thick rigid cement-asbestos board-about 85% Portland cement and 15% asbestos fiber. Lustron engineers hoped, with some modification to the design and an experienced crew, to reduce erection time to 130 to 140 man-hours. A video made by the Arlington Virginia Network when the Krowne Lustron house went to MOMA. Position wall to proper location. Lustron houses are prefabricated enameled steel houses developed in the post-World War II era United States in response to the shortage of homes for returning GIs. Once the corner panels were installed, on each facade, the first panel was placed in the upper left corner. Mark Seeger and Jeff Harper, in the market for a new home, were visiting a house they’d seen listed in the newspaper when the inquisition began. I love cute little Lustron Homes! A typical house had 20 wall sections featuring 11 different configurations. The demolition company’s view is that they own the structure and with the Lustron, they gain a profit margin from the recycled steel scrap which in turn is part of how they estimated the bid for the job to the developer. When I asked Marty Peak what surprised him about the steel-paneled Lustron home he bought six years ago, he smiled. The Lutron Tech Support team will walk you through the process. When you’re inside one, you really feel the ’50s and that decade’s progressive, new-solutions approach to the housing crunch.”. Unfortunately, some of Zeiger’s house parts aren’t covered in the manual. The Lustron Home. Most Lustron owners love their houses, though it can be difficult to find replacement parts. Each truss was shipped in two pieces, which were bolted in the center as they were erected. Each part … Imagine a truck turns over and spills gravel all over the road. Home Hardware's got you covered. Aluminum will be lower weight than steel. Oh yes, and they must pay for all of the work out of their own pockets. A survey completed in 2002 revealed approximately 180 Lustron homes remained in the state. Rare, authentic kitchen features include storage compartments, drawers, and shelves. Zeiger’s Lustron—located in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a state park—is one of these buildings. I would suggest contacting some "experts" in Lustron homes and making inquiries with them. that are important in defining the overall historic character of the building; and their finishes and colors. Category. Production began in 1947 with the a plan to produce 100 homes a day at the 1 million square-foot … As you are probably aware, there are many websites out there about Lustron homes. The interior service wall (EM-02-B-40.1) was also installed at this time. Info on the largest concentration of Lustrons in America, now gone. Two of the houses are still preserved on the Base, 23 were demolished in 2006, one was moved, and remaining 34 were destroyed in 2007. Another favorite item is the little oval tag that all Lustrons display in their utility areas, inscribed with a serial number and the advice: Call your authorized Lustron service person. It didn't take long for the RFC to lose confidence in Lustron. During a recent, seemingly straightforward repair job on the gutters, Zeiger had to first remove the roof tiles. Lustron operated an “Erection Training School” at the factory to teach supervisors and foremen how to speed up the process. Has anyone ever inspected a Lustron home.These were kit homes manufactured after the 2nd world war. You just can see the problem right in front of you. Each house sold for about $9,000, … Lustron planned to build tens of thousands of homes in the United States, but despite their supposedly streamlined manufacturing and construction process, the company was beset by delivery, distribution, and funding problems, as well as conflicts with local codes that, for instance, didn't allow metal chimneys. At the Lustron Factory, huge, specially designed truck trailers, served as the assembly line “package.” As the trailer rolled along the assembly line, parts were loaded on in the inverse order that they would be removed at the site. In addition to the Master Specifications, the Lustron Corporation provided several additional documents to help guide the on-site assembly process. So, I recently inherited a Lustron home from my deceased father. The 1 million-square-foot factory (about the size of 22 football fields) contained about 8 miles of automated conveyors, 163 presses, 11 furnaces and the largest porcelain enameling set-up in the world. ABOVE: I would love to see a Lustron restored to this look. “For every project, you have to think about how the house was constructed and then work backwards,”he says.“You end up having to take apart a bunch of things to get to where you need to be, so it always becomes a much bigger job than anticipated.”. Although Zeiger had lectured on the houses for years and visited hundreds of them, restoring one has been a challenge. The 207-page book, delivered to each house site along with a truckload of parts, is one of Zeiger’s favorite aspects of Lustrons. 5. These Lustron roofs are 70 years old and in the near future a lot of them are going to need new roofs. 27 Results Fits Brands: Craftsman. were met with vague indescript responses. The concept “Piggybacking” was 20 years ahead of its time. Pristine porcelain enamel exterior panels are visible behind Todd as he works on the porch. The Lustron Houses of Macomb, Illinois tells the story behind the creation of the Lustron Houses and then specifically examines the Lustron Houses of Macomb, … The homes were heated with an oil burning furnace that directed hot air into an enclosed space above the metal ceilings. “Our kids have magnetic games they use on the walls, and it keeps them busy for hours.” Not surprisingly, the whole house has a similar effect on Zeiger, but he’s not complaining. After 71 years, the doors in the Hansons' homes still work, although they need some WD-40 now and then. Little did he know then that he would have his own Lustron one day. The Zeiger family—Todd and Terri, with kids Jacob, Rachael, and Lindsey (left to right)—beside their 1949 Lustron at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Having common replacement parts on hand at your facility can minimise downtime in the event of a system failure. “They were engineered so the average person could put them together. Clock Movement Replacement. As on the exterior, the clips for the interior corner panels were screwed to the studs before wall panels were installed, and the base of each corner panel rested on perpendicular spacer tabs. Weiss suspects that you could conceivably build a new addition entirely from other Lustron parts. To help contractors keep track of assembly tasks, The Lustron Corporation provided a “Daily House Erection Cost and Progress Form,” while the Erection Manual provided detailed drawings to guide the actual assembly of the house. Furniture Parts and Accessories (897 products) Casters Felt Pads & Surface Protectors Furniture Legs Slipcovers. Get It Fast. In the meantime, window and door units were being inserted into designated locations. Husqvarna. There were two major window types in Lustron homes: “tripartite” and casement, all manufactured by Reynolds Aluminum. This is a very special clock though to me, because my husband made it about a year after we … They were delivered in parts by truck to home sites in 35 states; however, some homes were even erected in Alaska and Venezuela, as reported by Lustron Preservation. Move wall (for working space). To erect the house, “socket and end wrenches, other small hand tools and a rubber mallet are substantially all the tools needed,” a writer for Farm Implement News marveled. May 11, 2017 - Explore Janice Smith's board "Lustron Homes", followed by 110 people on Pinterest. Historic image of a Lustron truck out for delivery (Photo: www.lustron.org) The Snell family disassembled a 1950 Lustron, coded pieces, and reassembled it in stages building on earlier work. I am scheduled to inspect one and am looking for some insight. Lustron home in Fort Lauderdale, FL . Some owners use automotive paste-wax on the walls to renew the shiny finish. Initially, Zeiger’s challenge was to find a leaser-savior for the house, a Westchester deluxe three-bedroom model in dove grey. What: Lustron homes were prefabricated houses made in a factory, transported in parts to a construction site and assembled. “Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one!” he jokes. The remaining interior walls were non-bearing partitions. Repeated follow-ups to the developer on the status, deadline for removal etc. Published by Thor in 1951-- Here is the complete service manual to the Thor Automagic Sink washer/dishwasher combination.This unit was installed in Lustron homes in the last 1940's and early 1950's. It needed to make at least 50 homes a day to break even, but was only making 26. If you install a new roof, I would suggest solid decking and then an aluminum or steel roof. It didn’t take long before he felt the pull to preserve the under-appreciated Lustron himself. These all steel houses were built post World War II and were meant to ease the housing shortage for returning military men and their families. During this phase, the Thor combination dishwasher/clothes washer, kitchen sink, bathroom fixtures, and furnace and flue were also installed. Part 1 of 3 parts. You might be wondering why, with all of these benefits to their name, Lustron homes are such rare historical and architectural gems. The local builder/dealer was responsible for getting a building permit and pouring the foundation, with or without footings, depending on local conditions. Heritage Parts is a trusted distributor of Lutron replacement parts. Next, fourteen-gauge steel truss bearing plates were bolted to the top plate of the exterior wall sections. Unfortunately Strandlund overshot quite a bit with his 100 houses a day promise. If shingles need to be replaced look online for Lustron websites with discussion groups and maybe someone has parts listed for sale. Mark hole locations on concrete floor and ceiling. Lustron home help! The one in Rockford had the staircase along the utility wall between the furnace and the back door. The Lustron Corporation asserted that it took 300 to 400 man-hours for carpenters to assemble a house, plus 40 hours for a plumber, 25 hours for an electrician, and 12 to 16 hours for a laborer to lay floor tiles. And Lustrons have such great personalities. For example, in many historic and contemporary houses, the gutters are attached to the roof with a strap. For example, one of your exterior wall panels is slightly bent and cracked. It never had to be repainted, and interior walls could be rearranged or a room added like an Erector set toy. The Snells described the experience of rebuilding a Lustron as similar to putting together a giant puzzle, with limited instructions and no replacement parts. Replacement Wheels . The original aluminum windows are a character defining element of the Lustron home and should be maintained and if necessary, repaired, rather than replaced. Because LiteTouch’s wiring was very different than other home automation systems, you can’t easily replace your LiteTouch system with another wired home automation system. To remove the gutters you simply cut the strap or detach the straps from the roof. Note how the woman seems to be having a delightful conversation with one of the table lamps. A huge screened porch, original to his house but not standard to Lustrons, has been a real problem area, thanks to the unforgiving Indiana lakeshore winters.“The porch had leaked for a long time,”says Zeiger. •This House is Steel: Clicking this link will open up an archived Chicago Tribune article about Lustron homes and Carl Strandlund. According to Lustron … Major components of the Lustron System include the interior and exterior panels, the roof and gutters, windows, and framing members. Looking for Parts & Accessories? The first time Todd Zeiger heard of a Lustron house he was in college, where one of his historic-preservation classes focused on post-World War II homes designed to assuage housing shortages for returning GIs. As you are probably aware, there are many websites out there about Lustron homes. Six inches of fiberglass, mineral wool, or “insulwool” insulation was later positioned above the plenum. A 1948 Consumer Reports magazine naming Lustrons as the best buy prefab house reported that construction time averaged three to five days—and that was for a professional contractor. wiring a single pole dimmer (with wire leads) lutron electr Jun 29, 2012 - Who wants a yellow Lustron? Unlike the square exterior panels, interior panels extended from floor to ceiling, making the installation somewhat easier. Terri is also fond of another feature unique to Lustrons: metal walls inside and out. Steel “Lustron” homes, built between 1948-1950, were supposed to be the prefab housing of the future. At the end of 1949, Lustron had 234 dealers, located in 35 states. That’s because all those Lustron components were engineered to piece together in one specific sequence, and they only come apart the same way. “The idea of a prefabricated, all-steel house fascinated me,” says Zeiger. You could try trusting your home to used parts coming out of other homes, but they can be expensive and unreliable. Connections between the wall sections (EM-02-B-20.11) at the top and bottom were made by 14-gauge channel-shaped splices. When the system breaks down, the cause might not be readily apparent. Lustron’s metal walls don’t take standard home paint, requiring instead a powder-coating system similar to what’s used on vehicles. Spare Parts Package Keeping a stock of parts at your facility can minimize system downtime in the event of a hardware failure. However, even though I have always been intrigued by Lustron homes, I am not very familiar with the exact way in which the panels go together. Components were unloaded from the trailer as needed, beginning with 16-gauge rolled steel sill plates. This did not include other site work-installing utility lines, pouring the concrete foundation, placing sidewalks and driveways, and planting grass and other landscaping. Is it possible to take down the metal panels and put up dry wall? Thus in order to understand, how to repair your Lustron, it is import to understand that once assembled, the Lustron functioned as a system. The tripartite consisted of a central light flanked by two four-light casement windows. Have you watched the PBS special on Frank Lloyd Wright? Then replace the eave panels, roofing tiles, then the ridge cap and then the chimney. 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