Lustron Homes were revolutionary for the time, and they were exceptionally well-built. There is lots of literature available on Lustron. If you're familiar with the history behind these homes, you know just how special it is to spot one of these in an Ohio neighborhood. The Lustron Corporation declared bankruptcy in 1950, despite it being an extremely well funded, well-publicized, government-supported enterprise manufacturing a desperately needed product. I have lusted after this Lustron for many years and have patiently waited for it to become available. RFC foreclosed on Lustron and production stopped on June 6, 1950. Here you have a stunning example of how it actually worked.. Posted on 01/19/2023 6 Comments SOLD / Archived From 2022 c. 1950 Lustron in Boonville, MO $50,000 407 W Spring St, Boonville, MO 65233 2 BD 1 BA 1013 Sqft 0.17 Ac. The first ten houses built by the company were in major cities, including New York City, Washington, Des Moines, and Milwaukee. However, he was advised by Wilson W. Wyatt, Housing Expediter during the Truman administration, that steel would be available if Strandlund produced steel houses instead of gas stations. Lustron and Sears were two different companies. However, some were constructed in Venezuela for families of oil industry employees.[4]. New houses needed to be built - and pronto! Deeded in 1988 . Thank you However, it was Lustron's promises of assembly-line efficiency and modular construction that set it apart from its competitors. They can be a flexible addition since they can be switched to air conditioning mode during the summer months. Unfortunately, Lustrons never became very popular. [17] Many have been modified with additions, remodeled kitchens, vinyl windows, composite roofs, new heating systems, sheet rock interior walls, painted exteriors, and siding. These companies, however, used conventional balloon-framing techniques and materials in their kits. Home has a breezeway with a two car garage. The plant would later be returned to aircraft production by. Prefabricated housing had existed before the Lustron home came on the market. A heat pump is an air conditioning and heating unit all in one (the fact that it is dual purpose makes it efficient in its own way). Most folks can expect to pay between $2,000 and $7,000 for a new furnace (natural gas furnaces, as opposed to ones that run on electricity, are on the higher side). The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. There are not 2,500 remaining; thats the total produced by Lustron, and the estimated number remaining is between 1,500 and 2,000. When it is hot outside, the unit grabs air from inside your home, removes theheat from it with a refrigerant and pumps it back into the home as cool air. Lustron houses were prefabricated homes manufactured in Columbus, Ohio, from 1948 to 1950. Initially, Strandlund was provided the availability of a war surplus plant in Chicago. Strandlund's Lustron Corporation, a division of the Chicago Vitreous Enamel Corporation, set out to construct 15,000 homes in 1947 and 30,000 in 1948. They use cookies to serve relevant ads and limit the number of times a given ad shows. ). Make a gift of any amount today to support this resource for everyone. pix: It features two bedrooms, two baths, a lower level with a den, and storage. How much energy? [5] My boyfriend was fairly certain these were sold through Sears and then we found this site to confirm it. These Lustron roofs are 70 years old and in the near future a lot of them are going to need new roofs. Understanding the many types of home heating systems will allow you to make the best decisions about how to heat your home, or decide which system youd prefer when searching for a home. Get Home Tips & Latest Updates by Forbes Home Experts. Travel back to the 1950's and step into a Lustron Home -- a fully metal home manufactured here in Columbus, Ohio. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. Cant wait to see this 1953 gem! Unfortunately, active solar systems still rely on other home heating systems to be 100% efficient. Electric heaters are easy to install and relatively inexpensive. Thanks for answering this question, Dale. . 0. Maybe, or maybe not. For individual houses called "Lustron House", see, Reiss, Robert. Need to contact us? Heheheh. A small group of Lustron owners are preserving the original condition of their homes and are urging others to do the same, and a significant number of entirely original Lustron homes exist. From our earliest history, we gather and tell stories. The Ohio History Connection. Im Going to be Okay. [5], Lustron established builder-dealers, which in turn sold and erected the house package on a concrete foundation. Alternative Newsletter Options:3 days a week OR Under 100k houses. @donna grudecki The Lustron is Porcelain Enameled Steel exterior and interior. The steel "Lustron" homes, built between 1948 and 1950, were supposed to be the housing of the future. The concept of prefabricated housing was well established by firms such as The Aladdin Company, Gordon-Van Tine Company, Montgomery Ward, and Sears in the early 1900s. [5], Arguably the most popular of the Lustron homes was the two bedroom, 1,021 square feet (94.9m2) "Westchester Deluxe" model. Choosing the best heating system for your house is a big decision. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Not that we need to remind you, but heating a home is expensive. It has that wonderful vintage look, yet not worn, but rather fresh and appealing. Steel-paneled Lustron homes were designed to address a post-World War II housing shortage. If your home has a natural gas grid connection, a gas central heating system is likely to be the cheapest viable option for heating. Location location location. In other words, it lets you know how much energy the system is converting into usable heat. Cant wait to learn more. This type is the most common in older homes, and usually makes use of gravity to feed hot water through the system to maintain good water pressure. . THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. In moderate climates, heat pumps are far more efficient than a furnace. The houses were offered in four colors, Desert Tan, Surf Blue, Maize Yellow and Dove Grey. Designed by Carl Sandlund, this home is both economical and low-maintenance featuring custom built-ins throughout. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances. A model of the Meadowbrook home shows that the design would have provided two tripartite windows, both in the dining/living room area, similar to those in the Newport line. Lustron homes were usually built on concrete slab foundations with no basement. They use a system similar to an air conditioner by extracting heat from the air and delivering it to the home through an indoor air handler. Demand was high. The porcelain enamel finish on the 22 panels is tough, which makes re-painting the panels virtually impossible. With built-in shelves and pre-installed appliances, these dwellings, ranging from about 700 to 1,140 square feet, were symbols of modern living, delivered as a kit of more than 3,000 pieces on the backs of specially outfitted trucks. We connect to shared beliefs and values. Also included is a listing that documents the location, model, color and various other . [5] After World War II, the domestic demand for steel exceeded production and the federal government exercised control over its allocation. Lustron home built in 1950 on a large home site in Community Hts. They work by heating air with a component called a heat exchanger and pushing it into the home through a duct system, using a fan (often referred to as a blower). All Westchester Deluxe models, they came in all four colors. Overmyer, Beverly; Coambs, Norris and Harriet Lustron House, Coambs-Morrow House; 92001165; National Register InventoryNomination Form, September 17, 1992, in digital files of National Park Service, Washington, D.C. Boyd, Michelle Anne. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lustron_house, Lovely lustron with beautiful age appropriate furnishings., Theres a movie out there in Internet Land about the designer of these fabulous homes, and what happened to him. Natural gas boilers are as efficient, if not more so, than furnaces (some have AFUE ratings of up to 100). Most Lustron homes sold for between $8,500 and $9,500, which was about 25% less than a conventional home at the time. Mintz was drawn to photographing the homes and their owners after seeing old Lustron advertisements which reflected the tenor and times they were manufactured, filled with 50s stereotypes. My husband and I just purchased a gray Lustron Sears Home. Following these details helps me understand how you use the site to improve your experience. "After the war you've fought, you've won, you're tired, you want to start your family, you've got to get back to work. This sparked what has become a larger Lustron photography project aimed at documenting 375 still-intact Lustron homes across the United States roughly 25% of the estimated 1,500 enameled relics that remain today. Many owners played up the midcentury themes. Any advice on what kind of paint for exterior and interior walls; updating the heating system & electrical system and any other renovation suggestions that would give me a heads up and make my life easier. | The walls featured one and one-half inches of fiberglass insulation, while the ceiling featured three to six inches of blown or poured fiberglass or mineral wool insulation. The steel roof on a Lustron outlasts contemporary roofing materials. Basically, anything manufactured before 1992, before there were any AFUE standards. Milwaukee In Milwaukee, 15 Lustron homes survive, as of 2014, in a cluster around Lincoln Creek north of Capitol Drive and Cooper Park. Instead, their efficiency is based on the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (for heating mode) and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (for cooling mode). The MLS # for this home is MLS# 2405964. Because both systems complement each other, there is significantly less strain on each system, which means less repairs and replacements. Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/. We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Home. Cookie Policy for Old House Dreams.