Along with tiny homes, prefab homes have emerged as an ultratrendy option for those looking for an alternative to expensive and oversized housing.
But the prefab concept certainly isn’t new. In fact, steel “Lustron” homes, built between 1948-1950, were supposed to be the housing of the future. While only about 2,500 of these low-maintenance homes were ever built, many still land on the market. And we found seven available right now!
"I think it was a great example of Mid-Century design, but also compact living that was well organized," says Megan Wood in a video for the Ohio Historical Society, which has an actual Lustron home on display for its exhibit "1950s: Building the American Dream." "People were coming into the modern world, and the home eally embodies that."
The homes were the invention of Carl Strandlund, founder of Lustron Corp., and the promise was to quickly assemble affordable homes for returning World War II veterans.
An Ohio factory mass-produced some 3,000 parts per home, including the bathtub, built-in cabinets, and vanities. The parts were loaded on to a truck and delivered to the building site, where they took mere weeks to construct.
Each home consisted of 12 tons of porcelain-coated stainless steel—inside and out—that can be cleaned with a power hose, doesn't require paint, and that would defy “weather, wear and time,” as the company claimed.
While the homes did live up to their promise, the business didn't pan out. The company declared bankruptcy in 1950.
Many of the homes that were built still stand. Aside from the standard small size of the two-bedroom and one bath, the prices for these vintage Lustrons are generally still low. They make a viable option as a cool starter home, an easy-to-maintain rental, and a great topic of conversation.
I remember one of those in Steubenville, Ohio from when I was a boy. The last time I was by the location, it was still there.
The enameled steel walls could be a good idea as long as you didn't want to change the color of the house. I once worked in an office building that used them on portions of the exterior. They were pretty much indestructible unless you hit them with something like a rock thrown by a lawnmower (compare them to enameled cookware or washing machine tubs). The particular ones I knew had a mottled gray enamel that looked very much like stone unless you saw them very closely.
Big Al
-------------------------------- Money seems to buy the most happiness when you give it away.
Why does everything have to be so complicated, all in the name of convenience. -ShiroKuro
A lifetime of experience will change a person. If it doesn't, then you're already dead inside. -MarkJ
Posts: 7466 | Location: Western PA | Registered: 20 April 2005
Maybe this could be the salvation of Sears - go back to the house kit. There are a crapton of Sears houses in Cincinnati and they have held up really well.
I love the idea of prefabs and kits. We will be moving to a one floor house eventually and I REALLY REALLY want a midcentury modern - simple, not terribly big, but lots of glass and openness, especially to the outdoors. I have yet to find anyone who will build one reasonably. I'll be damned if I sign up for another mortgage.
-------------------------------- "A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
There was a yellow one in my home town. At some point, the owner "improved" it by cladding it in vinyl siding. Oy. The Lustron plant was in the former Curtis-Wright factory located on the grounds of what is now John Glenn Port Columbus Airport. I actually did some small architectural work in the building back in the day.
Hubby and I lived in one in the early 70’s on the base at Quantico when we were first married. I don’t remember it being noisy at all. It was actually very solid. We were thrilled! You had to drill a hole to hang a picture, though!
Posts: 78 | Location: The Colonial Capital | Registered: 11 October 2014
Too bad, but couldn't be helped I guess.
