Reproduced from a rare edition, this book features 112 designs for homes of "comfort and refinement," with external views, floor plans, and other details. 400 illustrations.
Proudly promoting itself as "the largest home building organization in the world," Sears, Roebuck and Company advertised its 1932 products in a handsome catalog that also displayed a full-size replica of Mount Vernon, created from Sears materials for a Paris exposition in 1932. At the heart of the publication were 68 designs for Sears houses, among them such handsome residences as the Belmont, a six-room house with vestibule, breakfast alcove, three bedrooms, and one-and-a-half baths; and the Dover, an English cottage with a massive chimney and unusual roof lines. A useful reference for people interested in preserving homes of this period, this volume will also be welcomed by anyone who relishes a glimpse of America's architectural past.
2021 Reprint of the 1913 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Reproduced from a rare 1913 edition, this volume features 112 designs for homes of "comfort and refinement. These authentic plans offer a wealth of information on building materials and other details, along with external views, floor plans, descriptions with prices, and more. Sears Modern Homes were catalog and kit houses sold primarily through mail order by Sears, Roebuck and Co., an American retailer. Sold primarily to customers in East Coast and Midwest states, Sears homes have been located as far south as Florida and as far west as California. Examples have also been found in Alaska and Canada. Sears reported that more than 70,000 of these homes were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940. More than 370 different home designs in a wide range of architectural styles and sizes were offered over the program's 34-year history. Sears Modern Homes offered the latest technology available to house buyers in the early part of the twentieth century. Central heating, indoor plumbing, and electricity were all new developments in house design that "Modern Homes" incorporated, although not all of the houses were designed with these conveniences. Primarily shipped via railroad boxcars, these kits included most of the materials needed to build a house. Once delivered, many of these houses were assembled by the new homeowner, relatives, friends and neighbors, in a fashion similar to the traditional barn-raisings of farming families. Other homeowners relied on local carpenters or contractors to assemble the houses. In some cases, Sears provided construction services to assemble the homes. Some builders and companies purchased homes directly from Sears to build as model homes, speculative homes or homes for customers or employees.
Reprint of rare original catalog includes huge illustrated selection of building materials, fixtures and trimmings, complete with descriptions, specifications, and prices. Hundreds of black-and-white illustrations.
It was the American Dream by Mail Order --Smithsonian Americans have ordered from Sears, Roebuck just about everything they have needed for their homes for 100 years--but from 1908 to 1940, some 100,000 people also purchased their houses from this mail-order wizard. Sears ready-to-assemble houses were ordered by mail and shipped by rail wherever a boxcar or two could pull in to unload the meticulously precut lumber and all the materials needed to build an exceptionally sturdy and well-designed house. From Philadelphia, Pa., to Coldwater, Kans., and Cowley, Wyo., Sears put its guarantee on quality bungalows, colonials and Cape Cods, all with the latest modern conveniences--such as indoor plumbing. Houses by Mail tells the story of these precut houses and provides for the first time an incomparable guide to identifying Sears houses across the country. Arranged for easy identification in 15 sections by roof type, the book features nearly 450 house models with more than 800 illustrations, including drawings of the houses and floor plans. Because the Sears houses were built to last, thousands remain today to be discovered and restored. Houses by Mail shows how to return them to their original charm while it documents a highly successful business enterprise that embodied the spirit and domestic design of its time. "After decades of obscurity, Sears houses have become chic." --Wall Street Journal "These were . spacious, solidly built homes." --Parade "Don't be surprised if your own cozy bungalow turns up [in the book]."--Philadelphia Inquirer "A nostalgic and informative look at the tastes of Americans in the years before World War II."--Publishers Weekly "The bible to researchers of Sears' ready-cut homes."--Saturday Evening Post
History of Sears Kit Homes with info on how to find and identify these old kit homes. Alson includes photos, graphics, diagrams and oral histories from workers at the Sears Mill and people who built their own Sears Home. Also history on Richard W. Sears and Alvah Roebuck; history on Sears and Roebuck, Co.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Sears offered more than 370 designs of kit homes from 1908- 1940, but nationally known Sears House expert Rosemary Thornton has discovered that Sears had 60 best-selling designs. In her new book she writes, "If you learn how to identify these 60 designs, you'll discover about 60% of the Sears Homes in your community.""Finding the Houses That Sears Built" contains more than 190 graphics and photos, as well as comprehensive, detailed and fascinating information on how to identify these 60 best selling designs. Each housing style is given two full pages in this 8.5 x 11-inch book. One page shows the house as it originally appeared in the Sears Modern Homes catalog (with house details and floor plans). An opposing page has two high quality photos of existing Sears Homes. In preparing to write this captivating book, Rose photographed more than 1500 homes in 11 states. "Finding the Houses That Sears Built" represents more than five years of intensive research, documentation, travel and study.
Designs for 60 homes, from a simple four-room cottage with a front porch to a comfortable two-story home with four bedrooms, a reception hall, and pantry. Shown in landscaped exteriors, floor plans, and overhead cutaway views. With detailed commentaries on each design.
Authentic plan book advertises homes chosen for aesthetic appeal, convenience, and economy of construction. Ranging in scale from lavish to modest, each model appears with detailed floor plans, measurements, and a photograph of completed dwelling.