Lustron houses were prefabricated homes, made from enameled steel panels, manufactured by the Lustron Corporation in the late 1940s. The steel panels were designed to resist the effects of the weather, needed little maintenance, and were fireproof. Lustron homes were composed of a living room, kitchen, utility room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. The homes were designed to be affordable, and some areas of the United States were designated for marketing of the houses. In an effort to meet the high demand for post-war housing, the US government supported the manufacturing of these homes. Today, surviving Lustron homes are considered to be a unique cultural resource, and are preserved and protected as historic sites.
Each Lustron house consists of two or three bedrooms, with attached bathrooms and a centrally located kitchen, living area and dining room. The exteriors are composed of enameled pre-fabricated steel panels and the interiors are lined with porcelain enameled steel panels. All of the structural components of the houses – walls, roof, and floor – are composed of steel. The roofs are flat with a raised ridge and are designed to prevent the buildup of snow and ice as well as to conduct rainwater and snowmelt away from the house.
The main benefit of a Lustron house was its relatively low cost and quick assembly. These pre-fabricated steel houses could be constructed in a week for around $7,000. Moreover, the ownership of these homes allowed people to own their own property without a large down payment, or in some cases, at no cost at all. The ideal of Lustron Houses was that they would provide durable and affordable housing for people returning from service in the war.The Lustron House was advocated by the National Housing Agency, as a solution to the post-war housing shortage. The houses were designed and manufactured by the Chicago-based Lustron Corporation, which had been founded in 1947. The houses were made of prefabricated steel parts and pre-finished with enamel. The walls, floor, and roof were composed of steel panels. The panels were coated with porcelain enamel to make them noncombustible, waterproof, and soundproof, and designed to never require painting or weatherproofing. The panels were insulated for added comfort and to reduce energy consumption. The houses also featured steel windows, many of which could open and close from the interior. The interior walls included steel cupboards and closets, as well as shelving. The walls and ceilings could be easily and quickly installed by two people, with minimal tools or amount of time. The houses were designed with minimal maintenance in mind and were expected to last at least sixty years.
The Lustron House was praised for its modern, streamlined design and durable materials, which allowed it to be built quickly and easily. However, the exorbitant cost of the houses (at around $8,000 per house at the time, which was four times the amount of building a house yourself) resulted in relatively low sales. The company declared bankruptcy in 1950, after only a few hundred houses had been sold. Lustron houses are rare and are considered collector's items by some, making them highly sought-after.
The enamel finish’s popularity did not meet expectations, however, as many families found it difficult and costly to keep clean, as dust and dirt got caught in its crevices. The availability of easy to maintain synthetic sidings and other materials was also likely a factor in the decline of Lustron Houses. Also, many Americans felt that the clean, box-like appearance of Lustron Homes was too uniform and lacking in charm compared to traditional homes.
The company planned to make affordable and easy-to-construct homes that could answer the housing shortage left in the wake of World War II. This loan was part of a five-year $37.5-million contract between Lustron and the government. The company anticipated producing 25,000 homes annually and hoped to increase production to 100,000 by 1950. The homes began to rollout in 1948 to the public, with various models priced between $6,500 and $8,500. These homes were meant to be an affordable, yet modern solution to the housing crisis brought on by the end of World War II. The company promised to make and deliver 2,525 Lustron homes in 1948, but only 2,490 were completed. The homes were of two standard floor plans, featuring porcelain enamel-coated steel kitchen cabinets, architectural-style steel exterior wall panels, a steel-lined attic, built-in closets, and an integrated heating and air conditioning system. Despite the promising start, the company eventually failed due to various problems related to poor management and quality control.
The Lustron Home was designed to be a low-cost, durable, and fire-resistant solution to the nationwide shortage of new homes for returning WWII veterans. In addition to the prefabricated parts and the steel siding, Lustron homes featured many modern amenities, such as clothes closets and built-in cabinetry. The exterior was coated with porcelain enamel, which was known for its toughness. Lustron sold thousands of homes in various styles and sizes in only two years, becoming one of the first mass-produced prefabricated homes in the United States. However, due to financial woes, the company went bankrupt and ceased operations in 1950.
Strandlund's Lustron Corporation planned to construct 15,000 homes in 1947 and 30,000 in 1948. From its plant in Columbus, Ohio (the former Curtiss-Wright factory), the corporation eventually constructed around 3,000 Lustron homes between 1948 and 1950. Despite the ambitious goals, the company was unable to continue producing more homes and declared bankruptcy in 1950.
Lustron Corporation was the first manufacturer to mass-produce prefabricated steel homes. The company established its factory in an effort to help address returned soldiers' housing needs after World War II. Each home was designed and engineered as a single unit. The main component of every Lustron home was steel siding, accompanied by floor systems and wall framing. The company combined technologies from other industries, such as automobile assembly plants, for the production. In addition to the steel siding, the homes included a range of other features, such as porcelain-enameled steel kitchens and bathrooms, fitted cabinetry, a built-in television, and even a carport.
Despite its innovative approach, Lustron Corporation failed to reach its manufacturing goals and ultimately filed for bankruptcy due to financial difficulties. The company's primary investor, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, withdrew from the project in 1949, impacting Lustron's ability to acquire resources. In addition, the company faced an issue in that the high cost of the homes limited its customer base. Consequently, the company was not able to pay its employees, resulting in numerous strikes. Furthermore, despite the installation of advanced equipment and machinery, the Lustron Corporation did not allow its employees to form a union, and this further resulted in a decline in morale.
Despite financial struggles, Lustron homes remain an important contribution to prefabricated housing. Even today, Lustron homes continue to be appreciated for their appealing designs and modern features. While the company did not reach its goals, it made a lasting impact in the housing industry.
The lustron houses sold for between $8,500 and $9,500, according to a March 1949 article in the Columbus Dispatch. By November 1949, a Lustron's average selling price had raised up to $10,500. The range of prices was likely determined by geographical location, size of the Lustron home, and the level of customization. Prices depended on the model, customizations, and options chosen. The Lustron Corporation reportedly sold more than 2,700 homes in the decade following their launch.
Lustron houses were a type of prefabricated steel home that was marketed in the United States from the late 1940s to 1950s. They were designed to be affordable housing and were snapped together like LEGO blocks. While the majority of Lustron houses were produced and sold in the 48 contiguous states, 36 of those states (including Alaska) also had production lines dedicated to manufacturing Lustron houses. The other 12 states, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, merely had sales offices and showrooms.
Lustron homes were primarily produced in 36 states and the District of Columbia in the United States, including Alaska. The states in which these homes were produced were Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Some lustron houses were constructed in Venezuela, South America for families of oil industry employees in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The houses, all prefabricated steel structures that could be quickly and easily erected, were mainly used by American oil companies who wanted to provide reliable and comfortable housing for their employees and their families in remote and sometimes dangerous areas of the country. The houses featured two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, and were advertised as being "complete homes in a day". Approximately 13 of these homes were constructed in Venezuela, mostly around the states of Zulia and Maracaibo, though there may have been a few more scattered around the country. The houses were eventually sold off as the need for them declined over time.
Unfortunately, the majority of the Lustron Houses in Venezuela have since been demolished and the remaining buildings are in dire need of repair. Today, the remaining Lustron Houses are mostly owned and operated by local venezolanos, who are trying to preserve what remains of them as symbols of Venezuela's past. While there are no current plans to rebuild or restore these homes, there is a small movement from innovators and preservationists that are looking to preserve a part of Venezuelan history through the restoration of these unique buildings.
The Westchester Deluxe was the most popular Lustron home model. It came with two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and a laundry room, all within 1,085 square feet. The exterior was made of pre-fabricated porcelain-enameled steel panels and the interior had walls, floors, and ceilings also made from steel. The floors were covered in ceramic tiles, and the walls had light fixtures, outlets, and switches already installed. These homes were designed to be affordable, durable, and low-maintenance for their new owners.
TYPES OF LUSTRON HOUSES
A Lustron house is a prefabricated steel house that was designed and built in the United States after World War II. Lustron houses were created to address the homes shortage caused by the war. These houses were made of steel panels encased in porcelain and were resistant to fire, insects, and rot. There are two primary types of Lustron houses: "Westchester Deluxe" and "Lexington."
The Westchester Deluxe is a two-bedroom, one bathroom Lustron house with a side-gable roof. It was the more popular model, produced between 1949 and 1950. This type of Lustron house was offered in a variety of color combinations and was designed to be virtually maintenance-free.
The Lexington is a larger variant of the Westchester Deluxe model, with two or three bedrooms, a larger kitchen, and an attached garage. This model was only produced between 1950 and 1951. It was offered in three colors, including green, yellow, and grey, and included a fully-equipped kitchen, complete with a built-in refrigerator.
With the omission of the Esquire each Lustron house type was available as either a two-bedroom model or three-bedroom model. The Esquire was available as a one-bedroom option only. The two-bedroom models included the Deluxe and Standard, while the three-bedroom models were the Deluxe and the Premier. Each model was available with additional features such as a patio, carport, or breezeway.
Every Lustron model featured enameled steel panels that provided wall, ceiling, and floor coverage, an all-electric design, and tile surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. Rot-resistant and fireproof materials such as porcelain-enameled steel and magnesium oxide were also used. Lustron homes were designed to be customizable in both color and features. Buyers could choose from a range of color schemes and optional extras. Some of these included insulation, a terrace, carport, and soundproofing materials.
The interior design of the homes was streamlined with built-in furniture and appliances. Features such as tile surfaces, chrome hardware, and built-in cabinets provided a modern look and feel to the homes.
Due to their affordability, durability, and efficient construction, Lustron homes could meet the housing needs of a large segment of the population. They were an innovative solution for post-war housing, and sought to address the growth in the number of people seeking affordable homes.
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