American System-Built Preservation/Renovation Projects

[ndhayes]

Suggesting that ASBH owners and their experts and mentors post about experiences, questions, details-discovered and shocks and surprises while living in and working on the homes. Hopefully, sharing here will result in a searchable archive and study guides for future stewards and for folks curious about the program. Starting this thread by sharing progress on a collaborative Window Renovation Project underway at the Elizabeth Murphy and Oscar A Johnson Houses.

Here we go: https://elizabethmurphyhouse.com/2021/ ... on-begins/

An early lesson: https://elizabethmurphyhouse.com/2021/0 ... -richards/

Reflections on FLLW's details: https://elizabethmurphyhouse.com/2021/0 ... -wright/

More to come as the project continues. (We expect it will take into 2022.)

[SDR]

I'll link this associated thread: http://wrightchat.savewright.org/viewto ... =2&t=13747

Nick, do you know if the list at http://www.flwright.us/FLWAmericanSystem.htm is up to date ?

S

[ndhayes]

Nick, do you know if the list at http://www.flwright.us/FLWAmericanSystem.htm is up to date ?

S

Thanks for the threading. Our house isn't on Mr. McNally's list, nor is the AB Groves house in Madison. If he's here, perhaps he'll add them. They are the most recent documented discoveries that I am aware of.

[SDR]

I haven't checked to see if this is happening, but it would be good someday to have the timeline of the discovery of each of these properties. The whole saga---which of course hasn't played out yet, and has no ending---will make an interest piece of the story.

S

[SDR]

Perhaps we can decide which of these two threads to continue; it's problematic to have two contemporaneous threads going, on the same subject and with the same contributors.

Here's the other thread:http://wrightchat.savewright.org/postin ... =2&t=14281

S

[ndhayes]

I'm not sure I see how these threads collide. Was hoping this one might become a clearinghouse for owners and experts to talk about preservation and renovation (I understand many projects are ongoing or planned). We need a place to share and store that history. I plan to invite the owners I know to contribute here if they are game. A facebook group where this is happening loosely now seems ephemeral - subject to the whims of Zuckerberg.

The other thread seems to be much more broad - where houses are, the hunt for new, and a tally on changes-of-watch.

[SDR]

Quite so; the last thing I would want is to suppress discussion. Carry on !

S

[ndhayes]

ASBH owners have been trying to source replica light fixtures - simple, square pull-switch sconces that accept bare-bulbs, like the one shown in this image: https://elizabethmurphyhouse.files.word ... 6384_n.jpg (Courtesy Mike Wilk via FB. Thanks, Mike.)

The issue: the custom shop that built the first round has become prohibitively expensive. Does anyone know of a bronze maker/UL shop that might be able to reproduce these lights in 20-30 piece runs? Appreciate expert advice.

[outside in]

You might try: https://www.archistoric.com/pages/about
locally owned and operated.

[SDR]

Giving Mr Wright his due, I'd think these cubic fixtures would have to be about as straightforward and economical to make---either cast, or of sheet material---as any that were ever manufactured. My question: did he design them, or did he find them on the market somewhere ?

Here's an earlier and slightly more complex version, at the Fricke residence. The base of this one appears to be a casting.



I seem to recall that Paul Harding was at one time looking for a maker for similar Wright wall or ceiling fixtures. If that is correct, I wonder if he was successful . . .

S

[ndhayes]

My question: did he design them, or did he find them on the market somewhere ?

I have not found documentation that indicate whether these were designed or purchased, but I suspect they were a product of the studio, since they seem to be a simplification, as you point out, of fixtures found elsewhere, like at Fricke and Wright's own Oak Park home/studio: https://elizabethmurphyhouse.files.word ... _7990.jpeg