From: shannah@netcom.com (Teri Miller)
Subject: Craftsman Bungalow Questions
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 00:03:33 GMT


My husband and I recently purchased a Craftsman Bungalow, which was built
in 1906 or 1914 (more likely the latter).  We want to preserve and restore
as much as we can, and in our research, have come up with a number of
questions we are having trouble finding the answers to.

1) What did the bathrooms look like?  We can't seem to find any pictures
   of original bathrooms - only remodeled ones.  Our commode is from 1932.
   Was it likely the original commode?  Or was there probably one before
   that, and if so, what would it look like?

2) What did they do with bathroom floors?  We are in the process of
   removing linoleum that was installed in the '60s, and below that is
   linoleum that I believe was from the '40s, and below that *appears*
   to be yellow pine flooring over subflooring.  If this is true, did
   they originally have wooden floors?  If so, is there any reason why
   we couldn't restore the original wooden floor?  Any suggestions?

3) Did they mix brass and chrome fixtures, or would it be more likely that
   a room that has chrome doorhandles and faucets also had chrome shower
   fixtures and such?

4) When did it become popular to paint over the existing wooden doorframes,
   cabinets, and such?  What were they originally finished with?  Should
   we be on the lookout for lead paint?

5) We do not have a clawfoot tub, but have what appears to be a 2-piece
   deep tub with front skirt.  In basic shape, it's similar to tubs
   nowadays, except that it's very deep.  Can this be the original tub?
   If so, how does one restore the porcelain?  And, maybe this is a dumb
   question, but what did they use for shower curtains?  (Or was it not
   original to have a shower?  We did find a huge porcelain showerhead in
   a closet.)  One interesting thing about it: the faucet is mounted
   in the tub itself, about 3 inches from the bottom of the tub.  I've
   never seen anything like it.  Has anyone else, and if so, can you tell
   me anything about it?

6) What was used for kitchen countertops?  We have one countertop that
   is wooden, and one (slightly taller) one that is tile.  It looks like
   very old tile.  Is the wooden one original?  What about sinks?  We 
   have a big shallow rectangular sink with a drain in one end, and 
   a faucet that comes out of the wall several inches above the sink.  Is
   this original?

7) What did a butler's pantry typically contain?

8) How was food kept cold?  Our brand-new KitchenAid refrigerator doesn't
   really look like it belongs with the other things in the kitchen,
   including a Wedgewood stove (gas) with trashburner.  

9) How about the stove?  Was it typical to have gas in those days?

I apologize if some of these questions are uneducated or naive.  I have
been reading any and everything I can get my hands on, and now know a
*LOT* about living rooms, dining rooms, etc.  I'm just having trouble
finding anything on kitchens and bathrooms....

Thanks for any help you can provide.  If you'd like to email me directly,
I'll summarize the email responses to the net.

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Teri Miller                    tmiller@cisco.com -or- shannah@netcom.com
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Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house