Lustron Appears At NYC Museum of Modern Art
NEW YORK, NY -- New York City's world-reknown Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is featuring a July 20 - October 2008 exhibit on prefabricated housing. It is called "Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling."
The exhibit features a partially reconstructed Lustron home. The featured Lustron is known as the Krowne Lustron House from Arlington, Virginia. The reconstruction takes place just about 60 years after a Lustron demonstration model was constructed in midtown Manhattan, in 1948, right near MOMA. The Lustron is featured along with other full scale innovative home designs at the museum's west 53rd St. location.

[ Krowne Lustron at MOMA. Photo by Librado Romero/The New York Times ]

Exhibit staff were very grateful that there was a Lustron all packed up and ready for use in such short time. By lucky coincidence, the famous "Krowne" Lustron was sitting in storage in Chantilly, Virginia. The Lustron community thanks the efforts of the Arlington, VA historical preservation group. Due to their diligence, the Krowne Lustron was disassembled in June 2006, in Arlington, Virginia and placed in storage. Parts were methodically labeled. The process led to the first modern disassembly guide for Lustron homes.

After the exhibit, the Krowne Lustron may still be a home without a place to call home. Unless donations become available to give it a permanent home, the Krowne Lustron will end up in storage again. And considering it's unexpected performance in the big apple, that may not be such a bad place to be.

Look back here later in 2008 for more pictures and information about Lustron's appearance at MOMA. This Lustron Connection editor plans a visit to the museum and will provide a full report with pictures here.

New York Times Photo/News Story On The MOMA Exhibit

Museum Website With Exhibit Information

More About the Krowne Lustron and the Lustron Disassembly Publication

Then & Now Photos of A Massachusetts Lustron ~ The Effects of Time!
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The new owners of this Lustron home found vintage 1950's photos of its construction. See this Lustron when new and 58 years later. The current owner wants to remove the porch addition and undo other alterations. A short slide show of the construction photos can also be seen in the Massachusetts exhibit at Lustron Connection. Williamstown, MA Lustron

Magazine Featues Lustron Story
Automated Builder magazine features a tribute to Lustron Creator Carl Strandlund and the Lustron home. The April 2008 story can be found here.  

Tornados Strike Lustrons in 2007 and 2000. Lustrons Out Survive Wood Homes
Lustron Connection visitors have submitted photos and reports on two incidents where a tornado struck a neighbor hood where a Lustron home stood. See details.

Elvis & Lustron?
MEMPHIS, TN -- An original condition Lustron home that borders the Elvis Presley Graceland property might someday be a Lustron museum. A relative of the present owners has contacted Lustron Connection for assistance in spreading the word. The home would be maintained all original and feature 1950's and Elvis themes. If a museum is not feasible, other special uses of the preserved home are being considered.

The home occupies an exceptionally large lot with a long u-shaped driveway on Bluebird Lane, just a 0.7 mile drive from Graceland. Bluebird Lane intersects with Elvis Presley Boulevard. This special Lustron home reportedly occupies a 110 x 368 foot lot. For information, Contact: SaveOurLustron@aol.com

Bluebird Lane, Memphis, TN
On giant lot next to Elvis Presley's Graceland Estate

What's this about a combination dishwasher-washing machine?
We've all heard about the odd combination dishwasher-washing machine installed in many Lustron homes. But most of them, if not all, were removed by homeowners because they just didn't work well. So, the result is, most modern Lustron owners have no idea what the Thor washer looked like.

In the 1940's, consumers could purchase a Thor brand combination washing machine - dishwasher. It was shaped similar to a top-loading washing machine. The Thor unit could be converted from clothes washing to dish washing in just 1-1/2 minutes by installing a circular rack inside the unit.

Lustrons had a specially made Thor unit with sink included. See drawing below. (Front doors not shown). Two tubs were provided. How it all works is still unclear. George Farnsworth of Oak Park, Michigan recently provided the drawing below.

Arlington, VA Story is Familiar --- Good News, One Lustron Saved
ARLINGTON, VA -- Lustrons frequently sit on land that people want to build larger homes on. Four of Arlington's original 11 Lustrons still stand. Six have been demolished.. One was saved when its owner, Dr. Clifford M. Krowne, donated it to Arlington County. In 2006, this Lustron, the "Krowne" Lustron was disassembled and put in storage where it awaits a permanent home. The disassembly process led to a useful guide on disassembling and moving a Lustron. It is complete with pictures, tools needed and man hour estimates. It is available for download at the Arlington County CPHD website. A video is planned.

Over 60 years on the shore of Lake Michigan has left the grandfather of enamel steel homes in rough shape.

More Details:

Chicago Daily Herald Story 11/11/2007 "Souvenirs from the 1933 World's Fair"

Armco-Ferro House, National Park Service

2005 Photos of Amco Ferro House

Maybe you are not aware of the hidden chamber above the closet next to the bathroom. It is 20 cubic feet. (23 x 36 x 42 inches). Some have cut through the wall here and installed cabinet doors. Does anyone know why this space wasn't used when they were designing the Westchester model? One theory, the oil burner was nearby and this zone would get too hot to store things?? Do other Lustron models have the hidden chamber?