Sears, Roebuck Home Builder's Catalog: The Complete Illustrated 1910 Edition [Paperback]

Sears Roebuck and Co. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2009

Sears, Roebuck and Company's 1910 catalog of home building materials, fixtures, and accessories — from roofing and siding to chandeliers and porcelain bathtubs. Vintage ad copy, specifications, and prices provide a nostalgic look back at the way homes were built at the turn of the last century. An authentic source for restorers of homes today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (November 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486263207
• ISBN-13: 978-0486263205
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Americana

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even my teenagers loved this book..., May 2, 2000

By 

Rosemary Thornton "Niece of Addie Hoyt Fargo ... (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sears, Roebuck Home Builder's Catalog: The Complete Illustrated 1910 Edition (Paperback)

This is a catalogue full of fixtures - plumbing, electrical andmechanical items from the 1910's.

I think it is a tremendous resource for anyone trying to do a faithful restoration of an early 20th century home.

Doors, windows, newel posts, fireplace mantels, toilets, sinks, light fixtures, bathtubs, electrical switches, anything that was needed to build an old house is listed in this book.

It is interesting - and the prices are of course incredible, but it's mainly photos and descriptions.

And the photos of these old items are useful in learning how to *date* plumbing and electrical fixtures, which can be useful in determining the age of a house. And it can also help in figuring out if a "period" bath or kitchen is TRULY a period bath and kitchen.

Lastly, it's also a useful resource for authenticating Sears kit homes. Just keep in mind that JUST BECAUSE your house has Sears hardware DOES NOT PROVE it's a Sears Home!

Rose Thornton
author, The Houses That Sears Built

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A demonstration that while houses may have changed a lot, the fundamental pieces have not, November 20, 2006

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sears, Roebuck Home Builder's Catalog: The Complete Illustrated 1910 Edition (Paperback)

When I was young, my elderly relatives were effusive in their descriptions of the value of the Sears catalog. Nearly every thing that you could possibly need was available through the Sears catalog and even if it was too rich for your blood, millions of people amused themselves by looking through it. And when it was no longer interesting, it served as bathroom reading material and toilet paper.
This book is a reproduction of the 1910 Builder's edition and looking through it is a nostalgic step back in time. I worked construction for my first six years out of high school and recognize nearly everything in the catalog. Furthermore, having spent a great deal of time in older homes, I remember seeing and working with many of the doors, windows, fixtures, moldings, plumbing equipment and hardware. The book is one of those that you can spend hours glancing through, just looking at what you could purchase for your home shortly after the turn of the century. It also demonstrates that very little has really changed in the building of homes. They may be getting bigger and the styles may have changed, but the fundamental pieces remain largely the same.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference material, August 16, 2006

By 

JanetLikesBooks - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sears, Roebuck Home Builder's Catalog: The Complete Illustrated 1910 Edition (Paperback)

A lot of help while choosing fixtures to remodel our Craftsman bathroom. I'm sure it'll come in handy for more projects in our house before we're through. A lot of fun to skim for no particular reason too. I just wish it were a little longer.