Victorian House Rescue

Kitchen

We hung sheetrock in the kitchen the after the new windows were installed. I got a tactile reminder of how askew the house is. Cutting sheetrock at a right angle only to have it not fit where it was intended was the theme of the day. Nonetheless, to have actual walls is pretty transforming.

Unfortunately, this nonsense is unavoidable.

The exterior kitchen walls are (almost) finished. Joe removed the wonky clapboard and installed what we bought from the local architectural salvage store.

We have a new/old door, new/old siding, and new/new windows.

We just have to paint and that's another project we can cross off the list.

Radiator Saga

I really appreciate all the work Pete has put into restoring cast iron radiators for our house. I had no idea how tricky it would be when I proposed the idea to him. There are two companies that commercially restore antique radiators (Castrads in New York and Ecorads in Quebec) and each finished unit is around $1000., we could swing it, (That's how much we are spending on each new window), but its obviously cheaper for Pete to do the work.

We had three radiators installed when the boiler was installed in 2019, and we decided it was time to prepare one for installation in the fern room. Pete did a spectacular job refurbishing this tall boy from the generically named National Radiator Company from Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Each radiator segment is partly held together with a tapered metal cylinder called a push nipple. Each manufacturer had its own diameter push nipples. There was no universal standard. Sometimes these parts were intact when Pete dismantled the radiators. Unfortunately, this time these parts were damaged beyond repair.

Here's what they look like new.

And here's the worst case scenario.

Push nipples are used in modern boiler systems, so it didn't seem completely unrealistic to me to think that someone, somewhere manufactured the 1.85" diameter part we needed for the next radiator we were hoping to install.

The first Google search of "push nipple" generated this:

I spent a week of my lunch breaks looking online for these parts as well as calling many plumbing supply retailers. I looked at several manufacturer websites, foundries that specialize in industrial parts for heating systems. No one had the diameter we needed. So Pete put that one aside, cleaned, painted and assembled this shorter one.

We called the plumbing company that installed the boiler to install our next radiator. It was getting cold, and we were getting desperate. Our one modern functional gas fireplace is in the fern room, but its really expensive to run, and using it as a primary heat source is not the best idea.

Installing these radiators is exceedingly rare. We were told only rich people install these in their houses, while everyone else is ripping them out. So there aren't many people who do these installs, and even less people who do it well. We got lucky the first time, but this time Pete suspected the plumber cross- threaded the valve stump, (the threaded end where the copper pipe gets attached) causing it to leak.

Out of desperation, we had them install the last radiator that was left behind in the house when we closed. It was the only option at that point. It's too small to heat the room, it's short and kinda ugly. Its aggravating paying for something I want to replace. The bill was way more than we were expecting to pay, so we would like to find someone who wont charge us $695.00 for a botched job.

Here's what's currently installed. Yuck. The one perk is that its just under 12 inches, so it makes a nice warm seat when coming in from the cold.

After that mess, Pete tried to save the second one he painted by boring the hole out to a larger diameter and tapping a new thread using these.

Unfortunately his drill didn't have the strength to complete the job. A machine shop right down the street was able to finish the task.

I am confident there will be more tragic radiator stories like this one before we are through heating the house.

Basement

The first bit of the two ton reclaimed maple flooring was installed at the top of the basement landing.

Looks like its always been there. Perfect.

Pete bought this new bead board to adorn above the basement door. This is a dry fit, that framed detail obviously needs a serious paint scraping or needs to be replaced completely.

Wallpaper

As far as I can tell, old building material was never removed from the house. Layers upon layers of plaster, horsehair insulation, fiberglass insulation, sheetrock, knob and tube wiring, and even exterior aluminum siding were found in/on the walls. It was always exciting to find old wallpaper, so I made sure to keep a sample of every pattern I found. It took two days, but I finally cleaned it all, and pressed it in blotter book for safe keeping.

A few pieces were still stuck to the plaster. A good soak in warm water and patience helped me get the plaster off.

These are some of the oldest patterns.

This wallpaper is flocked vinyl, circa 1974ish.

This brick patterned wallpaper was in the upstairs master bedroom, glued to the brick chimney.

I saved some linoleum patterns as well.

I want to incorporate these scraps into the house somehow, currently I'm not certain what I'll be doing with them.

Kevin & Nicole's deck

This is the magazine worthy result of all that hole digging Pete helped Kevin with earlier in the summer. Our neighbors are big garden party people with a huge extended family, so I'm sure they will be getting a lot of use out of this. I'm so pleased they are putting effort and money into something we have to look at. Our house looks phenomenal from their yard, so its a mutually beneficial situation.

New Acquisitions

Yes, yes, I know I shop more than I work on my house. It's certainly embarrassing, but not embarrassing enough for me not to share with you all the fun purchases I make.

From Ebay

The title of this print reminds me of the rumor I learned from my film history professor about Rosebud being the pet name William Randolph Hearst used for his girlfriends genitals.

Most of the time things are cheaper at the second hand retail market then online, but not always. I got this on Ebay after trying to buy it from an annoying a flea market vendor. I love this title, its so defensive.

I bought this Richard Scarry book, originally published in 1963. This brings back happy childhood memories of his later books. I'm pretty certain his later work was what inspired the Where's Waldo series.

From New York

The Brooklyn Flea

After years of antiquing/junk shopping in Pennsylvania, I usually turn my nose at New York City flea markets. In general, vendors are charging more money than I want to spend. I put my bias aside and managed to find a few reasonably priced items at the Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo.

I unknowingly violated my vegan ethics for a second time when I bought this miniature The Mark of the Beast book from what I now know is The Little Leather Library series.

There are 100 titles in the Little Leather Library series, published from 1916 till about 1925, but these two are obviously the best ones!

This is the first time I've seen a tiny Golden Book. I hesitate to look it up, fearing I will become preoccupied with hunting for all of them.

Also in tiny book news, I bought Kellogg's Jungle Book. Maybe this came in a cereal box.

Each page has three panels, allowing the reader endless options to change the animal's outfits and bodies. Is there a name for this printing technique?

There's a short video about miniature books here, from the curator of Special Collections at the Winterthur Library in Maryland. Be warned, there are many fascinating and beautiful artifacts shown on this Instagram page. Be prepared to get pulled into a vortex of which you will be powerless to claw out of.

I bought several French chateau postcards, I especially like that the stamps are on the front of this one.

Pretty racy for 18 whenever this was printed.

This postcard is undated, so I'm not sure how new the telephone was when this child attempted to call her dead mother.

From the Bellmore train station flea market

I'd been to the Bellmore (New York) train station flea market years ago, and finally made it back this year. Maybe it depends on the time of year, or just luck, but I was impressed with how many vendors were there.

I got a bunch of books from a man who looked like he was on his last day of cleaning out a dead relatives house. On his table was vomited messy piles of books, with layers of dust and spider webs everywhere.

I bought several Dover-esque reference books.

A Sourcebook of Antiques and Jewelry Designs has many beautiful illustrations of silverware, picture frames, candlesticks, etc, etc. Most noteworthy are the pages of tilting pitchers, like the one from 1891 that I bought in Tampa.

This copy of Victorian Inventions, published in 1971, was discarded from an unidentified library.

Is it protocol for libraries to stamp "disgard" on a book when removing it from circulation? That seems brutal, but I'm happy to give this fascinating book a loving new home.

I don't know, I just don't like his face.

New Physiognomy, published in 1866, tells the reader how to judge a persons character and temperament by just looking at them. Of course better looking people are kinder, smarter, and well adjusted. Ugly people are morons, drunks, and criminals.

Sorry the image quality is so poor. I didn't want to break the binding any further by smooshing it on my flatbed scanner.

Is this a toddler or a 45 year old man? I think the teeth may be that of a congenital syphilis patient. I would suggest you don't Google that.

And don't forget to sprinkle in a bit of racism!

From Remember Yesteryears

Long Island is hardly an antiquing mecca, but my dad and I have been to this Oakdale Fleatique several times. It's 15,000 square feet, so it keeps me occupied for hours.

I got a bunch of new-old stock labels from beverages and "hair lotion" whatever that is. Once again I defer to the Winterthur Library to tell you about this catalog, maybe the company mentioned printed these labels.

Normally I wouldn't buy a photo that's been glued on a piece of MDF. This panorama looked like it was sold in Pier 1 Imports or Pottery Barn. I was able to look past the shitty presentation and bought it because its a great photograph. Its one image, but I broke it into a triptych to squeeze it on to the internet.

The women are all wearing a sheet of paper on their waistbands, so I guess those are numbers from a beauty contest.

The Oddities Flea Market

I've been to this New York market several times, the promoter is holds these events in several cities.

I had to really restrain myself when I found the Century Guild publishing table. They cover everything spooky during the art nouveau period. I bought this book, but wanted to buy every book they were selling.

I am powerless against Roadside Linen Arts, the amazingly talented diorama maker. I think I have five of these boxes.

Each doorway in this piece has its own light, making it even more magical!✶

I don't do it enough, but I still love to write letters. This beautiful stationary from Open Sea is certainly inspiring me.

Its so pretty, I feel like I'm defiling it with my chicken scratch handwriting.

From Pennsylvania

The Oddities and Curiosities Expo

I was excited to visit The Oddities and Curiosities Expo in August. I'm impressed with whoever organizes this year long travelling event, visiting 30 U.S. cities from January to November.

Do I need to tell you how thrilled I was to find this Currier and Ives Civil War memorial print?! There are several of these C & I illustrations in existence, always with a willow tree and a blank gravestone where the bereaved could write the name of their departed soldier.

I bought this Freemason cup and saucer from the same vendor. Fraternal orders were popular in the 19th Century, and there are some interesting antiques and artifacts from these groups, most of which I cant afford.

Death's Head Divination gives religious statues a dark makeover. I've seen this done before, but never this well. This artist is one of many I've hassled for not signing her work. Its baffling how many painters, sculptors, and photographers don't put their name on anything they produce.

The Gravestone Girls make reproductions of really old headstones, taking impressions from original graves. One of the Girls told me they sold all of their inventory, so she rushed back to her studio across the state to replenish their stock mid-tour.

Christmas Gifts

From Pete

I bought a similar book earlier this year, and Pete found this one for me. Having a few of these titles on display would be amazing.

Mmmmm....... Murder Maps- A beautiful book of 19th Century homicide.

This beautiful slipcovered book features many gorgeous stereo viewers lost to history. It's published by The London Stereoscopic Company founded by Brian May. Yes, the guitarist from Queen is running a stereo photography publishing company. He earned his BSc in physics at 21 then went back to school and earned his PhD in 2007. A real over achieving smart ass.

I got this micro miniature stereo viewer for my dollhouse!

Also in miniature, I got this tiny fancy steam radiator.

From Dad

I got this fantastic Raven-holding-a -light-cord. Ill be changing that light bulb to a frosted one!

From Dads new girlfriend Janet

I met Janet on Christmas day, and already she's giving us presents! 💖

This is a salt lamp. The first time I saw a salt lamp was at a friends house. It was a big hollow rock of salt mounted on a base with a light inside. I didn't believe it was salt so I licked it when no one was looking.

This lamp looks like a forest fire.

Flora and Fauna

Our compost corner is a big mess- compost and a big pile of sticks in an un-mowed ignored, triangular spot in the back corner of our yard. I was tempted to clear it out when I found this shelter made of twigs. What creature built this?

Hmmm.... its possible, but they're aren't many squirrels in our yard.

The packrat seems more likely. This rodent understands us. Thankfully we have not seen rats, pack or otherwise, in the house.

Pete works in the basement, but he may as well be outside. This slug was trying to get a sip of his morning coffee.

The Sterling Collection

Burdock Blood Bitters Memo Book

Between the start of the industrial revolution and the founding of the FDA it was pretty much a free for all on packaged goods and medications. No ingredient labels, no need to prove the claims made on labels. Burdock root is a laxative, but I guess curing constipation wasn't glamorous enough. Burdock Blood Bitters claimed to cure everything, even old timey ailments I had to look up like tetter, salt rheum, and my favorite, deranged liver.

The T. Milburn Company had its advertising down to a science, the more I looked the more I found for this product. They printed color trading cards, notebooks and almanacs. A lot of this ephemera still exists today.

Inspiration

churches converted into homes

This is an architectural trend I can really appreciate! Some of the modernized details make me throw up a little, but I certainly would not mind living in most of these.

Except for the heat bill. I wouldn't want to pay that.

Grand Haven Church

Grand Haven, Michigan

1872

This church is currently for sale. Do rich people want to live in Grand Haven?