The Historic District

I noticed on one of your wall sconces a clock on one side and lamp on the other, how interesting. Would that have been some thing available to the period of the house or some thing cobbled up, sort of a steam punk thing? I have never seen one. My house was built in 1922. This was way too late for g...

COVID had me working on restoration projects and pretty much staying at home. This December found me decorating a tree for the first time in decades, All is good... I apologize for the shaky video... wishing the best for all to have a happy, productive, & safe 2023.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Dropping by to add to this old thread. Once again cutting in sash access doors into my window frames to replace sash cords. One lower sash was heavier than all the others. The original 7 pound sash weights would not hold the sash in place. I did not want to hunt all over "Hell's half acre" trying to...

Phil: It is a long story... The previous owners converted the unused 1/2 story into an efficiency apartment. This addition was done on the cheap in many ways.Originally there was a whole house fan that vented out through this space. I have no idea what the original windows were. Most likely they wer...

Sometimes saving what you already have can be the best course of action. I have an awning/dormer window that was installed in 1994. This was done by the previous owners two years before I bought my house. I first noticed the rotted wood in the sill and wood window frames in the early 2000's. I did s...

Phil & Gina.... The wallpaper is Bradbury & Bradbury. When I bought this house in 1996 I had visions of faux graining the painted woodwork but the paint buildup was too great. This was my second house to strip paint inside and out. It will be my last! That black iron pipe is not going to lea...

I thought I'd share a recent journal entry of my latest project: It was late October 2012 I acquired the now hooked up antique gas meter. It only took 6+ years to get the thing installed. I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. It does not seem possible I had that meter just parked in the front ...

Years ago I would have made this functional. Today the thought of fishing wires through walls is enough to wear me out. I've mellowed in time and enjoy it as prop. Kind of like the non-functioning elevator and pay phone in the lobby of "Petticoat Juction's" Shady Rest hotel! Speaking of do...

Phil asked, "Jamie, what a great thing to have, how does it work?" One of the most informative books I own in regards to plumbing and early electric work is volume 73 of the I.C.S.Reference Library published in 1905. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6R56VXNehhSaQ1_WpcdpUR6O1iBcjFecqFKw_XU...

Years ago I picked up a small annunicator box at an an antique mall for very little. It had been kicking around my workshop too long. The time was finally right to steel wool & wax the wood case and install the thing in my kitchen. Originally these boxes used room names for residential installat...