Q&A about identifying Kit Home Manufacturers.

This article series both describes the homes and lists the manufacturers of kit or catalog homes sold in the United States and provides links to additional references, kit home identification, kit or catalog home restoration and repairs, and kit home architectural and hardware details, markings, and stencils.

Q&A on Manufacturers of Kit Homes

These questions & answers about identifying kit homes in North America were posted originally at KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others - be sure to review that article.

On 2018-09-22 by (mod) - Is this a Kit Home?

Thanks for the question and nice photo, Cindy; I've flipped it right-side up.

Indeed it could be a kit home; in this article series we discuss clues that can help decide that question, such as finding number or parts name stampings on wood framing; if you find such, let us see some sharp photos of the markings and we can, perhaps, comment further.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-09-21 by Cindy Kotwicki

We’ve been told that we own a kit home. Ive done a fair amount of research but have not found any definitive evidence to confirm that it is. It was built in 1922 (but we’ve received a few different years) and looks a lot like The Sunlight in the Houses By Mail book, but has a second story.

I’ve added a picture of the House.

On 2018-01-20 19:08:00.991444 by (mod) -

Examples of Sears Kit Home Hardware

On 2018-01-20 by (mod) - Compare Sears Kit Home: The Marsden to a a Seattle possible Kit home

Thanks for the photos, Tegan.

I agree that paging through Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs can be a lengthy process to find original plans or designs for a kit home.

More confusing, at the time your home was built (1913) there were plenty of homes built to that design that were not necessarily from kits, since both Sears and Wards were smart enough to copy the most-popular home designs into their product line.

If you restrict your search to catalogs from 1910-1913 you have the best chance of finding either your home or one close to it.

You should also look carefully at lumber stampings, hardware, other details that might let you narrow down the search to a specific kit, Probably Sears.

Keep in mind that sometimes a design was rotatated or flipped in direction for construction, or a dormer moved, such as
the Sears Marsden shown below.

On 2018-01-20 by Kegan

@Tegan, One more picture, didn't attach before

Hi, I have been searching vintage catalogs like mad trying to find the design for our house. To no avail though! Hopefully someone on this site can offer some insight. We are in Seattle and we know most homes were from the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogs.

The house is 1.5 floors, 7 rooms (not including the entry/stairway hallway), was built in 1913, and has two chimneys.

We suspect the second chimney was added sometime in the 20's-30's when oil furnaces became the main source of heat in many seattle homes. Old pics attached (from at least 1937, if not older). We would really like to know the model name or number.

On 2017-12-20 12:38:48.941247 by (mod) -

John,

You can use the little picture frame icon next to the Comment button to attach photos to your comments - that may permit readers to offer more helpful comments. Let's see the stamps you found on the truss, the tag you found, and a photo of the home exterior front.

On 2017-12-19 22:53:29.826743 by John

I believe that my house may be a kit home. After reading through I believe it is a "Modern Homes Construction". I found one tag on the access cover to the attic that was mostly faded out but what I think I could make out was "620-" and "Modern Cottage". Also on the truss system for the roof "PO 2748" It was built in 1954 and is located in central NJ. It is a 2 Bedroom 1 bath with no garage. Does anyone have any advice on identifying what kit house this is? Thanks!

On 2017-06-23 17:03:47.642871 by Clayton

Our kit house was built in 1946 in Maryland for returning GIs. It's basically post-and-beam construction, with a support posts in each corner and one in each wall. the walls are about two inches thick, made of a composite, compressed material. A 4'X4" "chair rail" runs around the perimiter walls (extending to the outside). There was no siding.

Each section of wall contains either a panal or a window, prividing lots of light. Wooden pieces of the house are numbered in grease pencil, the panals are have stamped numbers on their edges. None of the interior walls are weight-bearing. The "beam" running around the top of the walls isn't solid; it's made up up a jigsaw puzzle of probably left-over odds and ends of lumber.

I can't find the design in the many photos and ads I've seen for Sears, Aladdin, etc. I've heard they may be "New Century" homes. Any ideas? Thanks!

On 2017-03-14 22:30:33.523937 by (mod) -

Susan you are welcome to use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos of the house and its construction details for comment, or if you like for publishing - anonymously or not - to invite help from other readers.

This article series includes descriptions of stampings, markings, hardware and other features that can help identify a kit home manufacturer.

On 2017-03-14 20:43:26.251019 by Susan

I am trying to find information on a kit home (unknown maker) which my Grandfather purchased in the early 1940's. It has a peaked roof, no attic, and a beam running through the entire house which supposedly contains a hinge.

The story goes, the house folds flat! I now own this house, and we are having construction repair difficulties. I can find no mention on the internet of such a house in existence, and would love to see the original house plans. Can anyone help?

On 2016-11-03 17:23:20.384076 by Jeri

We live in a Sterling kit home built in 1910. We were told it was the Malvern, but have not been able to find pictures or floor plans. Can you help us?

On 2016-05-12 17:11:30.320810 by Sue

I have bills of lading from Bennett homes of North Towanda, NY, but unable to find my exact house plan. It is similar to a Sears Castleton or Fullerton. Is there a source of house plans available from Bennett?

On 2015-07-02 21:12:05.614430 by (mod) -

Jackson

I have seen a few homes with pieced framing members but I'm not sure what you've got.

Use our email at the page bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos of the home exterior from all sides and of the framing that you can see and I'll research the matter further.

- Editor (Daniel)

On 2015-07-02 21:04:38.409720 by Jackson LaRose

Hello,

I'm looking to identify the manufacturer of my 1920 kit home. It has the unique feature of having all the studs and joists being two pieces sistered and bolted together, which I haven't seen in any of the common brand's catalogs.

Thanks,

Jack

Question: history of "Modern Homes Construction Company"

(Nov 26, 2014) Joy Fisher said:

I have documentation showing that my grandmother's home in rural Georgia was purchased through "Modern Homes Construction Company" (I have the purchase contract). With it came home insurance through the Modern Homes Insurance Agency, Inc. of Valdosta, Georgia.

The home was purchased 9-9-1963 and was a Eldarada [sic - Eldorado?] Deluxe with inside Group - Shelled on Lot". Internet searches find a couple lawsuits in the mid-1960s against these companies or Sears Modern Homes which supposedly doesn't go past 1940/42. Anyone know anything more about these companies.

My ultimate goal is to find the original picture/description of the home and it's options from a catalog. Thanks! email me at JoyKerseyAThotmailDOTcom

Reply:

Joy

In the article above I've added some information about the Modern Homes Construction Company as well as links to three product brochures.

I've repeated your information request in the article above too - as that may prompt other readers to share information with you. If you want me to remove that contact data just let me know and we'll do so immediately.

Please also use our email found at CONTACT US at page top or bottom to send some sharp photos of the home and that may help us find more about your home.

We've had modest success finding details about other kit home companies selling in the United States and Canada and have made a few additions (found below) to a list complied by Rebecca Hunter. She lists a variety of kit house companies.

...

Continue reading at KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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