LIFE & TIMES
In this section I share with you, intimate looks into the lives, culture & technology of those who built our neighborhoods, our towns, & lived in our bungalows.
OLD HOUSE RESTORATION VIDEOS- Antique Toasters
These videos are mentioned in my post, BUNGALOW TOASTERS which I encourage you to read. It includes a video of this little gem, dubbed a "Sweetheart" toaster, being used. At the risk of becoming very hungry, I encourage you to also watch the magic of the videos of...
BUNGALOW TOASTERS
I adore old appliances & the antique toaster may be at the top of my list. I come by it honestly, being the granddaughter of a West Virginia baker. My grandfather decided to enter the business because he figured that it would be economically stable. People would...
OLD HOUSE RESTORATION VIDEOS- Eric Lavelle’s Antique Wood-Working Machines
WATCHING THE MACHINES IN ACTION Most people do not know much about the now antique wood-working machines that were used to mill the lumber for their bungalows. Eric LaVelle is a master historic preservationist who uses the old machines that he rescues from 100+ year...
ERIC LAVELLE, MASTER HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST
HOW DOES HE DO IT? Once again, Eric's words are in quotes. Mine are just there, unadorned, though, if I'm rudely interrupting him, you'll see me in brackets. Rigging is the act of using equipment to lift or support a load. And when we're talking a load here, many of...
ERIC LAVELLE, Introduction to the machines
MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION BEFORE ELECTRICITY This is some background on the machines that Eric is rescuing, making construction prior to electricity possible. The majority, if not all of his articles refer to what is covered here, so please read it so that you...
ERIC LAVELLE’S OLD HOUSE MACHINES GLOSSARY
Master restorer, Eric LaVelle writes delightful articles about his work, which includes rehabilitating old buildings & rescuing antique machinery that he uses in his rehab work. He has graciously allowed me to include his stories in my blog. They include technical...
ERIC LAVELLE, MASTER HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST, Part 1
THE STORY OF ERIC LAVELLE, HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST EXTRAORDINAIRE Eric LaVelle of Belleville, Illinois, is a master historic preservationist but takes it a step further. In addition to performing highly detailed work on houses that are extremely deteriorated,...
ERIC LAVELLE, MASTER HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST, Part 2
LEARNING ABOUT THE MACHINES It was summer of 2002, and I had a bandsaw, but I knew that I would need more than that. By this time I recognized that the internet was both the biggest library and market place ever known. I began to study the woodworking process. I...
ERIC LAVELLE, MASTER HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST, Part 3
MORE LESSONS, LEARNED THE HARD WAY This is post #3 in a series about how I got into restoration. At this point I was putting together the millwork shop. In January of 2003, a whole barn full of machines came up for sale on eBay. I was interested in only one of these,...
ERIC LAVELLE, MASTER HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST, Part 4
THE FIRST TRIP TO THE OLD LAPP MILL, 1892 The next in a series of hair-raising tales by Eric LaVelle, who not only restores historic buildings & collects & restores historic tools, but also goes into 100+ year old buildings & braves rotting floors &...
