| [Index.] (In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] clicking on this symbol , or directly on the image, will bring up a larger version of the illustration.) (etext transcriber's note) |
Bennett's
Small House Catalog
1920
Ray H. Bennett Lumber Co., Inc.
Dear Friend,
We send this catalog to you with just one thought in mind, Service. As you turn the pages and study the various houses, remember that we are planning and building for YOU. No trouble is too great, no detail too small, if by personal consideration and supervision we can provide you with your ideal home.
Our architects have studied the requirement of comfortable, convenient, up-to-date houses. In the designs shown in this catalog, you will find embodied their ideas—the results of considering the greatest convenience at the least cost.
Not only do we supply you with blue prints of the house you select, but our special service department is ready to assist you in your interior decorating. Then too, our service department can give you any information you require in regard to the erection of your house.
You naturally will want to know the approximate cost of erecting the house of your choice, the cost of the mason work, plumbing, lighting, heating, etc. This we shall be glad to furnish you, if you will write to us for such information.
In buying a Bennett Home, you are really gratifying your individual tastes. You have infinite choice of designs, any of which can be slightly or moderately altered. You can choose your own color for outside paint and inside finish. Cupboards and closets of convenient size and situation, bay windows, French doors, fire places, stairways, colonnades,—all these are yours to command.
We have already selected for you the best framing materials, lumber and hardware. The little touches that make the home and radiate the personality of the owners—these we leave to your individual choice.
It is YOUR home that you are to build, and we offer you our assistance and co-operation.
Cordially Yours,
RAY H. BENNETT LUMBER CO., INC.
JAS|RN
PRICES OF BENNETT HOMES DECEMBER 1, 1921
PRICES ARE NET F. O. B. CARS NORTH TONAWANDA, N. Y.
DELIVERED PRICES QUOTED ON REQUEST.
TERMS: Net Cash with Order.
TERMS:
1. Cash with Order. 5% discount from gross amount allowed when Cash in full is sent with order, or
2. 25% Cash with Order. Balance sight draft with order bill of lading attached. No discount from gross amount allowed under these terms.
WE GUARANTEE SATISFACTION OR MONEY BACK.
| Name | Page | Gross | 5% Cash Discount | Net |
| Aberdeen, Plan A | [30] | $1944.78 | $ 97.23 | $1847.55 |
| Aberdeen, Plan B | [30] | 2418.89 | 120.94 | 2297.95 |
| Arcadia, Plan A | [31] | 1610.33 | 80.51 | 1529.82 |
| Arcadia, Plan B | [31] | 1907.57 | 95.37 | 1812.20 |
| Atherton | [32] | 2481.17 | 124.05 | 2357.12 |
| Auburn, Plan A | [56] | 1074.09 | 53.70 | 1020.39 |
| Auburn, Plan B | [56] | 1273.94 | 63.69 | 1210.25 |
| Avon | [10] | 2940.28 | 147.00 | 2793.28 |
| Beverly, Plan A | [60] | 1142.60 | 57.13 | 1085.47 |
| Beverly, Plan B | [60] | 1224.00 | 61.20 | 1162.80 |
| Bison | [22] | 2342.62 | 117.13 | 2225.49 |
| Bryant | [12] | 2465.12 | 123.25 | 2341.87 |
| Charlotte, Plan B | [11] | 3184.52 | 159.22 | 3025.30 |
| Clarendon | [39] | 3345.17 | 167.25 | 3177.92 |
| Cleo | [26] | 2313.83 | 115.69 | 2198.14 |
| Cloverdale, Plan A | [55] | 1380.97 | 69.04 | 1311.93 |
| Cloverdale, Plan B | [55] | 1519.36 | 75.96 | 1443.40 |
| Concord, Reg. | [61] | 1317.45 | 65.87 | 1251.58 |
| Concord, Plan B | [61] | 1585.31 | 79.26 | 1506.05 |
| Colonial | [44] | 4243.05 | 212.15 | 4030.90 |
| Delaware, Plan A | [58] | 1747.45 | 87.37 | 1660.08 |
| Delaware, Plan B | [58] | 1949.84 | 97.49 | 1852.35 |
| Dover, Reg. | [50] | 2120.89 | 106.04 | 2014.85 |
| Dover, Plan B | [50] | 2275.89 | 113.79 | 2162.10 |
| Emerson | [62] | 1697.23 | 84.86 | 1612.37 |
| Erie | [45] | 2281.00 | 114.05 | 2166.95 |
| Flanders | [35] | 2024.85 | 101.24 | 1923.61 |
| Forsyth | [38] | 3049.37 | 152.46 | 2896.91 |
| Franklin | [17] | 2550.71 | 127.53 | 2423.18 |
| Frederick | [46] | 3669.70 | 183.48 | 3486.22 |
| Fulton | [25] | 2552.78 | 127.63 | 2425.15 |
| Genesee | [41] | 2202.63 | 110.13 | 2092.50 |
| Hamilton | [24] | 2994.63 | 149.73 | 2844.90 |
| Harriet | [33] | 2776.88 | 138.84 | 2638.04 |
| Hartley | [43] | 2753.12 | 137.65 | 2615.47 |
| Harvard | [14] | 2071.13 | 103.55 | 1967.58 |
| Ideal | [23] | 2654.70 | 132.73 | 2521.97 |
| Ilion | [13] | 2440.36 | 122.01 | 2318.35 |
| Janis | [40] | 3088.00 | 154.40 | 2933.60 |
| Kenmore, Plan A | [54] | 804.91 | 40.24 | 764.67 |
| Kenmore, Plan B | [54] | 1039.82 | 51.99 | 987.83 |
| Lancaster | [34] | 2905.94 | 145.29 | 2760.65 |
| La Salle | [21] | 3076.84 | 153.84 | 2923.00 |
| Lawton, Plan A | [53] | 1647.97 | 82.39 | 1565.58 |
| Lawton, Plan B | [53] | 1825.67 | 91.28 | 1734.39 |
| Lincoln | [16] | 2849.67 | 142.48 | 2707.19 |
| Madison | [66] | 2510.10 | 125.50 | 2384.60 |
| Maidstone, Plan A | [52] | 1131.47 | 56.57 | 1074.90 |
| Maidstone, Plan B | [52] | 1386.96 | 69.34 | 1317.62 |
| Monroe | [59] | 2100.69 | 105.03 | 1995.66 |
| Nelson | [47] | 1728.63 | 86.43 | 1642.20 |
| New Hartford | [19] | 2185.30 | 109.26 | 2076.04 |
| Niagara | [20] | 2459.91 | 122.99 | 2336.92 |
| Olean | [42] | 2012.08 | 100.60 | 1911.48 |
| Ontario | [64] | 2051.56 | 102.57 | 1948.99 |
| Potomac | [18] | 3124.68 | 156.23 | 2968.45 |
| Raymond | [15] | 2305.83 | 115.29 | 2190.54 |
| Richard | [48] | 2045.57 | 102.27 | 1943.30 |
| Rochester | [49] | 2340.15 | 117.00 | 2223.15 |
| Salem | [28] | 2538.93 | 126.94 | 2411.99 |
| Shamrock, Plan A | [57] | 1124.27 | 56.21 | 1068.06 |
| Shamrock, Plan B | [57] | 1429.11 | 71.45 | 1357.66 |
| Sherrill, Plan A | [51] | 1551.68 | 77.58 | 1474.10 |
| Sherrill, Plan B | [51] | 1898.22 | 94.91 | 1803.31 |
| Stanley | [65] | 1230.88 | 61.54 | 1169.34 |
| Tremont | [67] | 4051.07 | 202.55 | 3848.52 |
| Waverly | [63] | 2006.09 | 100.30 | 1905.79 |
| Woodward | [29] | 1723.77 | 86.18 | 1637.59 |
| York | [27] | 1914.00 | 95.60 | 1818.40 |
| SUMMER COTTAGES, Pages [68-69] | ||||
| Wenona | [68] | $842.07 | $42.10 | $799.97 |
| Newport | [68] | 786.86 | 39.34 | 747.52 |
| Ivernia | [69] | 702.34 | 35.11 | 667.23 |
| Linwood | [69] | 800.36 | 40.01 | 760.35 |
| GARAGES, Pages [69-70] | ||||
| Buick | 10 × 14 | $170.12 | $ 8.50 | $161.62 |
| Buick | 10 × 16 | 182.48 | 9.12 | 173.36 |
| Buick | 12 × 16 | 196.45 | 9.82 | 186.63 |
| Buick | 12 × 18 | 210.21 | 10.51 | 199.70 |
| Buick | 12 × 20 | 217.08 | 10.85 | 206.23 |
| Cadillac | 18 × 16 | 275.84 | 13.79 | 262.05 |
| Cadillac | 18 × 18 | 293.09 | 14.65 | 278.44 |
| Cadillac | 18 × 20 | 306.98 | 15.34 | 291.64 |
| Cadillac | 20 × 18 | 306.98 | 15.34 | 291.64 |
| Cadillac | 20 × 20 | 325.52 | 16.27 | 309.25 |
| Cadillac | 27 × 20 | 417.76 | 20.88 | 396.88 |
| Hudson | 10 × 14 | 169.83 | 8.49 | 161.34 |
| Hudson | 10 × 16 | 181.72 | 9.08 | 172.64 |
| Hudson | 12 × 16 | 199.97 | 9.99 | 189.98 |
| Hudson | 12 × 18 | 208.73 | 10.43 | 198.30 |
| Hudson | 14 × 16 | 212.73 | 10.63 | 202.10 |
| Hudson | 14 × 18 | 226.63 | 10.33 | 215.30 |
| Peerless | 18 × 16 | 288.10 | 14.40 | 273.70 |
| Peerless | 18 × 18 | 301.76 | 15.08 | 286.68 |
| Peerless | 18 × 20 | 315.26 | 15.76 | 299.50 |
| Peerless | 20 × 18 | 315.26 | 15.76 | 299.50 |
| Peerless | 20 × 20 | 327.42 | 16.37 | 311.05 |
| Bennett Special | 8 × 12 | 90.94 | 4.54 | 86.40 |
| Bennett Special | 8 × 14 | 97.61 | 4.88 | 92.73 |
| Bennett Special | 8 × 16 | 110.18 | 5.50 | 104.68 |
| Bennett Special | 10 × 12 | 99.22 | 4.96 | 94.26 |
| Bennett Special | 10 × 14 | 109.25 | 5.46 | 103.79 |
| Bennett Special | 10 × 16 | 122.23 | 6.11 | 116.12 |
This book is the story, in word and picture, of actual homes proven by living people to be Beautiful, Practical, Substantial. ¶ The designs and plans are the final creations, after years of study and experience, of Foremost American Authorities on Home Architecture and Construction. ¶ Economy is the controlling thought in these plans—not economy that merely cheapens but that which eliminates all unnecessary costs without sacrifice of appearance, strength or utility. ¶ Bennett Homes are truly Better-Built—better to look at, better to live in and better to last.
CATALOG No. 18
Copyright 1920 by
ESTABLISHED 1902
INDEX
| Page | ||
| Bennett Advantages, | [7] | |
| Bennett Economies, | [4-7] | |
| Bennett Method, | [4-7] | |
| Bennett Plant, | [1] | |
| Cellars, | [9] | |
| Chimneys, | [9] | |
| Colonnades, | [36-37] | |
| Decorating Service, | Inside Back Cover | |
| Doors, | [36-37] | |
| Double Home, | [46-67] | |
| Duplex Home, | [46-67] | |
| Economies, | [4-7] | |
| Foundation Plans, | [9] | |
| French Doors, | [36-37] | |
| Garages, | [69-70] | |
| Buick | ||
| Hudson | ||
| Peerless | ||
| Cadillac | ||
| Bennett Special, | [69] | |
| Guarantee, | Order Form | |
| Hardware, | [36-37] | |
| Heating, | [71-72] | |
| History—Home Building, | [3] | |
| Houses, 10-35 and | [38-67] | |
| Aberdeen, | [30] | |
| Arcadia, | [31] | |
| Atherton, | [32] | |
| Auburn, | [56] | |
| Avon, | [10] | |
| Beverly, | [60] | |
| Bison, | [22] | |
| Bryant, | [12] | |
| Charlotte, | [11] | |
| Clarendon, | [39] | |
| Cleo, | [26] | |
| Cloverdale, | [55] | |
| Concord, | [61] | |
| Colonial, | [44] | |
| Delaware, | [58] | |
| Dover, | [50] | |
| Emerson, | [62] | |
| Erie, | [45] | |
| Flanders, | [35] | |
| Forsyth, | [38] | |
| Franklin, | [17] | |
| Frederick, | [46] | |
| Fulton, | [25] | |
| Genesee, | [41] | |
| Hamilton, | [24] | |
| Harriet, | [33] | |
| Hartley, | [43] | |
| Harvard, | [14] | |
| Ideal, | [23] | |
| Ilion, | [13] | |
| Janis, | [40] | |
| Kenmore, | [54] | |
| Lancaster, | [34] | |
| LaSalle, | [21] | |
| Lawton, | [53] | |
| Lincoln, | [16] | |
| Madison, | [66] | |
| Maidstone, | [52] | |
| Monroe, | [59] | |
| Nelson, | [47] | |
| New Hartford, | [19] | |
| Niagara, | [20] | |
| Olean, | [42] | |
| Ontario, | [64] | |
| Potomac, | [18] | |
| Raymond, | [15] | |
| Richard, | [48] | |
| Rochester, | [49] | |
| Salem, | [28] | |
| Shamrock, | [57] | |
| Sherrill, | [51] | |
| Stanley, | [65] | |
| Tremont, | [67] | |
| Waverly, | [63] | |
| Woodward, | [29] | |
| York, | [27] | |
| Kitchen Cabinets, | [36-37] | |
| Landscape Service, | Inside Back Cover | |
| Lighting, | [71-72] | |
| Linen Closet, | [36-37] | |
| Lock Sets, | [36-37] | |
| Masonry, | [9] | |
| Medicine Cabinet, | [36-37] | |
| Mirror Door, | [36-37] | |
| Paints, | [9] | |
| Plaster, | [9] | |
| Plumbing, | [71-72] | |
| Prices, | with letter | |
| References, | [2] | |
| Reverse Plans, | [8] | |
| Specifications—general, | [8-9] | |
| Specifications—detail, with each home | ||
| Stairways, | [36-37] | |
| Summer Cottages, | [68-69] | |
| Wenona | ||
| Newport | ||
| Ivernia | ||
| Linwood | ||
| Two Family Home, | [46-67] | |
| Trim—interior, | [36-37] | |
| Wardrobe, | [36-37] | |
| Windows, | [36-37] | |
"Home-keeping hearts are happiest;
For those who wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best."
—Longfellow
The first home was purposely built beside the "Sacred Fire".
The story runs that fire came as a gift from the Gods to Man. And so heavenly seemed its qualities of beauty, light and warmth, that Man reverenced it—ceased wandering and built his abode around its glowing radiance.
Through the ages—from the rugged cave, the rough tent of animal skins, the crude log cabin, down to the Home Beautiful of To-day—home building has been the strong primal instinct. Men have practiced all the pursuits of peace and war for those things for which home stands—love, family, hospitality, security, worship. Indeed, the home building spirit is the very backbone of civilization. Intelligent, thoughtful men always desire their families to live the home life, because they know that the best of physical, mental and moral powers are developed under home's benign influence.
Almost the first thought of the Pilgrims after they had landed on America's new shores was of a home. And so immediately they built themselves sturdy houses of the straight-shafted pine trees that stood everywhere about the rugged shores. And some of these homes are still standing, amazing testimony to the vigor and endurance of wood.
Today, more than ever before, people are seriously considering how they shall live. They realize that the dwelling place has a marked influence upon living and character—that the inspiration of home, next to religion, is the greatest in life.
Perforce, many must live part of their lives in the rented house. But however desirable, no family can ever acquire quite that deep-seated love and interest for, nor have the incentive to adorn and beautify, a dwelling place for which they pay toll to a landlord. But when the place which shelters the family belongs to them, when they know that every thought and every dollar they put into it is a permanent investment which pays big dividends in the family happiness and contentment—then that place, however lowly or humble, becomes truly a home. Naturally then, the tendency is strongly toward the owned private home.
The dainty cottage—the inviting semi-bungalow—the comfortable Colonial—the cosy story-and-a-half—these are the leading types of homes to-day. And when there is built into them that particular beauty, and those conveniences—modern sanitation, lighting, ventilation and heating—that will suit the taste of the individual family, their mode of living and their pocketbook—then indeed does the dwelling place become "a thing of beauty and a joy forever".
Bennett Homes, Better-Built and Ready-Cut, satisfy every desire and every need of home-lovers—for the dwelling-place which shall possess charm, convenience and endurance to the greatest extent consistent with the desired investment.
A Better-Built idea—routing (instead of cleating) stair-stringers for fine workmanship, and accurate fit.
HOW SCIENCE SOLVED THE HIGH COST OF HOME-BUILDING
Up to the present, the great drawback to home-building has been the excessive cost, by the individually-built-house method.
Plans by experienced architects have been costly; the cost of lumber has been high; the amount of labor necessary to cut and trim rough and finished lumber has been a serious item; there have been endless worries—delays—extra costs; plans have looked good on paper, but have not worked out well; contractors have been known to be careless about the quality of the material and of the work on the job.
What will avoid all the usual waste, delays, disappointments, and—what will cut the cost of building a home? Science says—"simplify"—"standardize"—"eliminate waste."
"This is the day of brains that plans for thousands at a time, instead of one. Why is it necessary to plan every individual home that is built? There's a wiser, more economical way. Once the plan for a house has been tried and proven true, use it many times over; let hundreds of people divide the cost—let hundreds of people reap the benefit of these plans."
"This is the day of machinery, the day for producing in tremendous quantities, thereby accomplishing in minutes that which would consume hours, days and weeks to achieve by usual methods. After having worked out plans to the highest point of economy, why not cut the materials by labor-saving machines instead of the old hand method, thereby reducing labor and waste to a minimum."
¶ ALL CHANCES FOR ERRORS AS TO QUANTITY AND QUALITY ARE ELIMINATED BY PURCHASING ALL MATERIALS AT A STATED PRICE FROM ONE COMPANY—FROM BENNETT.
SCIENCE'S ANSWER IS THE BENNETT-WAY
The best designs and plans have been produced for hundreds to share the benefits—a huge modern mill in the heart of the lumber market has been equipped with labor-and-waste-saving machinery of the latest type—and YOU, who want to build a home, reap the advantages and savings of the Bennett-Way in securing one of finer design, greater convenience, and genuine durability.
Perhaps right here, it is well to establish the difference between a Bennett Ready-Cut Home and a portable house.
The object of the portable system is to produce a building construction which may be put together to form a temporary shelter—taken apart again—moved from place to place as desired. Manufacturers of portable buildings cannot and do not represent their products to be permanent.
But Bennett Homes, Better-Built and Ready-Cut, are built for permanency. Once your Bennett Home is completed, there is absolutely no difference between it and any well constructed home, except, perhaps, that our designs are more attractive and impressive than the average homes one sees.
HOW RENT-MONEY COUNTS
This table shows what rent amounts to in ten and twenty years, with six per cent interest compounded annually, and gives an idea of the value of the house one can pay for by applying rent toward paying for a home.
|
Rent per Month |
In 10 Years | In 20 Years |
| $ 8.00 | $1,265.35 | $ 3,531.41 |
| 12.00 | 1,898.02 | 5,279.11 |
| 17.00 | 2,688.86 | 7,504.24 |
| 20.00 | 3,163.36 | 8,828.52 |
| 25.00 | 3,954.20 | 11,035.65 |
| 30.00 | 4,745.04 | 13,242.78 |
| 35.00 | 5,535.88 | 15,449.91 |
| 50.00 | 7,908.40 | 22,071.30 |
Tonawanda, heart of the Lumber Market. Great lumber-docks on one side, main trunk-line railroads on the other.
ATTRACTIVE DESIGNS
There are more than fifty designs and plans offered on the following pages. They have been carefully and expertly selected from hundreds submitted. These designs are not merely dreams of architects or artists. They are actual houses which have been built, lived in and proven practical and pleasurable in every detail. In considering a BENNETT BETTER-BUILT HOME, you are offered a very wide selection of various styles and sizes, so that you may choose a home that will suit your particular needs, tastes, locality, and pocketbook.
In building the Bennett Way you have this genuine advantage—you know, before you build, just exactly how your home will look after it is completed. Do you know that when your local architect or contractor designs your home for you? He may convince you that his design is what you want, and induce you to accept it, even against your own better judgment. Though you may not be pleased with the design he has prepared, nevertheless you accept his ideas rather than submit to the additional expense and delay of a change. BENNETT BETTER-BUILT HOMES correspond in every detail with the actual photographs shown in this catalog. Should the design you select require some slight alterations, we shall be very glad to make such changes, if practical, at actual cost.
ECONOMY IN DRAFTING
Two large schooners unloading a giant shipment at the spacious Bennett Docks.
The first of a series of savings for you starts in our drafting room.
It is quite necessary for the architect to charge a considerable fee for his drawings, for he must pay expenses and a profit. The drawings for our houses are even more elaborate, and the first cost of production is naturally much greater. Yet there is this gain for you: when the drawings are once made, hundreds of blue prints are made from them at practically a negligible cost. Therefore, we furnish you with blue prints from our drawings absolutely free of fees or of any charge.
ECONOMY IN STANDARDIZATION
Millions of feet of choice lumber air-drying for your and other fine homes.
Next we help you realize a decided saving through standardization of materials.
In designing an attractive home, a professional architect can give little thought to standard lengths or shapes of material. Our Bennett Better-Built designers, however, put forth both thought and effort toward producing, not only an attractive home, but one which is economical of rough and finished lumber, millwork, etc.
For instance, there are certain standard lengths and widths of lumber, and certain standard styles and sizes of windows, doors, window frames, door frames—in fact of every kind of millwork. Standard items can be manufactured in tremendous quantities at very low cost while special styles and sizes require readjustment of machinery, and the waste (sometimes 33 and 1-3 per cent) of standard-sized materials to meet special requirements. We manufacture such an extensive variety of styles and sizes in building materials of so many kinds, that an appearance as artistic as you may wish can easily be produced without resorting to the expense of special materials.
Another important application of standardization lies in the spacing of windows and the like. Insofar as appearance is concerned, 6 inches one way or another usually makes but little difference in the spacing of windows. But from the standpoint of economy, it is decidedly better to have the spacing in even feet. For instance, windows spaced 12 or 14 feet apart permit the use of 12 or 14 foot standard length boards, without waste; whereas, if the windows were spaced 12' 6" apart, it would necessitate the cutting up of a 14' or 16' board with a waste on every board that goes to make up the full height of the window.
ECONOMY IN USE OF LABOR-SAVING MACHINERY
By the use of gigantic, powerful machinery, we save you a large percentage of labor cost, and inaccuracies that always waste hand-cut lumber.
The prices quoted in our catalog furnish you with material sufficient to complete every listed detail of the home which you select. In addition, it covers the cost of cutting every piece of material so that when it reaches its destination, it is ready to nail. There will be no wasting of time waiting for "something forgotten that must be ordered," waiting for one man to cut and fit a part before another can go ahead.
Machines sawing and resawing lumber for homes—saving hours and days over hand methods.
You cannot possible go astray, because—as we said before—our blue prints are thorough and complete, showing the exact location of each and every piece of material. It would not be difficult to erect the entire building with only the blue prints at hand. Nevertheless, to facilitate the work, we furnish a bill of material, itemizing each and every piece, and instructing where it should be placed.
As a further safeguard against error and confusion, we include a set of instructions written by men who have had years of actual experience in constructing houses.
ECONOMY IN CARPENTRY
The entire time consumed by the carpenter for calculating the best plan for framing, has been eliminated. This time is entirely saved, because with our Bennett Better-Built system, the planning is completely done in our office before the material is shipped, and our Special Notch System makes the work speedy.
As you have watched work on a house, have you ever stopped to figure how very much of a workman's time was spent in first measuring, then cutting, then trying and perhaps refitting the material—all this is against the very small amount of time required for fastening and nailing? Well, we save you all that fuss and waste by furnishing the material not merely cut, but cut to fit more accurately than hand labor ever could.
Immediately upon receipt of your order, the blue-prints of the design you have selected, the bill of material and a set of instructions are mailed to you. At that same time, a duplicate bill of material is sent into our mill, with instructions to start cutting. Within a few hours the material for the frame of your house is completed—which means that the work which would have required many days of expensive labor on the job, is accomplished in hours by our machines—more economically, more accurately, many times over.
ECONOMY IN MILLWORK
All Bennett Better-Built doors, windows, door frames, window frames, door trim, window trim and mouldings are manufactured in quantities—therefore at a very low cost of production, of which you derive the benefit. Powerful and precise machines saw and resaw, rout stair stringers, mortise, and fit doors and windows, cut and shape woodwork, smooth and sand all sorts and sizes of lumber—with a quality of fine workmanship in dozen and score lots impossible by any other method.
And remember—any saving in labor must be considered a double saving, because the more time required for the erection of your home, the longer you are paying out money for labor on the new and for rent where you are living.
ECONOMY IN WATER TRANSPORTATION OF RAW MATERIALS
The docks of the Ray H. Bennett Lumber Company, Inc., are located the best of any in North Tonawanda. You will realize the importance to you of location, when we tell you that the largest lumber steamers coming down the great lakes, direct from the saw mills, land at our docks. Thus we are enabled to take advantage of lake-steamer cargo-shipments, and save something for you.
Thousands of doors—absolutely clear grade—knotless, and beautifully grained.
You will also appreciate that we, as buyers of cargoes of lumber totalling millions of feet, are entitled to a lower price than the buyer of a carload of lumber containing only about twenty thousand feet. This impresses the fact that we are in a position to furnish you better quality materials at lower prices. We handle lumber in huge quantities—our stock sizes are secured in big units—therefore, our goods are manufactured and handled at a much lower cost.
You can easily see that our ideal location for the securing of our raw materials means large savings to you. We have enormous stocks on hand at all times and are ideally equipped for fast work.
ECONOMY IN EXCEPTIONAL SHIPPING FACILITIES
North Tonawanda, N. Y., where the Bennett Plant is located, is one of the largest lumber markets in the United States. This is due to the fact that North Tonawanda is a made-to-order center for distribution. Its shipping facilities are conceded to be unsurpassed in the country. Practically all of the great railway systems are in direct connection, enabling us to give you the remarkable service—the vitally important quick shipments—for which we are famed—in which we excel.
ECONOMY IN BENNETT BULK BUYING
We have, as yet, made little mention of our vast purchasing power, nor of the fact that you are purchasing your material at wholesale prices.
Window warehouse—thousands of dollars' worth of finely constructed frames ready for glazing.
We purchase, annually, many millions of feet of material directly from the saw mills, thereby eliminating unnecessary expenses and profits. We buy at rock-bottom prices, less all possible discounts for quantity, for prompt payment, etc.
One of our modern Planers—helping to put the celebrated finish on Bennett interior woodwork.
And then our giant purchases are brought by large lake steamers to our docks and unloaded directly into our yard. On one side our material comes in; it moves almost automatically through our yards to the cutting and finishing mills; it leaves them on the railroad side of our property. With our advantages, the cost of handling is therefore reduced to a minimum which only a few of the largest establishments can hope to equal.
BENNETT ADVANTAGES—In a Nutshell
1. Designs and plans proven the "best" of this country's architectural and practical experts.
2. Elimination of architects' and contractors' fees.
3. Materials from the heart of the lumber market—brand-new, bright stock.
4. Saving of waste through standard sizes, lengths, shapes.
5. Ready-cut, ready-to-erect features as against cut-and-try on the job method.
6. Quantity production of standardized millwork.
7. Transportation and handling charges minimized.
8. Huge buying facilities.
9. Services of an organization, celebrated for its financial strength, for ability and for integrity.
10. All-in-all a real HOME for you and yours at a price that represents the greatest possible value for the money you elect to put into it.
IN every paragraph of these specifications you will note how thoroughly we have planned for strength and endurance in the construction of your home—how we employ only the best grades of lumber, accurately cut and fashioned by the most precise workmanship.
In the first place, please understand the importance of our notched construction. See the photograph in the lower corner of next page. The frames of our houses are a great improvement over the common practice, both in matters of accuracy of fit, of strength and rigidity. The notch method is considered costly when done by hand labor, but it is always considered desirable. The Bennett methods of doing by machines in minutes what would take hours or days by the cut-on-the-job way, gives you extra quality without extra cost.
Another thing we wish you to note is the double and triple strength of joists and studding, where extra stresses are sure to be met, or absolute rigidity is an essential. See the three studs at the corners as shown by the photo of "notch" construction.
Notice that we furnish bridging for floor joists; that our stairs are cut accurately, as in the best houses, instead of using mere nailed-on cleats.
Notice how we select and match interior woods for beauty of grain—how we sand them so they will take a most beautiful finish.
Notice that the outside of our houses—door and window frames, and siding,—is of Redwood, celebrated for its extraordinary long life, and so approved by the U. S. Government experts.
Notice our hardware and such items as kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, medicine cabinets, even building paper, and lastly notice our double flooring for both floors.
In every last item, Bennett Homes are truly Better-Built—all in all you will get a most attractive, most livable, most enduring dwelling place, giving you a dollar for dollar value that is unequalled in the lumber market.
General Specifications
DIMENSIONS
All rooms show actual inside measurements and not from outside of building to center of inside partition or from center of partition to center of partition, as is sometimes given.
PLANS
One set is furnished with each house. They are so complete in detail, that if carefully followed, it is impossible to go wrong. Reversed plans will be furnished without extra cost.
MATERIALS IN GENERAL
All lumber for Bennett "Better-Built" Homes is shipped directly from enormous stocks in our yards. It is all thoroughly seasoned, and guaranteed equal to or better than the grades specified. Thorough seasoning means less waste and consequently lower freight charges. It also means that shrinkage, bound to occur with green lumber, has occurred before the lumber is cut for your home.
QUANTITY OF MATERIALS
An unqualified guarantee is contained on your order blank that we will furnish material to entirely complete your home in accordance with the following general specifications and with the particular specifications contained on the individual page of photograph and plans.
BASEMENT FRAMES AND SASH
Are not included in your order unless illustration shows siding or shingles to the grade lines, because these are used when the foundation is laid. We plan to have your material on the ground as soon as the foundation is finished and has had sufficient time to set. If we were to furnish basement frames and sash, it would be necessary either to ship them by express, creating additional expense, or it would be necessary to delay the foundation work until the lumber arrived. We cannot see where enough benefit is derived to make up for this additional expense and delay. If, however, you decide to have us furnish them, we will ship them according to your instructions.
FOUNDATION WALL PLATE OR BOND TIMBER
2 in. × 6 in. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit, furnished to lay on top of the foundation wall to insure an even bearing for the first floor joists.
GIRDER
Size 6 in. × 6 in. or 6 in. × 8 in., (as listed under each design) depending upon the size house. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit. It is a well-known fact that a built-up timber is stronger than a solid timber, and is much easier to handle. We, therefore, furnish material cut to proper length to make a built-up timber.
GIRDER POSTS
Iron stanchions 4 in. in diameter. These posts are furnished in sufficient number for spacing not more than 8 ft. apart.
FIRST FLOOR JOISTS
2 in. × 8 in. or 2 in. × 10 in. according to span, No. 1 Hemlock, Surfaced four sides and cut to fit; spaced 16 in. on centers and doubled under all bearing partitions.
SECOND FLOOR JOISTS
2 in. × 8 in. or 2 in. × 10 in. according to span, No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit; spaced 16 in. on centers.
CEILING JOISTS AND COLLAR BEAMS
2 in. × 4 in. or 2 in. × 6 in., depending upon span, No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit; 16 in. on centers.
BRIDGING
2 in. × 2 in. Hemlock, cut to fit. A double row between all 2 in. × 8 in. and 2 in. × 10 in. joists having a span of 12 ft. or over.
RAFTERS
2 in. × 4 in. or 2 in. × 6 in. depending on size of house and pitch of roof, No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides, spaced 24 in. on centers. The rafters are all carefully laid out and cut in our mill, ready to erect on the job.
STUDDING
2 in. × 4 in. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides, all cut to fit; spaced 16 in. on centers. Trebled at corners of outside walls and doubled at sides of door and window openings where extra strength is required. Top plates of all partitions and outside walls are double; single plates at bottom. Side wall plates are notched to receive the studding, a celebrated Bennett feature. It is impossible to set the studding wrong. This is an improvement over the ordinary method of framing. See illustration on opposite page.
WALL SHEATHING
Dressed and matched and cut to fit. This is another important item of Bennett quality. No. 1 Hemlock.
ROOF SHEATHING
1 in. × 4 in. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced one side, cut to fit. We furnish this material in quantities to allow for 2-1/4 in. spacing, as is common practice, when shingles are used. In case you decide to use Asphalt Slate Surfaced Roofing, or Asphalt S. S. Shingles, it is necessary to lay the sheathing tightly together. We furnish dressed and matched sheathing for this purpose at a slight additional cost.
PORCH FLOOR JOISTS
2 in. × 6 in. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit. Spaced 16 in. on centers.
PORCH CEILING JOISTS AND RAFTERS
2 in. × 4 in. No. 1 Hemlock, surfaced four sides and cut to fit. Spaced 24 in. on centers.
SUB FLOORING
1 in. No. 1 Hemlock Dressed and Matched and cut to fit, furnished for both first and second floors.
FINISH FLOORING
13/16 in. × 2-1/4 in. or 13/16 in. × 3-1/4 in. Clear Flat Grain Yellow Pine or Clear Fir. Double Flooring is another proof of the Bennett Better-Built idea—it secures rigidity and soundproofness. Furnished in standard lengths.
PORCH FLOORING
1-1/8 in. × 3-1/4 in. Clear Fir, cut to fit.
PORCH CEILING
7/16 in. Clear Yellow Pine, surfaced and beaded one side and matched, cut to fit.
ATTIC FLOORING
When attic stairs are shown in plans, we furnish 13/16 in. × 3-1/4 in. No. 2 Yellow Pine, cut to fit. When attic stairs are not shown, no flooring is furnished.
CORNICE CEILING
3/4 in. × 3-1/4 in. Clear Fir, surfaced and beaded one side and matched, cut to fit, used instead of roof boards over exposed rafter ends.
OUTSIDE FINISH
Clear Redwood, Clear Fir or Sound Knotted White Pine, surfaced four sides.
SIDING
1/2 in. Clear Redwood Bevel Siding, furnished in standard lengths. Or
Extra *A* Washington Red Cedar Shingles will be furnished instead of siding without extra charge, if so desired. It is commonly known, and an admitted fact that Redwood is unequalled for exterior protection.
DOOR FRAMES AND WINDOW FRAMES
Clear Redwood cut to fit, and shipped knocked-down. The sills for all outside doors are 1-3/4 in. × 7-1/4 in. hardwood. All outside casing for window and doors are 7/8 in. × 4-1/2 in. with drip cap.
INSIDE DOORS
1-3/8 in. Fir, two or five panel, mortised for lock sets. See pages 36 and 37.
FRONT AND REAR DOORS
Both glazed. Front doors are furnished as shown in the individual house picture. 1-3/4 in. thick No. 1 grade solid Chestnut, unless otherwise specified, mortised for front door lock set. Rear door 1-3/8 in., mortised for lock set. See pages 36 and 37 for all doors.
ROOF SHINGLES
Extra Clear Washington Red Cedar 5-2 inches, (*) at butt. To lay 4-1/2 in. to the weather. Bennett multi-strip slate-surfaced shingles or Bennett Asphalt Slate-Surfaced Shingles will be furnished at a nominal cost. *Note: The "5 to 2" inches, refers to the thickness of the shingles, and means that five shingles placed one on top of the other with butts together, measures full 2 inches thick at the butt end.
SIDE WALL SHINGLES
For side walls, where shown in catalog, are Premium Brand Extra *A* Washington Red Cedar Shingles 6 to 2, furnished to be laid 5 in. to the weather. Siding will be furnished instead of shingles, if so desired.
SCAFFOLDS AND BRACES
We furnish these as necessary, depending upon the size of the house.
LATH
No. 1 Spruce or Hemlock 48 in. standard. No lath furnished for cellar or attic, unless ordered extra.
GROUNDS
5/8 in. × 7/8 in. Hemlock. To nail around all inside door openings as a guide for plastering.
STAIRS
The stairs are carefully designed for the individual requirements of each home. The material is the highest grade of Yellow Pine to match the beauty of the other interior finish. They are carefully machined in our mills and are shipped to you knocked down, ready to set up. See illustration of manufacture on page 4. See pages 36 and 37 also.
CELLAR AND ATTIC STAIRS
Furnished cut to fit whenever shown in the plans.
PANTRY AND CLOSET SHELVING
Material for shelves is furnished for each closet and pantry, shown in the catalog plans.
KITCHEN CABINET
Whenever kitchen cabinets are shown in the plans they are included in the price for the home. They are shipped to you in the knock-down complete (including hardware). The material is clear grade Yellow Pine. See pages 36 and 37.
MEDICINE CABINET
A built-in medicine cabinet is furnished with each house having a bathroom. Each cabinet is complete in every detail and includes a bevel-mirror door. Shipped ready to set in place. See pages 36 and 37.
COLONNADES
Where a colonnade is shown in the plans, it is included in the price of the home. The material is, of course, Yellow Pine to match the other fine interior finish of the home. Each colonnade is manufactured in owr own mill under our own supervision, and we guarantee you the very best of materials and the finest workmanship. Two styles of colonnades are shown on pages 36 and 37 of our catalog. In case a colonnade is not included in the plan of the house you select, and you wish to install one, we will, upon application, gladly quote prices.
INSIDE DOOR AND WINDOW TRIM
Clear Yellow Pine of the finest quality obtainable, all carefully matched and sanded. The casings are 13/16 in. × 3-5/8 in. in width; back band 1-1/8 in. × 1-1/8 in.; the window stool 7/8 in. × 3-5/8 in.; the apron 7/8 in. × 3-1/4 in. This design is one of the choicest on the market. See pages 36 and 37.
BASE, PICTURE MOULDING, CHAIR RAIL AND HOOK STRIPS
Clear Yellow Pine, shipped in standard lengths to be cut on the job; base 13/16 in. × 7-5/8 in. on first floor, 13/16 in. × 5-5/8 in. for second floor. Picture moulding 13/16 in. × 1-1/2 in. Chair rail 5/8 in. × 3-1/2 in. Hook strips 13/16 in. × 2-3/4 in. Chair rail for kitchen and bath. Hook strips for all closets.
WINDOWS
1-3/8 in. Clear White Pine, check rail, made to be used with pulleys and weights. Glass set in and puttied. Styles to correspond with those shown in the individual house pictures. All windows more than 26 inches in width, glazed with double strength glass.
PORCH MATERIAL
All porch materials are manufactured from the best weather-resisting woods of standard designs. Porch steps are painstakingly cut to fit in our mill and shipped to you knocked-down with 1-1/8 in. treads.
HARDWARE
MORTISE LOCK SETS
Design illustrated on pages 36 and 37. Furnished in two styles of finish—Antique Copper, or Sand Blast Dull Brass. Unless otherwise specified in your order, we will furnish the Antique Copper. A cylinder front door lock set is furnished with all houses listed at $2400.00 or more. For houses listed at less, the standard bit key front door lock set is furnished.
DOUBLE ACTING FLOOR HINGES AND DOOR PLATES
Furnished with all houses shown with a double swinging door between the kitchen and dining room.
HINGES
Finished to match other hardware. Three hinges are furnished on all front doors.
SASH LIFT, SASH LOCKS AND WINDOW STOP ADJUSTERS
Furnished for all sliding sash windows, finished to match the lock sets, two sash lifts to each window.
BATHROOM HARDWARE
All bathroom hardware is nickel plated.
KITCHEN CUPBOARD AND CABINET HARDWARE
All hinges, turns, etc., are included in price quoted and furnished to match other hardware.
NAILS
Sufficient quantities of all sizes furnished for all purposes. Galvanized nails for shingles.
BUILDING PAPER
Tarred Paper is furnished for underneath the siding, and between the finish and sub-flooring.
DOORBELL
We furnish an attractive front door bell set.
MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE
Our hardware list includes sash cord, window weights, attic sash sets, base knobs, coat hooks, chimney flashing and valley tin, but does not include eavetroughing.
PAINTS, OILS AND VARNISHES
EXTRA FINE QUALITY READY-MIXED PAINT
Sufficient in quantity for three good coats on outside walls. A special hard drying floor paint is furnished to cover the porch floor and steps two coats. Color card furnished upon request.
SPAR VARNISH
Although it costs less to furnish paint for the porch ceiling, we are furnishing a high grade spar varnish for two coats. Spar varnish is also furnished to cover the front door.
INTERIOR VARNISH
A very high grade varnish is furnished for two good coats on all doors, windows and interior trim. This varnish is exceedingly durable and can be rubbed within 36 to 48 hours. It is not affected by hot or cold water and will not crack.
Practically every home owner prefers his bathroom painted rather than varnished. All bathrooms in Bennett Better-Built Homes are especially attractive, owing to the fact that they are finished in white enamel and all hardware is furnished nickel plated. Enamel undercoater is furnished to cover the woodwork, two coats. Two coats of Bennett White Enamel on top of this makes an attractive and durable surface. Our White Enamel Paint will not turn yellow. Putty, oil, sandpaper and turpentine in proper quantities to meet requirements are furnished.
Although we do not include floor varnish or wall paints in our specifications, owing to the wide variety of ways for finishing floors and walls, we will upon request be glad to figure your exact needs and quote upon them.
SHINGLE STAIN
When shingles are used on outside walls, we furnish shingle stain instead of paint. We do not furnish stain for roof shingles, except at an additional cost on order.
FOUNDATION, CHIMNEY, FIREPLACES
Although we show on our plans, the location of foundation, chimney, fireplace, etc., we do not include these items in our prices, nor do we carry the materials in stock. The express and freight charges to be met in shipment would offset any advantages we might offer. For the same reason, we do not furnish plaster. We will, however, gladly co-operate with our customers by offering suggestions or furnishing data regarding same.