SALE 1909 Radford’s Practical Barn Plans Book

Books : Antique : Architecture

 

This rare 1909 hardback text is entitled Radford’s Practical Barn Plans. The author, William A. Radford, was one of the most noted architects and author of published house and barn plans at the turn of the century. It is subtitled “Being a Complete Collection of Practical, Economical and Common-Sense Plans of Barns, Out-Buildings and Stock Sheds.”

The 287-page book is chock-full of fine building-plan half-tone cuts and line drawings. There are also plans and drawings for stunning dairies, stables and carriage houses! These books were published as eye-candy, and if someone wanted to build, they would then buy blue prints, which cost between $10 and $25. (In today’s dollars, that would average out to about $300).

Radford’s firm, located in Chicago, was one of the most prolific companies that designed house plans during the first half of the 20th century. He and his architects had a clear vision for the country, and through his books, sold by mail, the buildings that were constructed from his company’s plans became, in essence, what the rural American small farm looked like for many decades and even today in surviving buildings.

Many of his company’s designs appeared in American Builder, the leading trade magazine of that era.

He and his company also published books of plans for “artistic homes” in both wood and cement construction, and what we now call arts and crafts bungalows.

While his home plan books were published in heavy enameled (shiny) paper, this barns volume was printed on cheaper paper, and perhaps that is why there are fewer surviving copies. In excellent condition, these often sell for $250 and more. This copy has wear and use to its covers, and some wear at the top and bottom of the spine. There's a grease crayon smear at top right front cover. The blank front endpapers are missing. Book is beginning to pull apart (one inch at top front cover), but the hinges are still tight, and inside pages are clean.

Item ID: RL 34749