Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Outbyte PC Repair · freeRepair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.
Fix My PC Now →ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Eleven period designs show what Americans could order from a house catalog in the early 1900s, from Aladdin’s “Built in a Day” models to Sears Modern Homes and bungalow plans from other firms. They are documented catalog designs, not eleven proven surviving kit houses at named addresses. A catalog illustration identifies what a company offered; it does not, by itself, prove that an existing building was made from that kit.
What “came from a catalog” meant
Mail-order housing had two different products. A customer could buy plans and specifications, then obtain materials locally. Or the customer could order a ready-cut house package: the company pre-measured, fitted and counted construction materials, shipped them to the building site, and left assembly to a local builder or the owner. Both are commonly called catalog homes, kit houses, mail-order homes or ready-cut homes, but they do not provide the same evidence today. A plan may have influenced a house without the seller supplying its lumber. A kit may have arrived with identifying paperwork, yet those records can disappear.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended Free Tools
Firms besides Sears sold this material. Aladdin, Gordon-Van Tine, Harris Brothers and Montgomery Ward all published house plans or offered kits. The examples below therefore represent the wider catalog market rather than a Sears-only history.
Eleven documented catalog designs and period examples
The first nine entries are named designs or catalogs preserved in institutional collections. The last two are names used in a municipal list of possible local catalog houses; that list expressly says the buildings have not been confirmed. None of the entries should be read as proof that a particular surviving address was built from the design.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
| # | Seller and design | Catalog or date | What the record establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aladdin, “The Romeo” | Aladdin Houses: “Built in a Day” (1914) | A named Aladdin catalog model; the source does not tie it to a surviving address. |
| 2 | Aladdin, “The Marsden” | Aladdin Houses: “Built in a Day” (1914) | A named ready-cut-era design shown in the 1914 catalog material; no individual house is authenticated here. |
| 3 | Sears Modern Home No. 104 | Our Book of Modern Homes (1907) | A numbered Sears plan preserved in the catalog record, not an address-level identification. |
| 4 | Sears Modern Home No. 109 | Our Book of Modern Homes (1907) | A second numbered Sears design from the same early catalog. |
| 5 | Harris Brothers House Design No. 56 | A Book of Plans (1914–15) | A Harris Brothers catalog design; the surviving-building status is not established. |
| 6 | Harris Brothers House Design No. 127 | A Book of Plans (1914–15) | Another named Harris Brothers plan, documented as a catalog offering. |
| 7 | Gordon-Van Tine, “Compact, Convenient Bungalow Home” | Ready-Cut Bungalows (about 1918) | A period bungalow design associated with Gordon-Van Tine’s ready-cut system; no specific house is proven. |
| 8 | Montgomery Ward, Book of Homes | 1917 | A Montgomery Ward house catalog containing home designs; the cited record does not identify one particular model or address. |
| 9 | Aladdin, “Shadow Lawn” | Catalog no. 32 (1919) | A named Aladdin design shown in a period catalog illustration. |
| 10 | Sears “Hollywood” | Listed as a 1914 and 1921 possibility in St. Charles, Illinois | A municipal survey candidate, not a confirmed kit house. The survey gives no conclusive proof that every listed example used a Sears package. |
| 11 | Aladdin “Sunshine” | Listed as a 1923 possibility in St. Charles, Illinois | A provisional local attribution. The city warns that its candidate houses remain unconfirmed. |
Historic New England’s catalog examples also include Aladdin’s “Shadow Lawn” and Sears Modern Homes catalogs from 1921 and 1936. In the same St. Charles list, “Aladdin Pasadena” (1934) appears as another possible local match. Those references expand the period context; they still do not convert a visual match into proof of a kit shipment.
How a mail-order house reached a building site
- Choose a design. A buyer selected a printed elevation and floor plan, sometimes adjusting options offered by the seller. Buying a plan alone meant the buyer arranged construction materials independently.
- Place the order. A ready-cut order called for a package sized to the chosen model. The catalog’s description, specifications and bill of materials were more informative than the cover illustration.
- Receive the components. The kit companies prepared lumber and other construction materials to measured lengths, fitted the pieces where the system required it, and counted the parts. The shipment went to the owner’s site.
- Assemble locally. A local contractor or the owner built the house. Local foundations, finishes, wiring, plumbing and later alterations could differ from the catalog version, even when the original package was genuine.
This process explains why two houses based on the same drawing can look different, and why a house that resembles a catalog illustration may have been conventionally built from a plan—or simply copied by a local carpenter.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Why an illustration is not proof of a surviving kit house
Catalog pages establish that a seller offered a design on a particular date. They do not establish where every example was built, whether an owner ordered a complete package, or whether a surviving structure retains its original form. Exterior photographs can be misleading: porches, windows, siding and rooflines were routinely changed, while unrelated houses could share the same popular proportions.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
The Kentucky Heritage Council’s House in a Box: Prefabricated Housing in the United States cautions that some buildings thought to match field guides were not associated with prefab manufacturers. In its examples, exterior dimensions and interior investigation helped distinguish a genuine connection from a resemblance. The report also notes that identification sources are not definitive. Treat a match as a hypothesis until several independent clues agree.
How to investigate “Did my house come from a catalog?”
1. Record the building as it exists
Measure the exterior footprint, wall lengths, window spacing, roof geometry and porch dimensions. Photograph every elevation and note additions. A remodeled facade can conceal the original arrangement, so record which parts appear old and which are later work.
2. Draw the interior plan
Make a room-by-room sketch with ceiling heights, stair location, door and window openings, fireplaces and major structural lines. Compare proportions, not just the number of rooms. A plan that fits only after unexplained changes is weaker evidence than one that aligns without forcing it.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
3. Compare multiple original catalogs
Start with the seller and date suggested by local records, then check competing firms’ catalogs from the same period. Compare the complete elevation, floor plan, dimensions and advertised options. Similar-looking houses were sold by different companies, and a single illustration can omit details needed to tell them apart.
4. Look for construction evidence inside
Where access is safe and lawful, inspect unfinished areas and later-opened walls for consistent, factory-sized members, unusual joints or remnants of package labels. Interior evidence should be documented rather than removed. Do not damage historic fabric merely to search for a mark.
5. Search paper records
Deeds, building permits, contractor files, owner correspondence, freight receipts and family photographs can connect a model to an address. An original order form or shipping record is substantially stronger than a resemblance to a catalog drawing.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
6. Check dimensions against the seller’s specifications
Exterior measurements and room relationships are useful filters. A discrepancy may reflect an addition or remodeling, but repeated differences across the footprint make a direct kit attribution less likely.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match7. Separate “plan used” from “kit supplied”
Even a convincing floor-plan match may show only that someone used a published design. Call the conclusion a catalog-plan influence unless documents or construction evidence support a ready-cut shipment.
8. State the conclusion at the right confidence level
- Documented: an original order, shipping record or equivalent property-specific evidence links the house to a seller and model.
- Probable: catalogs, dimensions, interior details and property records converge, but no order record survives.
- Possible: the appearance is compatible, yet competing explanations remain.
- Unconfirmed: a survey or list suggests the address, but the issuing organization has not verified it.
What the St. Charles list can—and cannot—tell you
The City of St. Charles, Illinois, conducted a 2013 street-by-street survey and named possible catalog houses, including Aladdin Sunshine (1923), Aladdin Pasadena (1934) and Sears Hollywood references from 1914 and 1921. The document is valuable as a set of leads because it points researchers toward addresses and model names. It also explicitly says the candidates have not been confirmed. Use the list to begin an investigation, not to label a house definitively in a listing, landmark nomination or preservation publication.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
The same principle applies to any neighborhood inventory. A municipal spreadsheet may preserve local knowledge or a volunteer’s comparison, but its evidentiary value depends on the underlying measurements, catalog match and documentation. Ask what was actually checked before repeating an attribution.
Common mistakes when identifying catalog homes
- Assuming Sears was the only source. Aladdin, Harris Brothers, Gordon-Van Tine and Montgomery Ward published competing designs and kits.
- Matching by facade alone. A front gable, porch or window grouping can appear in many builders’ work.
- Treating a model name as a property record. “The Romeo” or “Shadow Lawn” identifies a catalog offering, not every house that resembles its illustration.
- Ignoring dates. A 1936 catalog cannot document a house built before that catalog existed, while a 1914 plan may have been reused later.
- Overlooking alterations. Enclosed porches, replacement windows and additions can hide or imitate catalog features.
- Calling a plan a kit. Plans and specifications could be purchased without the seller supplying pre-cut materials.
- Repeating an unverified survey as fact. Preserve the qualifier “possible” or “unconfirmed” when that is what the issuing authority says.
Where to continue the investigation
Institutional catalog collections are the best starting point for dated model names and original illustrations. The Art Institute of Chicago’s Ryerson and Burnham Libraries preserve examples from Aladdin, Sears, Harris Brothers, Gordon-Van Tine and Montgomery Ward. Historic New England provides additional catalog imagery and context for ordering, shipment and assembly. For Sears-specific comparisons, the Kentucky Heritage Council bibliography identifies Houses by Mail: A Guide to Houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company as a useful guide, while emphasizing that identification remains an evidence-based process rather than a visual guessing game.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
When you publish or sell a property description, identify the source of the attribution, the catalog date and the checks performed. “Possible Aladdin Sunshine” accurately communicates an unresolved lead; “an Aladdin Sunshine kit house” claims a level of proof that a catalog picture or provisional survey cannot supply.
The practical verdict
Catalog history gives today’s homeowners a disciplined way to investigate older houses, but the discipline matters more than the romance of the label. The eleven examples here show the range of designs and sellers available between roughly 1907 and 1936. To connect one of those designs to a surviving building, combine an original catalog with measured dimensions, interior evidence and property records, then report the conclusion as documented, probable, possible or unconfirmed. That approach preserves what the catalogs can prove without turning every look-alike into a mail-order kit.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
