Henry Dreyfuss Designed Pre-Fab House Found

[HobieSport]

I too had never heard of Dreyfuss until my interest in phones grew, even though I had used several of his products, unknowingly, over the course of my life. 

I admit I've become a "fanboy" of Henry Dreyfuss.  Too bad all the Twentieth Century Limited trains got scraped.  Correct me if I'm inaccurate, but I think there were twelve of them in the New York Central line in 1939.  And I'm talking steam engines, not this diesel electric crap.  (Just kidding)  I liked how Henry left the streamline steam engine cowlings open to show the wheels and mechanics and actually lit them to show the mechanical functions off.  He was a good and modest man with a background in theatrical design.   

Perhaps the Twentieth Century Limited trains were a precursor to the Princess Phones.  Henry knew about lighting, that's for sure.

[McHeath]

That's cool about the lighting on the trains.  (my youngest son is a big time model railroader)  Good design is such a pleasure to use and experience, and I think, perhaps my bias, has an inherent beauty of it's own.  Since this topic started with a pre-fab house I'll go there for a moment, the missus and I looked into moving a few years back, leaving our mid century ranch, a one off architect designed house that we even have the blueprints for, and we started looking at new homes.  Well, they sure have nice features here and there, but geesh after shopping till we dropped for months we never did find a house we liked as much as ours.  There was a lot of awkwardness in the new homes, little and big things that seemed like no one thought about much.  There was also a lot of pretension, homes trying to be Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I kept expecting Robin Leech to show up for the tours.  We weren't looking to be Lords of the Manor, just thought a new house would be a nice thing, but were unable to find anything that felt right, as odd as that sounds, and so put some more money into the old gal and fixed this and that. 

[HobieSport]

McHeath, I recon we'll just stick with our family houses. 

I am not a train modeler but I do have a couple of train models; not really collectors items. 

I have been looking for a train model of the 1939 Henry Dryfuss Twentieth Century Limited.  Perhaps your son has some information?

http://tinyurl.com/9wxzs9

[Steve]

I'm not a train guy, but the one that really does it for me is the Pioneer Zephyr.

they have one at the museum of science and industry in Chicago. after 75 years, it still looks futuristic.

[HobieSport]

Steve; is this the Pioneer Zephyr beastie of which you speak?

http://flickr.com/photos/21653462@N00/110758304

[Steve]

Thats her all right.

sharp ride as the kids would say. ;P

[HobieSport]

Good design is such a pleasure to use and experience, and I think, perhaps my bias, has an inherent beauty of it's own.  Since this topic started with a pre-fab house I'll go there for a moment, the missus and I looked into moving a few years back, leaving our mid century ranch, a one off architect designed house that we even have the blueprints for, and we started looking at new homes.  Well, they sure have nice features here and there, but geesh after shopping till we dropped for months we never did find a house we liked as much as ours.  There was a lot of awkwardness in the new homes, little and big things that seemed like no one thought about much.  There was also a lot of pretension, homes trying to be Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I kept expecting Robin Leech to show up for the tours.  We weren't looking to be Lords of the Manor, just thought a new house would be a nice thing, but were unable to find anything that felt right, as odd as that sounds, and so put some more money into the old gal and fixed this and that. 

I've been thinking (danger Will Robinson) that maybe a good simple working design just doesn't advertise and sell well in the marketplace.  I wish Henry Dreyfuss was still around to ask.  I'm going to bother the Henry Dreyfuss Associates about our modern housing.

[Steve]

I've been thinking (danger Will Robinson) that maybe a good simple working design just doesn't advertise and sell well in the marketplace.  I wish Henry Dreyfuss was still around to ask.  I'm going to bother the Henry Dreyfuss Associates about our modern housing.

You might want to channel the spirit of Frank Loyd Wright while you are at it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usonia

[bingster]

If you like the Zephyrs... I mean if you REALLY like the Zephyrs... Then head over here:

http://railmerchants.net/mt-zephyr.htm

...and buy the Mark Twain Zephyr.  Yup, it's for sale.  Word is the train can be had for $375,000.00.

[HobieSport]

Wow!  Maybe I can afford it with some of the bail-out money. 

[Steve]

NO PROBLEM.

anyone interested in a '49 500 desk?

then we could pick up some ladies on the way to vegas

[HobieSport]

I'm happy with a 1951 female model.  There are certain things that Henry Dreyfuss could not design.

[Steve]

I would settle for this 1943 model.

[HobieSport]

Unfortunately, in those days, most kitchens had not been designed by Henry Dreyfuss:

[benhutcherson]

I think I've posted this here before, but here's a little something to get all of the Dreyfuss fans mouths' watering