Chicago Millwork Supply Company catalog of 1931
Seth Hinshaw, 8/28/2020
I recently picked up another millwork catalog, and I thought I would share some of my observations about it. It is the Chicago Millwork Supply Company (CMSC) catalog 377 from 1931. Here is a shot of the cover:
CMSC had changed the name of its millwork catalog several times in the 1920s, and by 1929 it had he name "Millwork and Building Material that Satisfy." By 1931, the title had been shortened. The catalog was an example of the short (88-page) catalogs that CSMC had been producing since the end of World War I and nothing like the larger catalogs from the company's beginning days 28 years earlier.
The catalog included various windows that had been available in the 1920s:
An important finding appeared on their pages for doors. Those of you who have read my book A Field Guide to American Residential Doors are aware that the doors with oval lights last appeared in a millwork catalog in 1929. Well, this is a 1931 millwork catalog that shows one:
The catalog includes four images of Colonial Revival style entrances. This one is interesting both as an example of an arcuated hood and because it is oversized and seems to be placed too high over the door:
The catalog includes a smattering of interior features for sale. Below are examples of colonnades and the sole type of glass knob offered:
Earlier blog posts
8/28/2020 Chicago Millwork Supply Company catalog of 1931
10/6/2019 History of Hinkle & Company (1833-1870)
9/17/2019 History of Mulliner Box & Planing Company
6/3/2019 J.R. Quigley Plant, Gloucester City, New Jersey
4/23/2019 Cleveland Cottage Door
4/13/2019 Trenton historic door #2
4/10/2019 Trenton Doors #1
3/6/2019 Pressed Wood Door Knobs
2/23/2019 Gettysburg Doorscape, Part 4
2/18/2019 Gettysburg Doorscape, Part 3
2/12/2019 Gettysburg Doorscape, Part 2
2/9/2019 An Introduction to the Gettysburg Doorscape
1/22/2019 The Blake Latch
1/19/2019 Rare Four-Panel Door of 1890s
1/5/2019 Cast Iron Rim Locks
12/28/2018 Inaugural Blog Post