At the first "Preserving modernism" conference in Chicago I learned that the
first patent for steel clapboard was issued in 1904 to a man from Watertown
New York.  In his patent application he decried the clear-cutting of the
Adirondacks for lumber and feared that wood would become unavailable in the
near future.  And so he invented steel siding shaped to look like wood
siding.
Michael Lynch
-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Dierickx <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, March 25, 1999 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: EIFS and modern materials


>In a message dated 3/25/99 7:41:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< he NPS is already getting ready to preserve steel siding. The Minute Man
> Missle site in South Dakota is covered in steel siding. Not only that but
it
> also has lots of "home improvements" done by the guys stationed there. >>
>
>
>Having done a lot of research on decorative metal roofing and siding, I
have a
>slightly different take on modern metal siding.   While I'm not a big fan
of
>it esthetically (and, like EIFS it dents, too), I do look at it as a
>continuation of historic metal shingles and panels.  When was it
developed? -
>at least after WWII and maybe before.  This is the original cladding of
many,
>many houses today. We'll certainly be dealing with it as an original
material
>in the future.
>
>Mary Dierickx, NYC