Novelty Siding History

The german or novelty siding a milled siding that is thin above and thicker below with a concave bevel was used throughout many parts of the united states in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century but with regional variations in material profile and dimensions.

Novelty siding history.

With ship lap or tongue and groove siding the horizontal boards interlock with each other in the vertical plane to provide a weathertight seal. Vinyl siding made a strong first appearance at 23 percent overtaking brick for second place. You can still find beveled drop and other novelty siding at lumberyards but it s not always like the original. Novelty siding that swaps a bevel for the cove is often called channel rustic.

Reversible pattern usually used for interior applications. So called novelty siding which can be cut into a wide variety of profiles with custom knives came onto the market during the 19th century and remains a popular version of traditional flush siding. Brick dropped to 28 percent and block stone vinyl and aluminum siding to 17 percent. Vinyl siding took over the top position at 39.

Tongue and groove novelty types may be blind nailed at the tongue at left. Widths 8 and over use 2 nails 3 4 apart. By the 1930s standard references listed no fewer than 28 different types of common horizontal siding. Historical novelty siding patterns these patterns are typically made from flat sawn lumber.

E w p 18 available in smooth face. Board available surfaced or saw textured. Popular by the 1880s and possibly in use as early as 1860 it is typically edge matched in a shiplap joint but was also produced in tongue and groove. Sometimes it s possible and usually cheaper to adapt a local product rather than have an exact match milled.

When repairing or replacing historic siding take a sample to the lumberyard or sawmill for comparison.