THIS IS A "NO RESERVE" ITEM

You are bidding on an ORIGINAL vintage handbook:

KAWNEER ARCHITECTURAL REFERENCE HANDBOOK

1961

Offered here is a 1961 Kawneer Architectural Products Division Reference Handbook, an extensive professional trade binder produced by the Kawneer Company of Niles, Michigan. This substantial architectural reference manual was created for architects, engineers, contractors, and building designers who required detailed technical information for specifying Kawneer aluminum building systems. During the mid-20th century, Kawneer was one of the leading manufacturers of architectural aluminum components used in commercial construction, including storefront framing systems, entrance doors, curtain wall assemblies, and related hardware. Founded in 1906, the company became widely recognized for helping introduce modern aluminum building façade systems that defined the look of post-war commercial architecture.

Inside this binder is a wealth of technical drawings, engineering diagrams, and architectural reference sheets detailing Kawneer entrance systems, storefront framing components, hardware locations, aluminum extrusion profiles, and installation assemblies. Many of the sheets show precise dimensional drawings and cross-section diagrams used by architects and builders to specify door systems, tube frames, split tube assemblies, storefront mullions, and glass stops. Manuals like this were typically issued to architectural firms and construction professionals as part of Kawneer’s A.I.A. (American Institute of Architects) filing system, allowing designers to reference standardized building components during project planning.

The handbook also includes sections dedicated to storefront systems, canopies, louvers, and the “Core System” building components, illustrating how Kawneer products could be integrated into modern commercial building façades. These reference sheets helped professionals visualize both the structural and aesthetic aspects of aluminum storefront installations—an architectural style that became extremely popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s as aluminum framing systems replaced traditional steel and bronze storefront construction.

For collectors, architects, designers, or enthusiasts of mid-century architecture and industrial design, this Kawneer reference binder represents a fascinating piece of architectural history. Documents like this were practical working tools used in the design offices of the era and provide a remarkable look into the engineering standards, architectural detailing, and commercial building practices of the early 1960s. A wonderful and substantial archival piece for anyone interested in architectural trade catalogs, construction history, or the evolution of aluminum storefront systems.

Condition: VF+ From a very clean and smoke free environment. 

sat on a attic shelf for decades

THIS IS NOT A REPRODUCTION...

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