Agricultural Cement Blueprints
Categories: Other, Uncategorized
Written By: John
Alpha Portland Cement Company Blueprints and Concrete Plans
These came in a folder that I found in an old box of maps and blueprints from an architect’s estate. Although not a book, they are in the public domain and interesting so I thought I would post some crude copies. I have not edited them or cleaned them up, and there is some loss to the margins on most of them because they were a bit too large for a scanner. The actual plans are almost all there, though. I figure anyone who is interested can clean them up after download if need be (although they are perfectly usable as they are now). I have posted them at very high resolution (about 6500 by 4500 pixels) to preserve details and lettering.
I gather this series, all from 1910-1920, was an effort by the Alpha Portland Cement Company to promote the use of concrete and cement in building. I think I have almost a complete set here, but I have no definitive reference as to what plans were included.
As always, these high resolution JPEG images are all free of charge and ready to be downloaded one at a time or in bulk via a ZIP file. Donations to support this site and project are always welcome, but by no means required.
Many of the originals have been sold on eBay, and any that remain are for sale in my bookstore. There is a small market for these as collectibles. Here is a (not very up to date list) of the titles still available:
Here, in no particular order, are many sample images. All 38 or so images may be browsed and viewed in their full resolution in the GALLERY.
Combination Barn and Silo
Combination Fireproof Barn - Stalls for 20 Cows and 5 Horses
Concrete Boat Landing
Concrete Cattle Dipping Vat
Concrete Cellar Steps with Slideways
Concrete Curb and Gutter
Concrete Driveway and Culvert
Concrete Gate Posts
Concrete Hotbed
Concrete Poultry House
Concrete Poultry House (other side)
Concrete Sidewalk Construction
Concrete Steps and Porch with Suggestions for the Construction of Forms
Concrete Storage Cellar
Concrete Storage Cellar for Fruit and Vegetable Farm with Washing and Packing House
Design of Hopper Feeder for Soft Coal Handling
Design for Concrete Dam
Fire Proof Milk House
Concrete Tennis Court
Greenhouse with Concrete Walls, Floors and Benches
Ice House with Concrete Walls Containing Ice and Milk Rooms
Plan for Underground Concrete Tank with Capacity of 15000 Gallons
Ratproof Corncrib
Reinforced Concrete Coal Pockets
Reinforced Concrete Septic Tank
Two Types of Winter Hog Houses Constructed of Concrete Throughout with Concrete Feeding Floor and Troughs
Type of Dipping Vat for Hogs and Sheep
Type Reinforced Concrete Building for Warehouse or Storage
Types of Small Concrete Retaining Walls for Terraces and Embankments
Typical Details for Concrete Foundations
Sectional Concrete Flower Box and Garden Seat
Silo with Reinforced Concrete Walls, Foundation & Roof
Small Building of Reinforced Concrete with Reinforced Concrete Roof
Small Concrete Storage Cellar
Smoke House of Reinforced Concrete - Fire Box Placed on Outside of Building
Spring House of Reinforced Concrete
Two Types of Garden Pools of Concrete - Cast with Foundation in One Continuous Operation
Two Types of Manure Pits of Concrete Construction - Simple Uncovered Pit and Covered Structure with Overhead Runway from Barn
Two Types of Watering Troughs of Concrete - Cast with Foundation in One Continuous Operation
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I am looking for plans to build a spring house. If you have any plans available that I could use, please let me know. Thank you
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Hi Bernard,
The spring house plan here is the only one I have.
- John
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
Hi,
I was wondering if these blueprints are in the public domain now, since they’re so old? I’m doing a little research into how exactly public domain works, but if you have a quick answer, I’d truly appreciate it!
Wonderful project you have here!
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hi Justin,
Yes, I will not knowingly post anything here that is not public domain. Generally, anything published in the US during or before the year 1922 has now passed into the public domain. It is a bit more complicated than that, especially for later years, but that is a rough first guide. These blueprints were all published before 1920 so are fairly certain to be out fo copyright.
For later works, or many works form other countries, there are longer periods of protection.
Thanks for the comment.
March 28th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Just stumbled on some old Universal Portland Cement Company , Design #’s 1, 2 & 3. Any idea if there is a collectors market for these? Thanks for any information you can give.
May 10th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Can you tell me the dimensions of these files in inches?
May 11th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Tessa: that depends on the resolution you print them at. Electronic images do not have an inherent size in terms of inches. They are measured in pixels, and images are usually printed at 100 to 300 pixels per inch, or ppi. 300 usually gives a better result. Each of these images is slightly different, but at 6500 pixels by 4500 pixels you could print them at any dimension and as long as you kept the ppi above 300 you should be fine, and even 200 or 100 might be OK, depending on the usage. At 300 that translates to about 22 by 15 inches. At 100 it would be 65 by 45. The originals from which the images were scanned are about 17 by 12 inches. They are for sale and are described here:
http://www.zephyrusbooks.com/?page=shop/browse&category_id=188