Screen doors

PastMidnight · Sep 25, 2009

I know that screens in windows go back at least to the 1890s in the U.S. Does anyone know about screen doors? When did screen doors start making an appearance?

Thanks!

RJK · Sep 25, 2009

According to About.com:
• Metallic Screening
Metallic screening used in screen doors and windows was patented (#297,382) on April 22, 1884 by John Golding of Chicago, Illinois.

PeterL · Sep 25, 2009

I don't think that this is the real answer, but it is a partial answer. There were wooden screens in use before that time.

Metallic Screening
Metallic screening used in screen doors and windows was patented (#297,382) on April 22, 1884 by John Golding of Chicago, Illinois.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blhome.htm

PastMidnight · Sep 25, 2009

Good enough for me. Thanks to you both! I must've been search-impaired today, as I couldn't get that tidbit to turn up.

johnnysannie · Sep 26, 2009

You might keep in mind that although screen doors were invented, they were not something that the average family had until much later.

RJK · Sep 26, 2009

My brother lives in a house that was built in c1850. His back door has a wooden screen door that looks like it goes back a lonnng time, but I can't vouch for when it was installed, or if it was there when they built the house.

PastMidnight · Sep 26, 2009

Just turned up references to screen doors on farm houses from the 1880s in the NY Times archives. Murderer enters the house through an unlocked screen door, man opens door and peers through screen door to see a baby on his porch, police find bloody handprint on the screen door while the farmer's wife sleeps above.

Screen doors

PastMidnight

Oponionated

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

PeterL

PastMidnight

Oponionated

johnnysannie

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

PastMidnight

Oponionated