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Woodline Products Victorian House kit
I've finally snagged my own fantastic craigslist deal on a vintage kit....a Woodline Victorian House for $12. No, that's not a typo.
It's a huge, gorgeous thing. Here's one for reference called Pop's Dollhouse. Yes, I am still selling the Newport for being too large, so this one is going to sit for a long time.
I actually had no idea what it was, just that the box said Woodline Products. For $12, it was worth the gamble.
I was hoping for the Prairie Manor, but this was a good result, too. So, if someone has a Prairie (or a S/W Crafts Lakeside Manor) and would like to trade... ;D Even still, I'm not in love with it...so if someone wants it without a trade, I'll give you a great deal!
The kit is still packed the way it was shipped, though the outer box was falling apart. I unpacked it in the garage to make sure there weren't any nasties lurking inside and packed it in a new box.
The foundation pieces have these tiny holes...from the little bit of research I've done online, looks like powderpost beetle activity. All other wood in the kit is pristine, and this looks like a long dormant issue. Still, I'm inclined to pitch the foundation boards and cut new ones. They are simple straight boards, and I'm not keen on treating a dollhouse with harsh chemicals (I have small pets not to mention caring about my own health) and the treatments are expensive, like $80 a gallon expensive. Anyone else want to weigh in?
Yes, it's still in the garage. I'm going to watch it the next couple of days to see if there is any change, but I doubt there will be.
Of course, I could do something like this with it. :D Oh, I don't know...
Hereford Inlet Light, photo by USCG
14 comments
Hey, great find; congratulations!
Not that there’s anything wrong with cutting replacement foundation pieces, but there is an easy, free, environmentally friendly and effective way to get rid of unwanted critters: Bake ‘em.
Won’t fit in the oven? (Not that you’d want to go that route . . .) No problem! Put whatever it is in the trunk of your car and park it in the sun. Worked for me with flea-infested sofa cushions in pre-Advantage days, should work for you.
Good luck!
The beetles are probably long gone already.
That’s an awesome score for $12. Wow.
I need a bigger real life house.
Nice! Reminds me of my Artply Highland house for $20, also from Craigslist. It is always worth cruising it for these gems. Can’t wait to see when/if you do something with this. 
Ooooo!! Tempting!! Such a great kit! I still have my
Marquam Hill Mansion kit from Dura-Craft sitting in my closet. It has been in there for about six years now, LOL! It is going to be my next project, at least that is what I keep telling myself, LOL! Every time I stop by your blog you have something wonderful posted :o) I even talked to my husband about buying your Newport, but unfortunately the answer was what I had expected, not enough funds right now :o(
I hope you will keep posting wonderful things! I look forward to seeing what you do with this kit!
Great find! I hope you can find a trade for the Prairie Manor you are looking for, if you don’t or decide that you’re certain don’t want to build it, we might have to have a little chit chat.
I knew your shopping would get me trouble eventually If you still have it this fall, let’s talk.
With all the projects I have planned, I need a bigger house, too. 
Sounds like a plan, April! 
It looks like the foundation pieces are vacant. 
Since I have a long weekend to work on minis, I’ll varnish those pieces to protect them further.
Congratulations on this find! I’m sure it’ll be wonderful when you’re done with it! $12? Really? Awesome!
Hello Otterine,
I am conservation and restoration books and documents, but the first year my course I studied all kinds of materials, including wood.
The timber of his house was attacked by little beetle more specifically Anobium punctatum.
It has no problem for the structure of the dollhouse using wood as well.
Is less resistance than a plank of wood without being attacked, because these insects do it inside tunnels.
But for a doll house no problem.
If you use the tablets as well, try to inject a needle in the holes like a mass of stucco, so to win this resistance abroad.
To see if the bugs are still there just waiting to leave holes for some powder. And when they are active and begin to gnaw make a little noise. Like what happens in antique furniture.
Hope this helps!
kisses
Inês Paiva Raposo
Thank you, Inês! Excellent information. I have been watching for sawdust powder and have seen none. I think the infestation holes are from years ago. 
hi looks like a good project to do. Do you still have it and if so how much do you want for it. Thanks Eric
Hi, Eric, I’ve changed my mind since this post and plan to turn the kit into a lighthouse inspired by the one in the last photo of this post. 
I just bought the exact kit at a yard sale. The foundation was missing, but we built a new one. Easy! Only trick was the notches. I paid $20 for mine. And yes it is “big". I just finished a huge farm house, and ready to do this one. I need a bigger room for all these!
FYI, I am Cindy Jenkins and my dad was the builder of these dollhouses. (Note signature on drawing.) You did get a great buy as they were over $100 in the 70’s. I’ve packed hundreds, if not a thousand of these, and if I remember correctly, the pinholes were already in some of the foundation. It was just a character of the wood we used.
Best of luck with your house, if you haven’t traded the kit.
I am still a dollhouse fan, and also need a special place for mine!
Hi, Cindy!
How great! Thanks for popping in to comment.
This is a one of these days kit…I do hope to build it someday.
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