Is this worth fixing?

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I came upon this old martin house, it's really in rough shape, perch rod is broken and has dark spots all over that will not clean off, if you look close you can see where someone tried to surface grind the spots off on the edge of porches and some along one side but I think that can be fixed with Bondo.
I don't know exactly what model, it looks like a trio but just one door on each level and no clips to hold it shut, just a raised spot with a slot cut in. Maybe one of the first models?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I am about the first one that wants to repair the old stuff. However, this looks to be in bad shape, and when you finish, you still will not have the ideal housing. Since martins are my hobby, I want to update the equipment on a regular basis, so fixing up the real old bad housing is not in my plans. My suggestion is to junk it, and save it for parts if you have similar housing.

[Siberman]

I'd set it about 6' high and use it to trap S & S .

[Matt F.]

Cool find Ray!
That was a model released most likely in the 70s and 80s by Trio.
The original models from the 60s all had individual compartment doors, like the ones seen today.
Over the decades, there were many different models made by Trio, that were produced on a limited basis, sometimes perhaps even for a particular, large retailer, like Sears Roebuck.
What's interesting, is the more common models, with the individual compartment doors, were always available from Trio.
It's just these more rare, large single-door-per-floor models, like you found, that were made in limited quantities, at various times - in addition to the common models.
That house you found looks structurally great.
I'd straighten out the bent areas, slap some new perches on, slap some Trio green paint on on the porches, put some Dri-nest sub-floors in, cut the center-dividers to make it 6, 6"X12" compartments, and then use tin snips to open up those round holes a bit, and the screw some crescent or Conley II plates on.
But that's just me......

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Ray,

Matt has given you some great advice and history about this Trio model!

Now my next door neighbor Bob has taken Trios that were in a similar condition and "fixed them up" as Matt has described. We have erected these Trios at our various satellite martin colonies and the martins filled them up. Bob has even made his own roofs if necessary from aluminum trim coil.

These Trios work well on multi-purpose poles.

Here is a photo of four Trios that Bob "fixed-up" and we installed them on a quad-house system. Bob designed this hub to hold the Trios. There are some martins on the houses.



Steve

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Ray,
My father's Trio Musselman was in worse condition.
I fixed his up for sentimental reasons and I know that people would not believe that it is the same house.
I doubt that most martin landlords would go to the trouble it requires.
If the floors are rotten then I would be reluctant myself to restore this one. I would definitely save the house for parts. The sides would be good to restore another house that might have had holes shot in it. The roof is intact and would be excellent for replacing another roof which might be bad.
If the floors and dividing walls are intact then it would be worth fixing up.
A nylon faced hammer and a wood block as a buck would straighten out those bent parts in no time at all.
Did you try clear coat cleaner car wax like Mother's to remove the black spots?
The dirty roof can be cleaned with steel wool or a brillo pad.
I guess I acquired too much of my father's Depression Era mentality plus I like the challenge of fixing stuff.


Steve,
I would like to see how Bob fixes the doors with porch dividers attached to them. How can he open the door with the porch divider?

[Craig Haddox]

I agree with Mat and Steve. Fix it up and let the martins use it. I would love to have a few houses like that to tinker with.

[M.Stephens]

I have a one decker trio that looks just like that one. In same kinda shape.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

The interior is good and solid, but would need to be modified to larger compartment.What I really like about it is the metal is thicker than what they use now. If I fix it up the single door would need to go,but on second thought if it's a rare model maybe not.

Steve, that's a neat set up for trio houses, sure beats the slide up poles or squeaky rope systems.

[DornCounty]

Cool find Ray!
That was a model released most likely in the 70s and 80s by Trio.
The original models from the 60s all had individual compartment doors, like the ones seen today.
Over the decades, there were many different models made by Trio, that were produced on a limited basis, sometimes perhaps even for a particular, large retailer, like Sears Roebuck.
What's interesting, is the more common models, with the individual compartment doors, were always available from Trio.
It's just these more rare, large single-door-per-floor models, like you found, that were made in limited quantities, at various times - in addition to the common models.
That house you found looks structurally great.
I'd straighten out the bent areas, slap some new perches on, slap some Trio green paint on on the porches, put some Dri-nest sub-floors in, cut the center-dividers to make it 6, 6"X12" compartments, and then use tin snips to open up those round holes a bit, and the screw some crescent or Conley II plates on.
But that's just me......

I agree.. if this house is all you can afford or all you want to afford, it is certainly repairable. For sure make the changes that the Trio-Jedi above recommends. A good pressure washing and some aluminum cleaner will shiner up. If you are careful aluminum Jelly works well on really oxidized surfaces.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Dorn County,
I like your ideas on cleaning up the main crud.
I found that after the initial cleaning of the main crud, I then put the disassembled inside parts into the kitchen dishwasher, add the dishwasher tablets or detergent, and wash it on the heavy wash and sanitize cycle.
Even my wife was amazed at how well the parts came out. (No, she was not initially happy about the idea.)
I do not put any parts in the dishwasher that have any paint.
At the end of each season, I will now be doing the initial cleaning of dri-nest subfloors with a pressure washer and then the final cleaning in the dishwasher.

[jr 2]

i would fix it up or get some sparrow-a-doors and put in it ;;my 4 trio m12k were all single door before i remodeled and ordered cresent doors for easch compartment;;alumium don't rust;;;i have had mine 20 years;;;i would take it apart and start from scratch;;they cost big money now;; jr2

[Dave Reynolds]

Ray -- I would keep them. A little elbow work in cleaning them up (Sand paper and paint). Remodel the guts for the larger 6 X 12 compartments. A lot cheaper then the newer models. Might be worth your time.
I know the Martins will love you for all your work.

Dave

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

I have never seen a single door per deck Trio house.
I would presume that the conversion to individual doors per original compartment is just a matter of finding or ordering the requisite number of doors.
The doors are available as either blank or entrance of your choice from PMCA Shop.

[DAVE]

I'm a fixer-upper person. I would fix this one. Don't you just like a challenge. I would keep the single doors and put a false plate behind the doors that you want to blank out. Good luck ! show pictures when finished.
Dave

[RC Moser]

I have made doors/compartment dividers for the trio style housing. You can get small sheet of cheap sheet metal at any hardware store. You take divider or door flatten it out with hammer Trace and cut out. Using heavy duty tin snips or vise and chisel to cut and hammer and vise to make the bends. The hardware sheet metal is stronger than the al. but can corrode quicker over the years if not cleaned ever so often.

[Chris Brown]

I would like to see what the boys on American restoration could do with this house.

[Craig Haddox]

I have a house like that except with a flat roof. I took the doors off and drilled new holes just below the original holes and put the alum.rod threw and put trio doors on. A porch divider holds the middle compartment closed with no lip there to catch the door. I've also added a trio roof to the house. It looks nothing like the original house I bought back in the 70's and the martins love the new look's.

[Matt F.]

I have never seen a single door per deck Trio house.
I would presume that the conversion to individual doors per original compartment is just a matter of finding or ordering the requisite number of doors.
The doors are available as either blank or entrance of your choice from PMCA Shop.

I found this thread from sometime back.
Forum member DebA posted a scan from a 1976 Sears catalog, that has that exact house (similar to M-12K but with large, single door per floor)

We are staying in our favorite cabin in Broken Bow OK. The title of our cabin is "Lost in the Past". An "old" Sears catalog is on an end table. I was tickled to find martin housing for sale. (See attachment pictures.) You probably cannot read the text but the Trio castle (it was called the High Rise)with 24 9x9 compartments sells for $57.99! Without the telescoping pole...it is $21.99. LOL that same house now sells for $560 including the pole and perching rods up top.

The Trio Georgian with 12 6x6 rooms sells for $31.99. Now it is $160.00. LOL.

The description says..."Aluminum with green and white enamel finish. Shiny interiors discourage starlings. Rust, mite-resistant top. Mounting brackets included that will fit pole sold separately below. Each room houses 2 martins (one pair)."

You can buy the green metal door stops to plug the holes, a dozen for $2.99.

The other favorite section of the catalog is...of course...the clothing styles! I remember 1976, the 200 year bicentenial of our country...and those kids clothes.

Incidentally if you'd like a great getaway with a super fantastic and fun fishing guide...private message me and I will be glad to share the details. Time to hit the hot tub.

http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u50 ... ars002.jpg

Deb

Apparently this elusive specimen Ray has acquired, maybe the same model of house as the one that Deb posted - made by Trio for Sears, and was called the Trio "Georgian".

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Thanks every one for your thoughts on this. I was thinking pretty much like what Emil said, but since the majority think it would make a good fix I will see what I can do. If only the grinder damage wasn't there it would be easy.