“The Christmas pattern” … “the mysterious Mr. McClurg” … 42 million yards sold in the first 40 years … These are hints at just a few of the things I learned about Armstrong Flooring’s famous 5352 pattern when I talked about its history with company designer Mark Zeamer. Mark played a key role in the company’s 2020 revival of this storied pattern. He has worked for the company for 44 years, and he did historical research to prepare the revival, so he also was the perfect person to ask: Was Armstrong Flooring pattern #5352 the best-selling resilient flooring of the 20th Century? His answer: A resounding: Yes! Above: An early photo — possibly from the 1930s — of a production line making #5352 linoleum, photo courtesy Armstrong Flooring.
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Designed in 1932 by the mysterious Mr. McClurg
In my 2013 story about #5352, readers piped in that they had seen this flooring in use as early as 1935. Close! Mark Zeamer confirms that the pattern was original introduced in 1932 as an embossed inlaid linoleum. The company continued to sell 5352 as inlaid linoleum for some 40 years. And:
“For a long time only one color – red,” he said
Mark told me that there is a huge, framed piece of the original product in the company’s Lancaster, Pa., office hallway leading up to the second floor. (I will ask for a photo of the piece to add to this story — Mark is working remotely right now.)
The plaque next to it says the pattern was designed by a “Mr. McClurg.” Mark also found McClurg’s surname mentioned in an old pattern book. Mark said he tried to do more research on Mr. McClurg, but the trail quickly went cold. No first name could be found. Mark and team think he must not have been a lifelong employee. A mystery!
UPDATE: Very quickly after I posted this story on Facebook, reader Kim jumped into action and found our Mr. McClurg in the 1930 Census public record. She wrote: “I found John E. McClurg in the 1930 Census in Lancaster. He was 45 years old, born in New York, married to wife Edith. His occupation is listed as designer, linoleum plant.” Additional Census research indicates that by 1940, he was living up North as a carpet designer. Well done, Kim!
I have said before that #5352 must have been the best-selling resilient flooring design of the 20th Century. True, I asked Mark? “Absolutely – I have no doubt about that,” he said.
From 1932 to 1972 alone, the company says they sold more than 42 million yards of pattern #5352. And, production continued for another 28 years after that!
Prior to 1932: “Embossed Inlaid Designs — Unusual Texture Effects”
Sunday night I went through all the vintage Armstrong catalogs online in the Building Technology Heritage Library. Indeed, in 1931, there was no mention of #5352. You do see, though, that the idea of inlaid linoleum designed to look like a mosaic tile floor was well under way.
Mr. McClurg’s 1932 genius: “A continuous, smooth transgression of design”
What Mr. McClurg did so brilliantly, was to create a classic random block mosaic flooring pattern that mixed sizes and colors in a particularly pleasing, timeless way. The flooring also was embossed — pressed with a plate that depresses parts of the design to further mimic the texture of a real tile floor.
Regarding the design of 5352, Mark said, “I think it’s a fantastic pattern and like how it comes to the forefront then fades away then comes back to the forefront again.”
He also said, “It looks great coming down the line, there’s no tracking at all… there’s a continuous, smooth transgression of design.”
What’s tracking? Mark explained this means that no single design element sticks out over the other. The design is so good you don’t see the repeat.
As time progressed, inlaid linoleum was replaced by other flooring technologies
Mark told me, “The 5352 pattern lasted a long time in many different commodities, starting out in linoleum to Coronelle to felt-backed Imperial Solarian and then jumped to vinyl into the 1970’s. It was in the 70’s that it was revived as a Rotogravure printed product in Sheet Goods and Tile.”
Around this time was when the printed design started looking a little like pointillism – ummm, not as good as the earlier designs. Hey, it was the 70s — lots of stuff didn’t look as good. Circa 1975, there also was a Colonial Classic Designer Solarium that was stenciled. I forgot to ask, but my sense is that it looked better because of the production process.
“We sold Colonial Classic Designer Solarium almost up to year 2000,” Mark said. However, by 2000, at $35 per sq. yard, the customer base was getting smaller. In addition, Armstrong was tearing down an old part of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania plant that made the flooring. So, after 68 years of continuous production, the line was finally discontinued. Even so, Mark said, “When we dropped it, there was a lot of noise.” In particular, the pattern had remained popular in the Northeast.
As decades passed, Armstrong also introduced the pattern in other colors. “Some people had it in brown,” Mark said. “We had avocado and harvest gold in late 60s. In the 70s, bright yellow and bright orange.”
Note, Armstrong told me that pattern has never really gone away – they still occasionally hear from distributors who have new old stock stashed away!
Armstrong 5352: “The Christmas Pattern”
On our phone call, Mark also mentioned a fascinating company story about 5352: At Armstrong, employees know it as “The Christmas Pattern.”
The story is, that during the Great Depression, companies all over the U.S. were laying off employees – but not Armstrong. Yes, the success of pattern #5352 not only kept the factories running, it enabled the company to deliver Christmas bonuses even during those dire economic times. Hence: Nearly 90 years later, it’s still known internally as “The Christmas Pattern.”
The 2020 revival of 5352 — aka Heritage Brick
And now: Armstrong Flooring pattern 5352 is now coming back as a player in the 21st Century. Yes, in what’s sure to be the biggest product news of the year here, Armstrong Flooring is reintroducing its famous #5352 pattern – now dubbed “Heritage Brick” – in four colorways. Armstrong Flooring is in the process of rolling out the revived design through flooring retailers and expects it to be more widely available as the year progresses. Watch this story for updates on the pattern’s availability nationwide — Armstrong Flooring has promised to keep us updated.
So there you have it: Armstrong Flooring pattern #5352 in continuous production from 1932-2000 — that’s 68 years. And now, revived in 2020!
Thank you, Armstrong Flooring, Mark Zeamer, readers, and the Building Technology Heritage Library for helping make this story possible!
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Precautionary Pam safety reminder: Be aware that there may hazards in old products, materials and their layers. Get with properly licensed professionals to assess what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions. For more info see our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page.
Olivia says
I am absolutely ECSTATIC that this pattern is back in production. My parents are renovating the family cabin built in 1962 in northern MN, and they put me on the hunt to find the pattern. I had no manufacturer name, no pattern name — nothing to start a search. And when I typed in “linoleum reproduction” imagine my heart RACING when the google images bring up this very article with an image that matches what I needed to find. I almost cried. I am so excited to order this for them, so we can maintain some of the original spirit of this cabin. THANK YOU for this work that you do!!
pam kueber says
@ Olivia — Well, golly, it was wonderful to wake up to this message. Thank you for taking the time to let me know the blog was a help. Send me a photo when you’re done! Hooray!
Joel says
Armstrong 5352 in red came with the kitchen in the home my parents bought in 1980 (built in ’64). I always admired it and found it endlessly fascinating, even as a kid, just to look at it with its many geometric figures.
Will the new one be in linoleum or vinyl? I don’t think I’d buy it in vinyl. The linoleum gave it a depth that vinyl can’t match.
Lori K Oliver says
Wouldn’t it be fun to see 5352 in a pop color way. Fuchsia, tangerine, lemon yellow, lime green. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Pam Kueber says
Indeed!
jc says
I didn’t realize it was that old. My house, built in 1939, had this in the kitchen and sun room when we bought it in 1973. Now I realize it may well have been the original flooring.
Robere' says
Looking at Armstrong’s website the pattern is not available yet. Any idea when Armstrong will roll it out?
Pam Kueber says
Hi Robere, this is addressed in the story — read it closely for details.
Ann Ladenberger says
This is the funnest thing I’ve read in a couple months, at least. ??
Thank you, Pam, for your wonderful work to make everything vintage cool again. Be well!
Pam Kueber says
You’re welcome! Thank you for the funnest message, too! 🙂
RAnderson says
As noted on the previous thread post we loved this floor so much we put the red #5352 in 3 houses that we built in MD, and we hope to have put the Coral version in our retirement house soon here in NY, and in our VT summer camp this year or when it’s available! Also my parents had it in the light green version in the house they built in 1968 in NC, and my aunt was the first of the family in her 1955 ranch in Mass, which is where I fell in love with it.! Thanks Armstrong!!
Katharine Carroll says
Great story of inspiration. I think the “Christmas Pattern” won me over. So many choices, this made it easier. Thanks!
Pam Kueber says
You’re welcome! Yes: The “Christmas Pattern” made me JUMP when I heard it! 🙂
M. James Smith says
I retired from Armstrong with 29 years of service . I have always appreciated having been a part of such a wonderful company – great products and great people.
I am now looking at replacing the 5351 yellow pattern that I installed in our kitchen over 35 years ago. I only need about 26 square yards. Can you suggest where I might find this yellow pattern (it appears as though this is the only pattern not being reinterduced). Thank you.
Joyce Smith says
We were married in 1966 and I had this floor, in red, put in our mobile home kitchen as soon as I could. In 1988, we were in a house, but had just purchased an A-frame on a lake. I had loved that pattern so much I had in put in there. Now I am a widow and want to bring my kitchen in keeping with the rest of the house, which is colonial. I would like a worn brick herringbone pattern, but nobody seems to make it in vinyl, so guess what I’m looking at? I have not seen 5352 in the orangish color yet, but it may be too orange. Please make the red-purple or the Christmas color again, folks. I want it and I’m getting kinda old!
Gerry S. says
I volunteer with Meals on Wheels. One of my clients is 94. PreCOVID-19 we could bring meals into the clients homes. She lives in a 1964 ranch and I was thrilled to see she has 5352 in the coral! It still looks great and she loves that it does not show dirt. I will have to show her this post using social distancing on my next trip to her house.
With this virus happening I have been spending time doing repairs on my 1968 ranch. Finally decided last week that the aged and well used original reverse bevel birch cabinets are just fine despite some flaws and I will sand and stain them and not paint them as quite honestly I hate painting. I just installed new hinges and the cabinet door pulls and back plates that Kate used in her kitchen update years ago. Also bought some Houck Industries Go-Ez drawer slides to replace a few broken ones. I am a 70 year old widow with few carpentry skills but if you take your time you can do anything.
I have been reading your blog for years and have gotten so much out of it. Never a better time for “Love the house you’re in” and save $ for what is really important – your life, your family, and your community. Thank you Pam!!
Pam Kueber says
Thank you, Gerry, for your volunteer work, and for writing this lovely message. It makes me more happy than ever to hear from readers these days. Be well!
Janet in ME says
We installed the 5352 in our 1958 ranch when we moved into it in 1979. I always loved it for its ease in maintenance, and the fact that despite a lot of dirt and grime being tracked in by my mechanic husband, it always looked good. I am so pleased to hear it is being reintroduced. I would love to put it in my 1957 ranch here in Maine. Thanks for the article, Pam, and please keep us posted.