The house shown in this scene from "Undercover Boss" is actually a kit home from Gordon Van Tine. What's it like to watch television without studying all the houses in the background? I do wonder about that sometimes. Strikes me as a little boring, actually!

Close-up of the cute little house with the three dormers.

After seeing the house on television, I pulled up this image of GVT #612 (1927 catalog)!

It was a darling little house with a good floor plan.

Note the three windows on the one side and the bay window on the side.

No doubt, it's the GVT #612 in the background. If you look close, you'll see the edge of the bay window with a shed dormer (just above the gray hair). What a fine little house!

According to the 1927 testimonial booklet (GVT's "Proof of the Pudding"), there's a #612 in Palisades, NJ. And in this testimonial, they even give us an address!

And here's another GVT 612. This one is in Peshastin, Washington.

The #612 in Peshastin was built by F. H. Tompkins.

The Berwyn as seen in the 1929 catalog.

The text in the 1929 catalog promises that monotony is relieved in the Berwyn.

Small house, but thoughtful floor plan.

By 1938, the Berwyn hadn't changed much, but it had a new name.

This long thin vent on the front gable is a distinctive feature on the Berwyn. The cement-based siding was probably added in the 1950s. This snowy house is in Elgin, IL.

This Berwyne is in Kirkwood, MO and some not-so-thoughtful vinyl siding installing wreaked havoc with that double-arched opening.

Another Berwyn with the cement-based siding (White Sulphur Springs, VA).

This house in Rock Falls, Missouri is clad in aluminum siding.

And this Berwyn is in my neck of the woods, Hampton, Virginia. The wrought-iron post is not a good idea.

The Berwyn was one of a handful of houses that made it into the very last Sears Modern Homes catalog (1940). In this catalog, it was renamed the Mayfield.

The Sears Riverside, as seen in the 1934 Sears Modern Homes catalog.

The Sears Claremont appeared in the 1928 catalog.

Not much difference between the two houses! The Claremont (1928) is on the right, and the Riverside is on the right. Why, they even have the same bushes in the front!!

The Riverside was 24' by 36'.

And so was the Claremont.

So, the Riverside/Claremont (Rivermont?) was the same model with two names (1928 and 1934). And, best of all, it was a very attractive Cape Cod.

And here is the Clareside (Rivermont?) in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Notice the chimney on the end wall. Is there a fireplace in that 9x10 bedroom? I doubt it. Most likely, the wall was removed between the living room and bedroom, creating a more spacious living room. (Photo is copyright 2012 Cindy Goebel Catanzaro and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.)

Another view of the Claremont and Riverside. (Photo is copyright 2012 Cindy Goebel Catanzaro and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.)

This photo really shows that asymmetrical gable kissing the ground on one side. Very distinctive feature. (Photo is copyright 2012 Cindy Goebel Catanzaro and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.)