Vintage wallplates — an easy jolt of retro
It seems like most every owner of a 40s 50s or 60s home ripped out their stylish, original electric switchplates at some point, and replaced them with innocuous ones. It is great fun to try to find these – and to replace them throughout the house. I think they a terrific touch. AND, see update from reader Lou…
Yowza: Look at this one contributed by reader Lou! I have never seen one like this before.
And, she sends this one – it glows in the dark – and has those special star-shaped screws. Cool!
There are actually quite a few designs – Modern…and colonial…as usual. It’s nice to find enough to have all the plates in one room coordinate — but I am not too obsessed with being all matchy matchy throughout the entire house.
You can find wallplates at estate sales, in the basement on a shelf or near the tool bench. And – they often show up, in original packaging like the ones shown here, at my Re-Store. In either case, you can generally pick them up for 10 cents to a $1 each.
A Retro Renovation re-run, originally published Jan. 29, 2008
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I’ve coveted the cover plates in my mother’s ranch house for a long time now. One light switch has a “normal” white cover plate, but is surrounded by a black swooshy border. Hard to explain, but it is VERY 50s. Hmm…next time I visit, I’m bringing my screwdriver and some new replacement plates for her! :>
There are wonderful, by the way. I love the hammered copper look, as well as all those plastic ones. In my house, I’ve saved most of the originals, including one in my kitchen for the phone hook-up, which is quite unusual.
Oooh! Femme1, your mother’s house sounds so great, be sure to take lots of photos next time. Also – I was just cleaning out my emails last night (a disaster zone, I have 4 accounts) and saw that YOU were one of the two who recommended Mad Men to me and readers. Many thanks, and I will make sure you get all the credit due!
We dont have those in australia. Ill make some!
This is one of the Wall Plate’s that were in My 1st Home I bought. I am so glad that I removed all 10 before Moving!
http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/doowop1957/th_FP1.jpg
We have all three of the top ones throughout our house plus a few different ones. We picked up a few dozen more at the restore in Idaho when we were up there last month, just in case of breakage over the years! They’re so great!
I almost forgot, the ones on the left, in our house have the coolest matching backplates around them. They’re the same material so I “suspect” they came with them or were sold on the next peg over?
loumeigs – send me pics of the cool backplates if you can! retrorenovation at gmail dot com. many thanks!
Does anyone still make these? Rejuvenation or anyone else? They’re so much more interesting than the plain ones they sell now.
I forgot to add, I’ve seen a few electrical outlets that coordinate with the middle plate, but they’re pretty rare. They have the basketweave border around the outlet itself.
My condo apartment had many of the original plates (heavily coated with 50 years of paint, of course), but many had also been replaced with new ones. I found matching original plates on eBay … dozens of them. And at about 50 cents each, they were actually cheaper than new modern ones.
The original plates in the kitchen are very unusual … light switches plus standard wall plugs plus small appliance plugs, all in one box and covered by one plate. I’ve never seen any quite like it.
To remove old paint from switch plates, soak them in warm soapy water for a couple of hours. The paint will peel right off, easy-peasy.
On their way…
Oh gee…just last night I saw a collection of 1950’s glitter switch plates on ebay for cheap. I just couldn’t quite go there, but sure hope someone will! They were the BOMB!
I’d like to replace a switch plate cover in my foyer, but it’s an unusual configuration and can’t just find one in any store. It’s a double switch, but the switches are horizontal, one on top of the other. So, it looks like an outlet cover, but the holes are smaller. Anyone have any ideas?
Stephan, Jeanne,
I’ve been hoarding all manner of vintage electrical switches/plates/accessories for the last couple years for my new construction and it sounds like you’re talking about the Despard system. Believe it or not, parts can still be found at some of the box stores or True-Value type places (though not as stylish).
Here’s how it works. You can mix and match up to 3 switches, pilot lights and receptacles that snap into a metal frame that comes with the plate. Mount your box horizontal or vertical, your choice, and pick a plate to match your config. Ivory and brown are common. Stainless steel use to be available also.
There were also double plates made for up to 6 devices using a standard 2-gang box and 2 brackets. From an electrician’s standpoint, they’re a lot more difficult to install, stuffing 3 devices worth of wiring in one box. But, just as safe as a “regular” switch.
Cory
Hello,
Ok this brings up what is proper and what isn’t. The ones shown are not painted. Paint them or not to paint them? Paint the switch and plug hole area or not to paint that part?
I personally don’t paint outlets.
What do you do?
What are we supposed to do?
Robert.
Hi Robert – I don’t paint any part of the switch or cover plate…
Cool stuff, since reading the re-done post, I have hunted through my home and found some that are quite unique–what fune! I have one switchplate that holds two sideways light switches with an electric plug in between, obviously parts of my home still have the original electrical…hmmmmm. Well, it has worked well so far!
I have a switch plate with 6 of the “despard” switches that cadman mentioned above.. there is one of the six switches that I have no idea what it controls – it’s wired, but not sure to what! Someday when I’m not pulled in three different directions, I’ll trace the wiring!
Our 1950 ranch flooded in Hurricane Ike and is now undergoing a retro renovation, so I am THRILLED to find this website. Thanks for all the tips and inspiration. Just today I found an outlet cover like the one on the right in the trash pile with all our drywall! Saved!
Good for you, Catherine, that’s the spirit!
Ok, everybody, I see a major need here for us to chronicle and capture every style of switchplate available in the postwar era. The wackier the better. If you have a good one, send me an email pic at: retrorenovation at gmail dot com. I will start loading them into a slide show. Be sure to also tell me where you are located. Many thanks!
Hi Pam, should I send You a seperate E-Mail with the Plate that I put with the Comments, or can You take them from the Message?
Don’t know how I missed these, Pam, but Hubby is being called, right now.