This week’s vintage Hall-Mack miniseries concludes with 18 special accessories found in my 1962 catalog. Above: The Tow’lescope (I have two MIB) and the even more rare Extendo-Bar, which I have never seen in real life.
We’ve seen this a few times – the Concealed Scale.
Above: I’ve never seen this one – a Recessed Conceal-A-Roll.
Update: Now spotted in the wild — photos from our story about this giveaway.
Above: Ah, the Concealed Vanity Shelf. Notice the enclosed electric plug in the last image.
Above: A reader favorite, the Concealed Lavatory Unit.
Above: This is very cool, a grab bar with an attached soap tray.
Above: That’s a dolphin on the left, a shell on the right. Both “winsome as a water sprite.”
Above, the three-in-one towel rack is so named because it adjusts to three positions. At the 45-degree angle it “shows off three rows of decorative face towels to excellent advantage when guest are in your home.” I’ve never seen on of these, either.
Above: Internet poltergeists seem to have munched on the catalog photo, but I think this was the Concealed Toilet Paper Holder (single roll.)
“Towel Ladder.”
Shower Recess, and Corner Fixture. Careful, though, my experience is that chrome-plated stuff ultimately degrades within a tub or shower enclosure.
And of course, everyone’s favorite, the Hall-Mack Relaxation Unit.
Sam R says
I have one of the Extendo-Bar end brackets. Considering that I didn’t find a mate, and I pulled an even number of apparently NOS Hall-Mack towel bar brackets out of a pile of junk at the local Habitat Restore (no bars or mounting plates, unfortunately!), they must have also produced it with the extension bar on only one end. I wish I could have found the rest of it! This Habitat store has had a trickle of NOS, later-production Hall-Mack accessories pop up over the past few months. Most of which are in poor-condition boxes and/or missing bits. I just ordered a replacement soap dish for a NOS recessed holder that I just bought with the box and mounting screws. No plastic dish anywhere in sight. Maybe I’ll get lucky and a Relaxation Unit, one of the TP holders with the built-in storage bin, or a revolving tumbler/toothbrush holder will appear…
Diane says
A concealable scale, now that is an awesome idea!
The Atomic Mom says
You know, those gadgets are very practical. I could use that three row towel rack in my very small MCM bathroom.
tony says
My parents have one of the Hall-Mack concealed scales in their 1960 home. I always liked the way it hid away from foot traffic. Nice thing is it can be mounted on the wall next to toilet and you never have too worry about space.
Carolyn says
I’ve got one of the built in vanities that we recovered from my grandparents split level. I wanted to put in our bathroom but it would have requited reframimg a wall and moving the toilet stack. Needless to say my husband wasn’t up for tjat. I still have it, biding my time for the perfect spot. I’m open to suggestions on how to use it without performing major structural and plumbing modifications…
I would love one of the relaxation units. My grandpa always kept a copy of Hemmings in his and the latest Reader’s Digest. Good memories!
la572 says
I had a relaxation unit (never knew they were called that) in a 1962 home I lived in years ago, though not Hall-Mack. Hemmings, now that’s good reading! LOL the ashtray and cig holder
Margaret says
Is there anyone that makes anything similar to Hall-Mack bathroom accesories????? I can’t believe they just died out!!!
brett says
check out cunninghams-ii on ebay they have vintage hallmack
la572 says
So anyone know what happened to this company and when? New Hall-Mack stuff was still stocked and prominently displayed at the plumbing supply store near me well into the ’90s, and I bought and used alot of their stuff for renovations.
The packaging was updated but the merchandise seemed to never change. Sometimes this wasn’t a good thing, as I remember the recessed toothbrush and tumbler holder couldn’t accommodate many modern toothbrushes. The thick, ergonomicly-shaped handles wouldn’t fit into the small holes designed for the hard plastic spindly handles that older tooth brushes had.
I had their catalog from the early to mid ’90s; I don’t recall seeing the more esoteric items shown here in them.
pam kueber says
I’m thinking Nutone bought Hall-Mack. Note, you can still get thin-handled toothbrushes — one of the first questions ever that came up on the blog! Story here — https://retrorenovation.com/2009/08/26/toothbrushes-to-fit-in-vintage-porcelain-ceramic-toothbrush-holders/
pyrexmaniac says
My first house had the dolphin and shell bath accessories. I remember the towel bar, the towel hoop and the robe hook. The bathrooms were metallic bronze tile outlined and accessorized in pink with a pink mosaic floor and pink and bronze metallic wallpaper. The house was built in 1958 by my parents.
pam kueber says
The bathroom sounds fantastic!
FRIEDA says
Pam, or anyone – do you know if the hall mack retractable laundry line can be reconditioned? it no longer retracts…
i installed it in 1965, and still love it.
any suggestions?
and the fishnet tile is wonderful!
Frieda
Ali @ His Birdie's Nest says
My husband and I are actually in the process of purchasing a home with a Relaxation Unit already in the Master Bathroom. We don’t smoke, but if we get this house, I may need to put some candy cigarette’s and an ashtray in it just for kicks 🙂
pam kueber says
🙂 Welcome, Ali.
Mary Jo says
Although I purchased a 60’s home with a retro style, I was not lucky enough to have any Hall-Mach in mine. So I had a relaxation unit made. It doesn’t have a chrome finish but I just love it! Just for kicks I did put a retro pink ash tray in mine. (never thought about some candy cigarettes).
Nancy says
just showed my DH the “Relaxation Unit” pointing out the place cigarettes and matches. I said, “Can you imagine smoking while you’re going to the bathroom”? I guess it beats the alternative?