Yikes, this Aztec radiant wall heater is so cool. I mean, so hot. Classic 70s — a ‘poster’ covering a wall heater… “The beautiful, money-saving answer to your energy crisis.’ Has anyone ever seen one of these in the wild before? I am so tempted to buy this, for my chilly basement computer cave. But I’m feeling tapped out after the holidays…. Hey, if someone here does snatch it up — be sure to have the wiring checked by a licensed professional; just because vintage is New Old Stock does not mean it’s ready to plug in. And: lord knows what’s in that heat-resistant ‘poster’ material — I would get that tested, too, before firing up the heater; you do not want a hazmat toxic event in your house! Be Safe. Also in this carousel — a NOS Nutone hideaway record player and 10 NOS flower power lunchboxes. Great vintage stuff continues to flow out of attics, basements and closets all over the USA. Seems like the hoarding impulse is… timeless.
[ebay listing ended]
Lookie, I found another Sold Aztec wall heater on etsy; this listing says that’s astronaut Wally Shira on the box:
I’ve tagged this post under “woddities” because of the Aztec Radiant Heater — and the hideaway record player, too. More designs shown, too!
For posterity, here’s the writeup on the wall heater on ebay:
NEW IN ORIGINAL BOX 1970’S AZTEC RADIANT HEATER
LION WALL PICTURE MODEL 616
HOLY SHITE! I NEVER SAW ONE OF THESE BEFORE IT IS SUPER COOL (HOT). IT IS A RADIANT HEATER YOU HANG ON THE WALL YET IT LOOKS LIKE A PICTURE – SUPER SEVENTIES MODERN STYLE. AZTEC INTERNATIONAL PREVIOUSLY MADE RADIANT HEATERS FOR YOUR HOME OR OFFICE THAT WERE PERMANENTLY INTEGRATED INTO THE CEILING OR WALLS THAT WERE CONTROLLED VIA THERMOSTATS AND WERE THE MAIN SOURCE OF HEAT. THEY ALSO OFFERED DECORATIVE HEATERS SUCH AS THIS ONE AS WELL AS OTHER ARTWORK, SIZES, MODELS, AND PORTABLE HEATERS AS WELL. THIS ONE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL PRICE TAG FROM CHANNEL LUMBER ATTACHED WHICH IT WAS SOLD AT THAT TIME FOR $69.95 QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR THAT TIME. THIS IS A CLASSIC AND WILL BECOME A FOCAL POINT OF ANY ROOM AND WILL GO WITH MOST FUNKY DESIGNS FROM MCM, SPACE AGE, EAMES, AND ALL VINTAGE MODERN DECOR. DO NOT LET THIS ONE PASS YOU, I AM CERTAIN YOU WILL NOT FIND ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT IN THIS CONDITION!
DETAILS: THIS IS A PICTURE MODEL WALL HEATER WITH 750 WATTS, MODEL 616 LION. THE HEATER ELEMENT USES 110V GROUNDED 3 PRONG PLUG AND SHOULD BE HUNG USING A MINIMUM 30LB PICTURE HOOK FIRMLY IMPLANTED IN A WALL STUD TO SUPPORT THIS HEATER. THE HEATER DOES HAVE AN EXTERNAL ON/OFF SWITCH SO IT CAN BE LEFT PLUGGED IN AT ALL TIMES. THE BOX WAS OPENED HOWEVER I DO NOT THINK IT WAS EVER REMOVED. AS I REMOVED IT FOR PICTURES IT SEEMED THAT I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO DO SO. THE PROTECTIVE PAPER AND PACKING WAS STILL ATTACHED AND THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARRENTY CARD ARE STILL PRESENT. I PLACED ALL PACKING MATERIAL EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS AND PUT THE HEATER BACK INTO THE BOX AFTER PHOTOGRAPHING.
CONDITION: THE HEATER IS AS IT WAS WHEN NEW AND HAS NOT BEEN PLUGGED IN. ALL INTERNAL PACKING DOES NOT SHOW ANY DAMAGE AND ALL PAINT ON THE HEATER IS PERFECT WITH NO DISCOLORATION. THE OUTSIDE BOX HAS ALL ORIGINAL LABELS AND ADVERTISING AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL PRICE TAG FROM CHANNEL LUMBER COMPANY. THE OUTSIDE PACKING BOX DOES HAVE A FEW TEARS AND WEAR FROM STORAGE HOWEVER IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE OTHERWISE. PLEASE VIEW ALL PHOTOS TO SEE CONDITION AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
DIMENSIONS: THE HEATER IS 24 INCHES BY 36 INCHES AND IS ~1-5/8 INCH THICK.
Dan says
I work for the power company in Seattle. Several years back I was staffing an event when a gentleman came up and told me about his house. It had been built by an engineering professor in the 50’s, and had Corning glass heaters, similar to these. Unfortunately, between the single paned windows and these heaters, it was costing him about a thousand a month just to take the chill off.
pam kueber says
Yup: I wasn’t saying they were efficient — just odd!
libby says
I have an Aztec radiant picture heater model # 2236
Called landscape. Would like to know how much to
Ask for it. Works great
Kim says
That Valentine’s tablecloth kicked off a total sense memory for me. Weren’t those disposable tablecloths really thin paper, like a printed napkin? We cut up the coordinating napkins and glued them to painted rocks as paperweights, for an elementary-school art project…that exact pattern. My mom had that on a stack of mail in the kitchen for DECADES. Whoa, flashback!
Jason says
This seems very similar to what we are “allowed” to have as heaters under our desk at work. They provided them to those of us who requested one. They are about an inch thick rectangle about the size of a box you would use to wrap up a coat as a gift. They sit up on a little metal kickstand and radiate heat, but supposedly safer than ceramic heaters, etc. They aren’t as warm, but they do work – I have mine on now and most all year round. We call them “white board” heaters but I have no idea what they are really called, we always thought they sort of looked like white dry erase boards.
Dear Helen Hartman says
So much prettier than warming one’s self with a black light poster and bulb while burning incense.
52PostNBeam says
This sale shows scans of pages from the 1975 Aztec heater catalogue, yes it contains asbestos inside the construction. http://tinyurl.com/7xg27gk
pam kueber says
How very industrious of you to find this catalog, 52. This is why I advise: Consult with pro’s on old stuff.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Got my bid in on the Erica Wilson. My daughter keeps raiding my stash. This would go very nicely with another one I have, and they both would look great in my living room, just about my console stereo, maybe with a nice wall sconce next to them.
Susan Merlot says
I remember when they came out with stereo speakers like this (back when stereo speakers were furniture!)! But I was excited to add that this type of heater has made a come-back (only they call it new). Found in the skymall catalog (holiday edition) … a French company named Prestyl and a US distributor (www.prestylusa.com) have art panels covering wall infra-red heaters. The French site has a lot of pictures, which do not require translation. 🙂 http://www.prestyl.com/gamme-design.php (the middle links). $350 to $720. No Aztec lions, though.
pam kueber says
That is wild, thank you, Susan!
Tracy says
Lol! @ speakers were furniture! So true! I used to put a dolie with knick-knacks on it on top! and had to dust the top of them!
drex says
I picked up one of these about 20 yrs ago at a thrift store. It worked but I rarely used it. Heating isn’t an issue in TX. There is a thrift store near me that keeps one of these behind the counter. I’ve seen it plugged in on chilly days.
Charlotte says
So bizarre. So awesome! Just like the ’70s themselves.