We learn about the two very collectible types:
‘Royal System’ and ‘System Cado’
Continuing my research into midcentury modern shelving systems, Cado “floating” wall systems are now also in my sites. Like the String System that recently profiled, Cados are Scandinavian-designed — and they are hot collectibles. Unlike Strings, you cannot get them new today, so you must be on the lookout. You know how I say that at estate sales, you need to look to the windows for potentially lovely window treatments? Well now, I add to that list: Look to the walls for potentially valuable shelving systems. Above: Christa’s Cado Wall System. Continue for more views of her Cado… for historical info about this wall system… and for shopping tips.
Christa’s Cado wall system:
Christa writes:
Hi Pam –
I don’t have the String system, but the similar, all wood version of the Cado system…interesting that such similar ideas all were designed at around the same time .
I ended up getting mine from CraigsList, but it did take months and months to find it.
The reason…well my wonderful mid century split level has some floors that are, well, wobbly if you walk to hard…especially the dining room. My vintage blonde china cabinet was great, except that every time somebody walked by it, it would sway and things would clank and clunk inside (it made me afraid for my grandmother’s china!)
So a teak Cado system, that attached to the wall ( they have floor standing ones as well) Solved the problem. Too bad the wobbly floor itself is not so easy to fix!This type of system is so flexible (actually have Elfa in my daughters room and our study) and can work just about anywhere you want to put it!
I took these a while ago, I have done some “tweaking” since I took these, especially with the Viking glass, ( LOVE Viking Epic…I have gotten slightly addicted) I got some more pieces, I move things around…it is a constant thing.
I have another wall-mount and one other cabinet for the Cado, but as you can see, two bays were all I had space for or need , but I have them safely tucked away in case I change my mind and want to put this somewhere else.The “down side” to this (the Cado)…actually getting it on the wall…if your measurements are not PERFECT, the dowels on the back of the cabinets will not go in the holes. I learned that my studs are not straight in the walls…as if I got the upright in a stud at the top, it would not go in a stud at the bottom. It took about 4 hours, 3 people,( myself, DH, and a very patient and tall friend ) several bruises each and much cursing to get it up. I would assume that when the system was new there was some sort of template, so you could easily get things lined up, but those are long gone I fear.
Thank you, Christa, for sharing these photos and advice. Your home is drop dead gorgeous!!
About the Cado wall system
I went searching all over the internet trying to piece together a timeline history of the Cado system. The timeline is incomplete, I note* where I am missing info or am confused.
- According to the 20th Century forum, the official name of this design is the Royal System. Although then I read there was also a design called System Cado. Confused*. In any case, these were designed by the Dutch architect Poul Cadovius, and manufactured by Cado, Cadovius’ eponymous company.
- I found a Wikipedia entry for Poul Cadovius. It appears to be in Danish, and the translate pop up is not popping. However, I think I can read that Cadovius died just last year, 2011. He lived to age 99! I also am going to guess that the Cado wall unit was spotlighted (introduced???) at the Milan Trienniele in 1957? Can anyone translate for me?
- I scanned the Wiki on Danish Modern Design — and he does not seem to be mentioned. It is interesting — the Cado wall units seem to be very popular — very well known — but there is very little information I can find overall on Poul Cadovius, Cado manufacturing, and the history of these units.
- At Made-Good — a site about Danish design — they describe the impetus of the Royal System: “Poul Cadovius, was in the fifties looking for a furnishing system which would give a maximum of comfort, underline the personal atmosphere of the interior, was easy to assembly, offer a lot of combination possibilities and made the living space larger.” They add that, “In the late 60s [1964, another post indicates] he (Cadovius) (als0) bought the famous manufacturer France and Sons and produced many more furniture under the label of Cado.” Cadovius/Cado went on to produce a variety of other furniture designs.
- This Design Addict forum (now offline) says the first Cado was a freestanding system — they have a photo — and that it was designed in 1955. Its classifieds section also indicated that the Cado system was available in a number of woodgrains — teak, walnut, mahogany, rosewood… — as well as white. You can also see the variety of components.
- The Good Mod adds that, “These systems could be ordered from catalogs and furniture stores in the 1960?s – 70?s. There were many different types of cabinets, shelves, lights, standards or uprights and styles. Whether you needed a desk, a table, a stereo cabinet, china cabinets or a chest of drawers, you could customize the system to fit your needs.”
- Looks like Roche Bobois started distributing the Cado system in 1962. [I’m confused about when Cado manufacturing came into the picture.] Note, they say it marks the end of conformity in shelving sizes, “The break in conventional sizes has just begun.”
- On this forum I read that there are two designs of the Cado system — one with metal fixings, one with wood. Here is an edited excerpt: [One design] has the metal fixings and supports which hang in the sides of the wall battens. Here is a clear example. [The other design] has wooden supports with angled wooden dowels in the back which fix into angled holes in the front of the wall battens. (Christa has this all-wood system; here is another clear example. The joinery involved means these systems are often considered more desireable. This also means it’s a nightmare to put up as there is zero tolerance. The [system with metal fixings] is much more forgiving and is easier to find. *Still confusion over which was called Royal System vs. System Cado. Confused*.
- I cannot find any information on when sales of the Royal System ended.
- Interesting article — more info about Poul Cadovius’ career here. A photo too. Scroll to “The Story Behind Circulhuset” about half way through the PDF. In short, she says Cadovius was a well-known and prolific designer, with 400 patents. She also says that Cadovius had gone bankrupt by 1981.
- But golly gee, looky here, the Cadovius’ Abstracta modular shelving, designed in the 1960s, still is for sale — looks like it’s manufactured in K-zoo! That’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Elvis still lives, btw. The Abstracta appears to be mostly targeted at the retail display market, but there are a few pieces designed for home: The cube table! Of course, we all recognize the cube table!
And… how’s this for some loveliness — a video that shows the original turntable and speakers:
Cado wall systems buying guide:
My tips:
- Cado systems seem to be well known among dealers and collectors. They are very recognizable to the infomed — which now includes you. However, that means, that if a dealer or collector gets one in-hand, he or she will price it accordingly — likely starting at $1,000 or more, depending on the pieces available and the condition.
- If you are looking for a bargain, I’d say try estate sales and vintage stores, especially those in smaller cities or towns where they be fewer buyers tuned into the mid mod. Look to the walls! Keep your eyes peeled! I tend to think that Cados were pretty popular back in the day — they are out there to be discovered.
- You can also watch craigslist. Search Cado, teak, danish modern, midcentury, shelves, wall unit… etc. Mix up your terms. For example, I spotted this unit for sale in the New York City area, and the seller gave me permission to feature the photo here:
Cado wall system with desk, $1250 (link now gone): Beautiful and practical Danish modern teak wall system designed by Poul Cadovius. This system as shown in the photos is particularly rare as it comes with a separate drop-leaf desk. The condition overall is in good condition with a few scapes and bumps that comes with age. [Thanks to the seller for giving me permission to feature this photo.}
- You can also find Cado wall units on ebay and etsy — but you will likely not be able to see what you are buying in person, of course.
So there you have it: Cado wall systems. Paol Cadovius, well done!
Steve Philips says
Pam: Through many convolutions, Christy B’s email address is still not valid. But if she’s still keeping up here’s what I tried to send her. Photos needed —- but not to be!
SVP
First I am sure that you have a piece of a Royal System system, not a piece of Cado. The bracket shown gives the big clue.
Since I own, and once sold & installed only Royal System, I am ignorant about Cado other than these differences. Royal has vertical standards (strips prox 1 5/8″ wide) with holes that are equally spaced vertically (prox 1 3/4) and drilled parallel to the wall surface —- meaning they are on the sides of the standard. The holes in Cado are on the face of the standard.
Shelves use a uniquely shaped bracket that fits into an upper hole and a small pin that fits in a lower hole to support the shelf.
Cabinet pieces use a long pin — that’s really a short bar — that fits into the hole. That odd bracket on the back of the cabinet hangs over the bar. Small cabinets have top brackets and large cabinets have brackets top and bottom. When the cabinet is hanging, it is designed to overlap the standard only half way. That’s so cabinets can be placed adjacently. Thus the bar was long enough to go though to stick out on both sides to hold those adjacent cabinets.
(Pam: I had included photos here showing a cabinet hanging, and the hanging pin without cabinet on it, but i-m-a-g-i-n-e.)
So (finally!!) here’s simply what I’d do. Cut a piece of wood the height of the cabinet and about 1 1/2″ inches wide. Drill a hole in the side of that wooden piece the diameter of a 20 penny nail at the top — in line with the upper bracket. Same at the bottom. Screw your strip to the wall plumb vertical. Stick the nails in the holes. Repeat this on a strip for the other side. Hang ’em level with each other. Hang the cabinet!
Probably missed something critical. Clarity? Questions?
SVP
Steve Philips says
Jason:
Jill is correct.
As long as verticals are properly installed, books are not a weight problem on (the Royal System version) of Cado.
“AS long as verticals ARE properly installed…”!!
SVP
Steve Philips says
First: Apologies to Pam. Truly. Edit this however you wish.
Second: Note to Christie: Evidently I’m so preciously wonderful that our site protects me from any/all possible evil slights arriving via spamishness.
So: Just repeat your lovely flattery (above) about my wonderfulness to our site. Then we (F&M) can capture your address — for me!…..
Third: More apologies to Pam. Really, though I was more easily found. Looks as though I’m in the Witless Protection Program
SVP
pam kueber says
haha. I like that, “The Witless Protection Program.” Will steal it sometime soon.
Jason Orans says
I am very interested in a cado system but I have not been able to determine one thing – can these be used as book shelves or are they not strong enough? I’ve never seen books on a cado – only figurines etc.
Jill Henshaw says
Very strong. Some people put tvs on the units. I am trying to figure out how to sell mine.
jason orans says
i am looking on craigslist and ebay for local pick up in NY. there is also a way to sell here on the forum. https://retrorenovation.com/forums/ if you are within 100 miles of NYC and you list there maybe i can buy yours!
jill Henshaw says
Unfortunately, Wisconsin. Not a huge market around here for Danish furniture!
Steve Philips says
Pam/Christy B.:
Correct!
Will respond once we have your e-mail address
SVP
Christy B. says
Hi Steve,
As suggested, I’ve sent 2 messages through the “Contact” button on the Flavors and More magazine site, asking that they be forwarded to you.
I haven’t heard back yet – hopefully you are enjoying a nice, long, relaxing vacation somewhere!
Hope to hear from you soon!!
Thanks in advance.
Steve Philips says
Pam/Christy:
Treasure Steve here.
Step#1:
First go to flavorsandmore.com so you can see that I’m not a Random Royal System Stalker! (You might even email our site to verify that I’m actually real!)
Step #2:
Then we should go to emailing each other out of this venue to preserve your privacy —– unless Pam has another/better idea.
I’ve got a couple of ideas as to how to hang your orphan piece and think that photos would help far more than my potentially windy 10,000+ words.
You guys let me know how to implement this..
Happy New Year, the year of the hanging cabinet.
SVP
Christy B. says
@Steve, I went to the link and read some of your articles. They are not only informative but hilarious!!!
@Pam – could you email us privately with one another’s email addresses?
Thanks!!
pam kueber says
Christy, I prefer not to be in the middle of things like this. I hope you understand. Can you contact him via his website? I think that’s what he was suggesting.
pam kueber says
christy — i can see his contact box at the top of his site….
Steve Philips says
Christie B:
You REALLY DO have a Royal System cabinet piece!
Steel pins (super dowels!, I guess you could say) were inserted into the holes in the sides of the vertical rails and the case pieces were hung on the dowels…. Note the notch in the top of the case piece to fit around the rail so the top of the piece fits flush with the wall surface.
Steve Philips
pam kueber says
Thanks for your help, Steve!
Christy B. says
@Steve – you are a treasure trove of information! Thank you!!
I’m having trouble wrapping my head around how it would hang. With that notch on the edges, I can’t figure it out!
I want to hang it by itself and I want it to look like it’s floating. If I can get one support (the vertical piece) and cut it to fit behind on both sides would that work? No metal rods needed?
Or, am I totally misunderstanding this type?!!
Christy B. says
I’m trying to figure out what kind of unit this is and the system to hang it:
http://retroseksual.com/pics/cadodetail.jpg
As you can see it has a horizontal wood “lip” on the top (there’s also one on the bottom), and then horizontal metal “clips” on each side (just on the top, not the bottom).
I want to hang just one cabinet as a “fauxdenza” but I want to make sure it’s secure to the wall!
The seller of that one and the person I bought mine from, labeled them as “Cado”, but obviously not since they don’t have the dowels.
THANK YOU!!!
Steve Philips says
To add a bit from one who was in the furniture business for 30+years:
Knock not veneer: In case goods, a properly veneered piece of stock, (quality cured core, properly applied, and thickness of, veneer built in proper facility) is superior to solid wood for the flat plane components. Dimensionally stable and no warp.
Low cost case goods necessarily have cheap veneers. Price point indicative of quality of product….. OK,that’s obvious…
SVP
SVP
Steve Philips says
To all:
From an olde (1968-80) Royal System dealer, installer and current owner Royal System — in teak!
Royal System shelves were veneer over particle board. Never warps.
Inserts for brackets were lined with poplar so they are light in color.
SVP
Jill Henshaw says
Thanks, good to know.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Steve!