Retro Renovation » bathroom illustrations – 60s

Vintage 1960 electric bathroom heaters

pam kueber — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:00:26 +0000

VINTAGE WALL HEATERS, often combined with exhaust fans, are fun to find in postwar homes. Here are three models I found in a catalog from late 1960. They are from Nutone and Rangaire — and oh my goodness, those ceiling models in particular are awesomely atomic, don’t you think?

I have not done research yet on companies today that replicate these appliances, which seem to have been not-uncommon. Nor do I know of repair places. As with all vintage appliances, I caution anyone dealing with these to know what you are working with. For example – asbestos in the insulation? Consult a pro.

Above: Note the groovy tile. And the cabinet doors look interesting, too.

More groovy tile.

Looks like a fancy chrome hubcap, don’t you think?

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Mid-century American Standard Gracelynn sink

pam kueber — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:00:55 +0000

YES, I AM OBSESSED with this sink. I have one — in white, although I also love this icy gray — in my garage on hold for my tiny, storage-challenged master bath; I am waiting to see if the retro decorating gods also send me the vanity. Meanwhile, I have finally learned its official name: It’s the Gracelynn Cabinet-Lavatory. The toilet: The lovely Carlyle. You know it is one of my life goals to be able to name every midcentury toilet and sink on sight. This 1960 photo is from flickr friend Java1888, click the image to go straight to his photo stream. Another flickr friend, What Makes the Pie Shops Tick, has a 1965 American-Standard catalog posted where I found the name of this much-coveted sink, and more. Final note, I believe this sink was introduced in ‘59.

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18 rare vintage Hall-Mack bathroom accessories

pam kueber — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:00:30 +0000

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.

I’ve never seen this one – a Recessed Conceal-A-Roll.

Ah, the Concealed Vanity Shelf. Notice the enclosed electric plug in the last image.

A reader favorite, the Concealed Lavatory Unit.

Why do we find ash trays so enticing?

This is very cool, a grab bar with an attached soap tray.

That’s a dolphin on the left, a shell on the right. Both “winsome as a water sprite.”

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.

Concealed Tissue Holder, and Recessed Mirror Shelf for toiletries.

Concealed Toilet Paper Holder.

“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.

Hall-Mack Coronado bath accessories – the most popular line? HALL-MACK’S CORONADO line of bathroom accessories seems to be marketed...
Retro bathroom accessories from Hall-Mack — the Metropolitan budget line This is the last of the three Hall-Mack 1962 bathroom...
1962 Hall-Mack Aristocrome line I recently nabbed a 1962 Hall-Mack bathroom accessories catalog. Seems...

Retro bathroom accessories from Hall-Mack — the Metropolitan budget line

pam kueber — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:00:09 +0000

This is the last of the three Hall-Mack 1962 bathroom accessories lines: The Metropolitan. This was the budget line – and I think that it was also very very popular. Click on the image once, it opens in a new window, then once again from there – it will get quite large so that you can see the detail. Sorry I can’t do a longer post today — family is visiting so it’s a three-ring circus.

Hall-Mack Coronado bath accessories – the most popular line? HALL-MACK’S CORONADO line of bathroom accessories seems to be marketed...
1962 Hall-Mack Aristocrome line I recently nabbed a 1962 Hall-Mack bathroom accessories catalog. Seems...
More: MIB Nutone Food Center and MIB Hall-Mack bathroom hardware It’s always amazing to see this stuff still mint-in-box....

Six mid-century bathrooms, vintage 1962

pam kueber — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:20 +0000

There’s more to come in my series of vintage Hall-Mack bathroom hardware. But a pause here for some bathroom illustrations featured in the 1962 catalog. There are some really great ideas in these six mid-century bathrooms. Above: One of our favorite sink and vanity base combos, the American-Standard introduced in 1959. I think a reader just wrote to tell me that he or she had the sink in just this color. It’s terrific. And what about that fabulous toilet.

Look look look. The American-Vanity — longer. I have never seen this. I adore it! Also, I need to do more on yellow bathrooms, this is a wonderful color for a bathroom. This is a wonderful bathroom design in so many ways.

Very sophisticated. If you want a solid surface sink – Carrera Marble is authentic vintage. Note, I am told you must keep it well sealed, marble requires maintenance. Alternatively, there is a least one company that makes a Carrera Marble laminate.

These blue tile colors are available today, I believe.

I love the orientation of the tile in the tub surround. I am not sure you can get 1″x4″ tiles today. But you can get 1″x2″s in sheets and run them vertically like this….

The cover shot for my catalog. Note the greek motif on the bath mat. As we’ve seen and discussed before, Greek and Roman motifs really started to take off in the 60s.

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Hall-Mack Coronado bath accessories – the most popular line?

pam kueber — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:00:46 +0000

HALL-MACK’S CORONADO line of bathroom accessories seems to be marketed for a long time. It is also featured prominently in this 1962 catalog, and it’s also the main line in my other catalog 1956. The line certainly seems prototypical of the postwar era — I see the shape of the end-pieces for the toilet paper and towels, in particular, everywhere.

Very amusing that there is an ash tray in the lineup. We also see an ashtray in the “relaxation unit,” which I’ve shown in the past here. I’ll have more images of the relaxation unit from the catalogs soon.

I like that 3-arm swing bar. Does anyone have it? The 9″ grab bar with soap holder – that also seems rare. And the teensy toothbrush holder – cool. Seems to me that chrome-plated soap dishes and toothbrush holders always start to de-laminate. Meanwhile, I really like the robe hooks – they are just the right size. Have you tried to shop for robe hooks new today? Another item that’s designed on steriods.

Interestingly, the Coronado seems to have a crystal (I read: glass) soap tray, while the top of the line Aristocrome line that I featured yesterday had Lucite. Today we would think that glass was higher-end. I wonder if the novelty of plastic was the appeal…

Here’s the full lineup. Click on any image in this post several times – they will enlarge significantly so that you can see the detail.

Finally, keep an eye out. In Feb. 2008, someone on ebay had four complete sets of MIB Hall-Mack for sale for $65 a set. Don’t you get all shivery just looking at this photo? I want to buy it all and save it for a deserving renovator! If you are in the market, and you keep the faith, the retro decorating gods may likewise send some your way.

18 rare vintage Hall-Mack bathroom accessories This week’s vintage Hall-Mack miniseries concludes with 18 special...
1962 Hall-Mack Aristocrome line I recently nabbed a 1962 Hall-Mack bathroom accessories catalog. Seems...
Retro bathroom accessories from Hall-Mack — the Metropolitan budget line This is the last of the three Hall-Mack 1962 bathroom...

1962 Hall-Mack Aristocrome line

pam kueber — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:30 +0000

I recently nabbed a 1962 Hall-Mack bathroom accessories catalog. Seems that there were three principal lines of chrome soap dishes, towel bars, robe hooks and the like: Coronado – likely most popular; Metropolitan – budget line; and Aristocrome — the top-of-the-line suite. Today, I’ll show you the Aristocrome line.

Heading forward, I think I’ll start doing more features like this, that identify exact product names/lines. After 1,200 posts, I have a lot of bases covered. Now it’s time for the blog is moving one level deeper. I have it as a life’s goal to be able to name every vintage toilet on sight. Heaven help me.

For sure, the Aristocrome is defined by its beveled square backplate. The towel ring is called “stirrup” style.

Readers have asked – where can we get the removable lucite tray? I don’t know….honestly, I think I’d start by just going into a big, mainstream hardware store – I think these are around.

The complete line up.

Finally, the Aristocrome line also was available in polished brass.

My best proxy for all this stuff today: The expansive Franklin Brass line.

Here is the complete gallery, click on the image once…you’ll be in a new page…then once more, and it will open quite large:

Hall-Mack Coronado bath accessories – the most popular line? HALL-MACK’S CORONADO line of bathroom accessories seems to be marketed...
18 rare vintage Hall-Mack bathroom accessories This week’s vintage Hall-Mack miniseries concludes with 18 special...
Retro bathroom accessories from Hall-Mack — the Metropolitan budget line This is the last of the three Hall-Mack 1962 bathroom...

1964 time capsule gray bathroom

pam kueber — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:00:11 +0000

REMEMBER the recent 1964 split level time capsule, captured at an estate sale in progress? In addition to the awesome blue bathroom, there was a gray half-bath in great condition, too. I have a real thing for laminate vanities….maybe because they can be replicated relatively easily, and because they can give you lots of retro bang for not outrageous bucks. (Case in point: Cindy’s bathroom.) This gray vanity is wonderful. And, notice the built-in drawers, also in laminate, in the wall opposite. Formica’s Dunewood looks like it might be close-enough match, Cindy used Wilsonart beigewood. Check the other makers, too. One more slide show from this vintage split level house yet to come. Includes: bomb shelter.

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A “planter top” toilet tank lid from Eljer

pam kueber — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:17 +0000

A PLANTER MOLDED RIGHT INTO A TOILET TANK LID? Well, this is a new one to me… found in this ad for a 1964 Eljer Estate toilet. And of course – LOVE it. Has anyone ever seen this? Let’s all be on the lookout. Like spotting rare and endangered species in the (retro)Amazon. Carry your cameras, readers!

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1964 Romany Spartan tile – classic stuff for retro 60s bathrooms and kitchens

pam kueber — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:00:14 +0000

There definitely seemed to be this whole Roman thing going on in the early 60s. When did Spartacus come out? Vegas had Caesar’s Palace. Was everyone traveling to Italy?

Today I am traveling over to Cindy’s in Holyoke to see her house, then we are going to the Restore. To heck with Bergdorf’s and Nieman Marcus — we want to wade through used hardware and tile!

Cindy’s 1963 bathroom has Romany Spartan tile very similar to the 1964 stuff. It’s wrecked in places, and she has been doing a lot of research and footwork. I think that has found us all some new options. Full report to come! Oh gosh, and I have her report from S.J. Masters to post, argh, I forgot!