by pam kueber on May 5, 2009
ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for something we’ve never seen before, I was ecstatic to find this “Tappan Ultraflo push-button plumbing” innovation. It was featured in a copy of Popular Mechanics (Sept. 1963) that I picked up at Ron’s place last week. According to the story, mysterious unseen solenoids mix the temp magically so you never have to bother with those, what are they called again…oh yeah, faucet handles. This could be installed in the bathroom, too. Click through to see the groovy wiring diagram and full text.
And let’s hear your guesses… Why do you think this innovation failed? Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on April 22, 2009
Palm Springs Stephan is a wealth of info, and provides this info on a Southern California company still producing the 50s pink tile so common during this era. Don’t use any other pinks – they are not right! I am so excited at this find – a big one for the retro renovation community. Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on April 14, 2009
Wow. This company — Miscellanea Discontinued Bathroomware — claims to have more than 50,000 pieces of discontinued “sanitaryware” — toilets, sinks, bathtubs — making it the largest such salvage place in the world. “Over 100 Retro bathroom colours in stock including,” they say: “Coral Pink, Sky Blue, Champagne, Turquoise, Sunking, Primrose, Flamingo Pink, Pampas, Indian Ivory, Linden Green, Bali Brown, Misty Blue, Harvest Gold, Oyster, Whiskey, Wild Sage, Bone, 2-tone including Lilas Jaspe and of course Avocado, Avacado or if you prefer Avacardo…”
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on March 11, 2009
Remember the fabulous 1955 bungalow time capsule in St. Louis? Well, a few weeks ago I was able to arrange a special tour for some St. Louis readers and other mid century enthusiasts in town. Readers Shelly (left) and Lisa, pictured above, were able to attend and see the pristine living room, dining room, bedrooms, Republic kitchen and yes – pink bathroom – in person. Lisa reported: “The house is indeed perfectly preserved…It’s quite a place. It was quite an afternoon. And everyone was glad the new buyer is planning on keeping it as is.”
Many thanks to Shelly – whose brother took this great photo. Thanks, too, to Christopher Thiemet, the real estate agent who saw the potential in the house and knew it should be preserved. And thanks, finally, to the brothers who grew up in the house and allowed this very special visit.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also covered the story. One of the reporter’s points, as she reflected on why the interior was saved-for-sale rather than remodeled – and then successfully sold immediately:
Perhaps in reaction to the current consumption culture, there is a growing desire for the workmanship and sustainability of the past. Retro is the new green living.
Update Aug. 2009: Complete story no longer available on the newspaper website.
by pam kueber on March 9, 2009
Barbara Millicent Roberts and I were born in the same year, 1959, 18 days apart. As a result, I’ve always celebrated my major birthday milestones with her. Yes, Barbie and I turned 18 together… then 21… 30… 40… and yes, now 50. As I like to say: Those aren’t “wrinkles” – that’s “patina.”
To celebrate the momentous occasion of Barbie’s 50th birthday – today, March 9 – I asked Pat Henry — my good friend and editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly — to talk about one of our favorite girls. Pat is uniquely qualified. Like me, she played incessantly with Barbies growing up in the 60s and early 70s. I played with my Barbies til I was at least 13. When I asked Mom for the convertible for Christmas I recall she was seriously concerned.
Pat took the whole thing even further – becoming a successful NY fashion stylist and now, editor of a magazine all about fashion dolls as well as a teacher at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC.
And interspersed with our interview – images of Barbie’s Dream House, redesigned in mid mod style by Fashion Doll Quarterly’s doyenne of doll decor Maryann Roy.
Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on February 28, 2009
Group Therapy: Is your significant other into retro renovation and all things vintage as much as you are — or is your life a retro battleground? Has this interest strengthened bonds — or do you have to compromise (or finagle) to make it work? (Example: Like the couple in this 1948 GE advertisement, David and I juggle pretty well, but I admit, I have the estate-sale bug very bad and the number of things I constantly squirrel into the house is a source of conflict, to say it nicely…) Share your stories and tactics! This should be fun!
by pam kueber on February 16, 2009
Kevin in North Carolina — one of our readers — has amazed the retroblogospher by solving the “Sister Mystery” within 24 hours. I asked him how he did it, and here is his story – which is now a part of Maureen and Noreene Everett’s story:
Hi, Pam, it’s nice to finally meet you firsthand.
I’m just thankful I could help find out who the sisters were. Like most of the other people who saw Maurine and Noreene’s pictures, their obvious love for each other and for life struck a chord in me, and the mystery of the whole collection and how the photographs ended up on eBay intrigued me. History, genealogy, and preservation are some of my passions, and it saddens me to see once valuable possessions being sold off or destroyed and losing their original meaning. Fortunately, Roz gave the photos a new meaning to be shared by so many who never even knew the sisters.
Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on February 1, 2009
This rerun is for Sara, who is looking for a ranch house design to build. I originally ran this post back in spring 2008. Source for this design is the Small House Planning Bureau, St. Cloud, Minn. Year: No info.
“Not another one! Yes, another thing that I’m becoming obsessed with – collecting and then for hours, scrutinizing, vintage 50s house plans. It’s sort of like — the quest for Eldorado. The quest for the perfect little jewel box. Not that my house isn’t great. But I am intrigued to see if I can discover the perfect 50s house in the most compact footprint. I have these criteria, the house must have: Heck yeah there is more…
by pam kueber on January 20, 2009
A vintage Magic Chef range used only 28 times since 1955… a pristine pink bathroom… and more “frozen in time” features in this amazing time capsule house in St. Louis…The owners only ever lived downstairs! Thanks to Meredith and her connections for spotting it and sending it right in. Real estate agent Christopher Thiemet reports that the original listing agent interviewed had advised the sellers to gut-and-renovate-ala-2009 before selling the house. He saw the gem this was and advised otherwise. Thank heavens they listened. Christopher sold the house faster than the speed of light and before it was officially listed – to a buyer who bought the whole thing kit, kaboodle, furniture – and clothes hanging in the closets. Hurray.
Read on for the story – and be sure to see even more photos at Christopher’s excellent website here.
I am also reminded of this post – another family whose virtually unused kitchen was put in a museum. Heck yeah there is more…
by Pam Kueber on January 9, 2009
Just in. Couldn’t wait til tomorrow. $400. Annapolis. On Baltimore craigslist TODAY.
