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.
atomicbowler-dave says
I do love all this stuff! I gotta admit that on the rare occasions I see it, I buy it and it goes into the “hope chest” for the house we haven’t got yet! For some reason scales are a big deal to us and I’d especially love to find a NOS scale enclosure. OK, I lied–I want ALL this junk!
This pertains to something Hall-Mack DIDN”T make, but might just as well have!
9-year (as of yesterday)-old Chloe has one little friend who comes over and uses about 1/2 a roll of paper with each visit to the kids’ bathroom upstairs. This might prove challenging anyway, but our plumbing is very slow due to not enough slope coming out of the house once the slab settled in the swampland it was built on! Much plunger, sometimes snake, just have ’em ready when this little gal comes a-callin’!
Anybody old enough to remember “%^$* Tickets”? Those little single-serving bi-fold squares of sandpaper the gas stations used to have in the little dispensers? You know, those dispensers-and the tickets-are still made? VERY expensive dispensers. Then we found one at the ReStore, Shiny Chrome and cherry as cherry can be for two bucks! Even full of tickets! LOOKS LIKE HALL-MACK!
Have not put into effect yet, as the tickets are rather stout (that was the idea as deterrent along with the need to pull them out one by one) and concerned a plumber might be needed!
Dave
Janet Gore says
Re: The Extendo-Bar
Saw this when I first found your site. Noticed a little “dimple” on the side of the towel bar in the downstairs bath. Last night I checked on it, and sure enough it’s exactly as pictured … though only one side can fully extend because of where the bar hangs. I believe that in actuality it isn’t quite as functional as it’s touted to be … but “looks” quite nifty!
Wes says
I am looking for Black Ceramic Towel Holder and Black Ceramic Soap Dish. Redoing bath tub area and need to find these items. Please help
pam kueber says
Wes, we have resources for these – they are archived on the Fast & Easy Bathroom page. Also accessible via: New? Start Here
atomicbowler-dave says
You know, I am this shipwright type…I play the steroetype when I need to, even…old, grizzly, make a 20-something Navy man blush and all. Alaska Shipwright at that, Union card and all. In some quarters you might as well be an outlaw biker!
That much said, **I** probably WOULD have BHG in my relaxation unit! (Right in front of ‘Fine Woodworking’ and ‘Wooden Boat’!).
Please do not ask or tell??
(tee hee)
Dave
YarmouthCindy says
Very cool. I certainly need space saving ideas in my tiny bathroom! I’ve had my eye on an Ikea towel rack very much like the three-in-one but alas, it doesn’t fold!
Tut says
The secret scale is far out. They do tend to get in the way in a small bathroom.
Brian P says
I just bought the concealable scale for my 59 ranch remodel. I can not wait to install! I have been looking for the relaxation unit. They are rare and pricey.
pam kueber says
Good for you! Where did you find it?
Samantha says
The copy for the Relaxation Unit is priceless!
Chris Dougherty says
I am SIMPLY in AWE!!!!!! How cool is that – the Original Man Cave!!!!
Lee B. says
When my Grandfather built his retirement house in 1987, he actually installed one of those “relaxation units” next to the “throne”.
jen says
I’ll take one of each, Pam. Ship them to my home immediately. 🙂
I love Hall-Mack! The idea of storing toilet paper behind the existing roll is great. I found it interesting that although the “Relaxation Unit” says it was designed with a man in mind, the magazines shown are not what the typical man would be reading. Better Homes & Gardens? I think not.
Elizabeth Mary says
Hi Pam,
What fun. And, what fun it would have been to be at the table when the name for the Relaxation Unit was born. Would make a good episode for Mad Men.