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.
Brook says
I just bought a home with the towel rack, the concealed scale, the revolving glass holder and the conceal-a-roll thing and a few others. I’m trying to buy another towel rack. I used to own an Eichler in Ca, this home is in Va, built by a builder for himself. An amazing all brick colonial home. I’m doing a Monty Python “and now for something completely different” sort of thing I guess. I just love cool houses. Thanks for showing me what I have in my new house, Pam. Brook
Dave Boron says
I’m very interested in purchasing several of the Hallmack towelscopes or even imitation telescoping towel bars. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
pam kueber says
Dave: Watch ebay (and my regular ebay madness carousels – if I see these, I surely post them)
subrosa says
my Grandma’s house had a lot of these Hall-Mack fixtures! i grew up in that big old house and remember the kitschy details so vividly still. as a kid, I was a little obsessed with the Handy Hideaway concealed toilet paper roll, and of course the Concealed Lavatory Unit was so 007 🙂 it really must be a testament to the durability of the line that my 4 older brothers and I never succeeded in completely wearing out that little revolving door. of course I also remember the Recessed Vanity Unit and built in tissue boxes. no scale, though, as far as I could tell… although who knows, the house was quite large (3.5 bathrooms total!) and we kids weren’t allowed access to every single area. I still dream about that house – literally. they sure don’t make ’em like that anymore. sigh…
BungalowBILL says
Oh snap. I’m good. lol I contemplated buying a house for the cool bathrooms once, but the fact that the balcony was right at a 6 lane highway overpass and a train ran through the back yard finally deterred me. along with a rampant bamboo problem. I’d keep an eye on your house though.
Jeremy says
The house is in Sacramento CA, Gladding McBean is 20 minutes away so that would make sense. I want the house for the tile alone, but the seller is asking way too much and will probably just hold on to it until the market recovers.
Jen says
Wow! I love that tile!
BungalowBILL says
OOh, nice tile. Those fish look darn familiar. Offhand I want to say Gladding McBean or Pomona, both California companies. Where is the house located, Jeremy?
Jen says
Our family vacation home as the concealed vanity shelf (although it is not built-in) and the extendo-bar. Next summer I’ll try to snap some pix for you, Pam! Of all of these, I find the ash tray to be most amusing/intriguing. How times have changed!
Jeremy says
I looked at an open house last weekend that had Hall-Macks galore. Each bathroom (including the powder room) had a fold-down scale. There were Tow’lescopes in the laundry room. Tissue dispensers and extra large TP dispensers with room for extra rolls and a little shelf for an ashtray (no magazine racks though) in all bathrooms. The bathroom vanities had two sinks each and two concealed lavatory units, and there were concealed lavatory units in the bathtubs and showers as well! The kids bathroom had the most amazing fish net tile. I dont see a way to attach a picture, but here is a link http://gallery.me.com/jeremysanford#100051
Jeremy
pam kueber says
Wow, Jeremy, that is some serious bathroom eye candy. Bungalow Bill: If you are ready this, can you ID that most wonderful EVER EVER tile? Thanks, Germay!
leftofcentergirl says
ooooh the tile!
Kathie says
I bought an old, neglected house and it has a Recessed Conceal-A-Roll! I had no idea until it almost fell out of the wall and revealed a tarnished necklace and an old matchbook. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s salvageable but I’ll certainly do my best.