Update: Sold on ebay for $306.59. “New Old Stock is golden,” the New York Times quoted me. 🙂 Yup, I am the huntress: Another rare and wonderful oddity found in the package and for sale on ebay: A Westinghouse Appliance Center, a newley discovered design maybe. In this ebay carousel, there also is a highly desirable revolving hidden Hall-Mack toothbrush holder.
Precautionary Pam reminds, if you buy the appliance center, be sure to consult with a licensed professional over wiring and installation.
Thanks to seller shadowsam for permission to feature all these photos (after the jump) from their listing, for posterity. Shadowsam says it came from an estate sale. [listing long gone].
oooh, mini breakers!
Mary Jo Bonds says
We have two Hall Mack revolving toothbrush holders but cannot find plastic glasses to fit the round hole. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks
Mary Elizabeth says
Have you tried the 8 oz. acrylic glasses from Corelle?
http://www.corelle.com/search?q=corelle coordinates drinkware&sz=35
Katie says
We are moving into a rental house that has a kitchen timer very similar to this one. Our landlords didn’t know what it was, but said it was just easier to leave it than to remove it. However, if we ever wanted to remove it we were welcome to. It’s an old westinghouse & looks more like the one in this photo https://retrorenovation.com/2009/01/26/house-hunting-the-perfect-mid-century-house-in-portland-oregon/ Are people actually looking for these?
pam kueber says
The last NOS model spotted recently on ebay sold for $299, it appears: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/12/18/nos-sunbeam-kitchen-appliance-automatic-control-panel-4-other-designs-ive-spotted/
Patrick Coffey says
If you guys had a kitchen drawer like I do that is stuffed full of detachable vintage appliance cords that go to your vintage smalls that you use on a regular basis then I honestly do believe that this appliance center with its retractable cords would make a lot of sense. It would also make sense if you wanted to be able to set your vintage percolator to have the coffee ready when you got up in the morning or if you wanted to set your vintage electric roaster to turn on and or off at a preset time seeing as this same appliance center has its own timed circuit. I know you can get modern digital appliance timers but I would not trust them myself. I would love to have a thing like this in my kitchen…and then I like the added safety of this center having its own set of circuit breakers too…to my way of thinking it is a double safety feature
Chris H says
I don’t really get it. Oh, I get the NOS oddity conversation piece factor, I just don’t get why anyone would actually want to use one.
You have to arrange all your counter top appliances within cord reach of the appliance center. Multiple outlets, especially if on different circuits, seems much more sensible. Is the idea that this device keeps you from overloading circuits?
pam kueber says
I’m not sure… However, to your point: These things did not catch on…
Mary Elizabeth says
Hence still in box. Somebody got it for Mother’s Day, said, “Hmph. Thank you. I guess,” then stored it in the attic?
Ann-Marie Meyers says
I had those stickers! I put them all over my violin case, which my sister has.
Her daughter plays it now. The stickers look a little ragged, the ones that have survived, anyway. I just saw them last summer!
No, I didn’t put any on the violin. I was a trouble maker, but I feared the consequences of that decorating idea, from both my parents and my violin teacher!
Lynne says
I have one of the toothbrush holder lazy susan things in my pink 1955 bathroom. It works beautifully, and is still shiny bright chrome. Unfortunately, I can’t find toothbrushes with a skinny enough handles to fit in the old school sized openings.
pam kueber says
haha, I have written about this: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/08/26/toothbrushes-to-fit-in-vintage-porcelain-ceramic-toothbrush-holders/
Carole says
*quote*I am left with a dishpan full of old tv dials and appliance handles. Any suggestions?*unquote*
What altered artists could do with those!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
I was thinking the same thing.
Corinne Ness says
The house I grew up in had a toothbrush carousel! My folks installed it when they redid the bathroom.
Corinne Ness says
Now, we have phone& other electronics charging stations…
Michael Renly says
Hi my church thrift shop closed and I am left with a dishpan full of old tv dials and appliance handles. Any suggestions? I feel overwhelmed because there is also two milkcrates of antique brass lamp parts (not right for this site) that i am sorting and well, let me know if you have any ideas for knobs
Keith says
Hi. Do you still have those dials and handles? If so, I would be interested in them. I am an artist working on some unusual projects, for which those could come in very handy. Please contact me.