• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Blog
  • Exterior
  • Other Rooms
  • Decorate
  • The “Museum”
  • Be Safe/Renovate Safe
Retro Renovation
Retro Renovation

Retro Renovation

Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

  • Home
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Blog
  • Exterior
  • Other Rooms
  • Decorate
  • The “Museum”
  • Be Safe/Renovate Safe
Home / Decorating ideas / decorating misc.

170 plastic Decorator Panels in 19 groovy patterns — New Old Stock for sale in Austin

pam kueber - May 7, 2012, Updated: August 18, 2021

“…I promptly dropped my phone and fell
out of my chair” – Dustin, upon the discovery.

crysta lite decorator panelsBoom! Pow! Welcome to Monday morning: Here is a great find: 170 new-old-stock (NOS) of 6′ x 2′ plastic decorator in 19 patterns, found in Pennsylvania and now for sale near Austin, Texas. And a first for the blog: This story has a back story of murder, too.

crysta lite decorator panelsAccording to seller Dustin, who contacted me with his fabulous find:

The majority are “Shatterproof, indoor Saftiplass by Lancaster products Co., 4030 Freeman Blvd, Redondo Beach California.” Others are labeled “CRYSTA-LITE Decorator panels by Manchester Products Co. 8966 Mason Ave., Chatsworth, California…. They have been sitting idle, stored flat, covered, and untouched for 30-40 years. These were never used, still with the original stickers, and maintain the same fresh, vivid colors as the day they were made.

crysta lite decorator panelsYup, they look pretty vivid, all right. Please note, though, that I played with the image files, adjusting exposures, dialing up the black, etc. Check with Dustin (more info before) to get a sense of true colors, which area always difficult to capture digitally…

Update: In photo above, you can see that Guy has one of these in his house, which I featured on the blog in 2010. It’s just like Dustin’s green guy, only orange. It seems to be being used as the translucent side to a bookcase/cubby. Cool!!!

crysta lite decorator panelsFantastic.

crysta lite decorator panels

Dustin writes:

My father-in-law — who I will refer to as Yoda (consider me Luke) — is a picker in Central Pennsylvania. He called me one day (I’m the tech-savvy researcher) and asked if he should buy these panels. I asked him to send me a picture and I promptly dropped my phone and fell out of my chair.

crysta lite decorator panelsAs a fan of design (similar to an armchair quarterback) I realized these things were (1) very, very cool, and (2) a couple of searches led to the determination they are very rare. Further research determined that these were very popular in homes and restaurants from the 1940’s through the 1970’s, but the polystyrene panels have been out of production for decades.

crysta lite decorator panels I had him pull the treasure trove in an old Pennsylvania warehouse, where they have been sitting idle, stored flat, covered, and untouched for 30-40 years. These were never used, still with the original stickers, and maintain the same fresh, vivid colors as the day they were made.

crysta lite decorator panelsThe stack contains 19 or so patterns in a variety of colors, and we currently have multiples of each. They measure 6 ft. by 2 ft. and are approximately 1/8-inch thick. They are easy to cut with standard tools such as with a jigsaw, table saw, band saw, or circular saw, or they can be scored and snapped.

crysta lite decorator panelsThe majority are labeled “Shatterproof, indoor Saftiplass by Lancaster products Co., 4030 Freeman Blvd, Redondo Beach California.” Others are labeled “CRYSTA-LITE Decorator panels by Manchester Products Co. 8966 Mason Ave., Chatsworth, California.” Both companies went out of business long ago, and if you Google Manchester Products, you bring up an interesting story about the owners. [Pam takes the hint and investigates with the google: Yikes: In 1985, two brothers — who co-own the Manchester Products business with their mother — hire a killer to murder their parents… The “Ninja Murders.”]

crysta lite decorator panelsWith the right lighting, the panels are breathtaking. They can be used as room dividers, restaurant booth privacy screens, made into lampshades, sun catchers, or to restore a vintage door or windows and more ideas I probably can’t wrap my head around.

crysta lite decorator panelsThe panels have made a trip to Austin, TX. Some have been sold, but we still have at least 170 of them in 19 of the 21 patterns we have pictured.

crysta lite decorator panelsPrices range from $75 (‘cloud’ and ‘bottle’ pattern) to $125 (stain glass/intricate patterns).  We’re asking $100 on the “psychedelic interwoven” pattern panels.  We based pricing off of a number of factors:
  1. Finding these is a challenge — the first buyer that contacted us has been looking for 13 years for these.  His grandfather was a ear, nose, and throat doctor and had these hanging in his office.  The gentleman still remembered them from when he was 12 years old (around 1970) and has been wanting to decorate his office with them but has been unable to find them until now.
  2. The only ‘comps’ (comparable panels) we found was acryllic panels – even plain colored 6′ x 2′ panels run around $150-$200.  When you get into the designs you’re talking several hundred dollars.
  3. We asked an owner and good friend whose shop specializes in vintage architectural materials and his determination is that they would sell between $12-18 per square foot retail.
The one challenge is shipping: these things are delicate and large, so shipping really isn’t an option, therefore we need buyers to pick up (I’m about 10 miles north of Austin in Leander, Texas) and have enough room to lay these flat if they purchase a large amount (over 2 panels).
.
–> Readers (interested in buying any of these panels) can feel free to contact me at sitdropspeak@gmail.com.
Thank you, Dustin, for sending in this tip — so glad you found us. Hey, how did you find us, I ask? Dustin responds:

Hey Pam,

We found you through a lady who purchased all three of the Morocan pink and yellow panels.  She suggested I let you know about them.  Separately, I knew about your blog through researching some 60’s folding shower doors (I have 10 of them still stacked in their boxes in the garage, from the same place we got the panels).
 
I didn’t put two-and-two together until the lady made that suggestion.  I’m sure glad I did!  Thanks again for all your help and for promoting such an awesome style!
Hey, Dustin, Send me pics of those shower doors. We wanna see those, too.
 
Texas: Go get these panels, stat.

CATEGORIES:
Decorating ideas decorating misc. living room Other Rooms

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • vintage frieze upholstery
    Frieze upholstery fabric
  • naugahyde from c. f. stinson
    Where to find vinyl upholstery fabric, with the vintage naugahyde look

Reader Interactions

Comments are closed. 

93 comments

Comments

  1. jason says

    May 1, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Any updates on panels like these?

    • Devona says

      May 2, 2018 at 10:08 am

      I found a large stock last fall, but they’ve been snowed in inside a barn all winter. The snow has JUST melted where they are located so hopefully I’ll have more information soon!!

      • Pam Kueber says

        May 23, 2018 at 4:38 am

        Folks, no buying or selling on the blog or it becomes chaos.

  2. Jenny says

    July 5, 2017 at 2:33 pm

    Pam-

    I am going to email Dustin, but as this article is older I don’t have a lot of hope that he will have any left. I was curious if you have found any other sources since then or can give me some good key words to search ebay and such. I am not having much luck thus far. I would love to find some because the awesome (now unrecognizable) MCM I grew up it had the bottle glass version and so I have a fondness for that stuff.

    • Pam Kueber says

      July 5, 2017 at 5:21 pm

      nope, no new sources

      • Devona says

        September 5, 2017 at 7:53 am

        I’m working on something right now….may soon be a new source! Will keep you posted!! FIngers crossed!!

        • Pam Kueber says

          September 5, 2017 at 8:20 am

          Great!

  3. Chicago Char says

    March 1, 2017 at 12:39 am

    Pam I have to write and say you are very patient and kind with your responses to the commenters that seem not to make much effort to do any research on their own and are quick to ask questions that are already answered. I have observed it is an increasing pattern of behavior online and poor attention span – TLDR.

    • pam kueber says

      March 1, 2017 at 6:23 am

      Thank you for noticing.

  4. alyssa says

    January 16, 2017 at 1:29 am

    awesome,I know it’s way too late to get any of these,
    but i wish I could

  5. Eric lundquist says

    October 8, 2015 at 11:52 am

    Need 7 of an orange bottle glass 6 by 2 ft. I can arrange for ups to pick up. Could be easily shipped sandwiched between two pieces of 3/8 plywood then dUct taped. Can you do this as I am on San Francisco and can’t pick up. Eric Lundquist. 650 888 5096

    • pam kueber says

      October 8, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      Eric, please read the entire story. The email for the seller is in there. You need to contact him directly.

  6. MichaelM says

    July 15, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    Anyone know if Dustin still has any of these sheets OR some other resource? Would love a clear patterned panel, they are super cool. Michael.

    • pam kueber says

      July 19, 2015 at 11:17 am

      MichaelM, read the story closely – Dustin’s email is there

  7. Rick Wilson says

    March 24, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    Being Vice President / National Sales @ Manchester Products Company in Chatsworth California from 1977-1985…….i am capable of providing as many “Details” on our interesting Product Line of Polystyrene and Acrylic Ceiling and Deocirative Panels as I can…..to assist you!
    These Decorative Panels are certainly a “Blast From the Past” and I spent the “Best Years” of my career in the Lighting and Plastic Ceiling Panel Business at Manchester Products.

  8. Jody odell says

    January 13, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    I have a vintage trailer that I need a panel for. (see Holiday House on Facebook). Do you have anymore panels left? (I know it’s been two years since your first post-but they are VERY hard to find). Thank you for posting these wonderful pics of fabulous decorative plastics!

    • pam kueber says

      January 13, 2015 at 10:15 pm

      Jody, see the seller’s email in the story. You need to contact him directly.

    • Alice says

      June 19, 2015 at 6:34 am

      I see that there are some on ebay

  9. Joe Felice says

    July 15, 2014 at 1:46 am

    Are these real glass, or plexiglas?

  10. Wendy says

    March 11, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    We got three last year. I made my dad drive them up from Austin to Oklahoma City for me!

    • pam kueber says

      March 11, 2014 at 10:33 pm

      Now that’s a good dad!

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Primary Sidebar


Footer

Follow Along

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RENOVATE SAFE
  • About
  • Blog
  • The “Museum”
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Exterior
  • Other Rooms
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Notice
  • Disclosures
  • Contact

© 2023 Retro Renovation® • All Rights Reserved • Website by Anchored Design
Please do not use any materials without prior permission. Portrait by Keith Talley Photography