“…I promptly dropped my phone and fell
out of my chair” – Dustin, upon the discovery.
Boom! 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.
According 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.
Yup, 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!!!
Fantastic.
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.
As 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.
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.
The 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.
The 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.”]
With 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.
Prices 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:
As 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.
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.
The 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.
The 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: 
With 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.
The 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.
Prices 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
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Wendy says
We got three last year. I made my dad drive them up from Austin to Oklahoma City for me!
pam kueber says
Now that’s a good dad!
Joe Felice says
Are these real glass, or plexiglas?
Jody odell says
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
Jody, see the seller’s email in the story. You need to contact him directly.
Alice says
I see that there are some on ebay
Rick Wilson says
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.
MichaelM says
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
MichaelM, read the story closely – Dustin’s email is there
Eric lundquist says
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
Eric, please read the entire story. The email for the seller is in there. You need to contact him directly.
alyssa says
awesome,I know it’s way too late to get any of these,
but i wish I could
Chicago Char says
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
Thank you for noticing.
Jenny says
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
nope, no new sources
Devona says
I’m working on something right now….may soon be a new source! Will keep you posted!! FIngers crossed!!
Pam Kueber says
Great!
jason says
Any updates on panels like these?
Devona says
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
Folks, no buying or selling on the blog or it becomes chaos.