Every week I seem to be getting a new message from a reader — someone who has just made an offer on, or bought a 1950s 0f 1960s house — all excited that there is one of these in the bathroom: A Hall-Mack Concealed Scale. I’ve spotted these fold down bathroom scales and written about them several times, but to help these readers, I thought I’d do this stand-alone story so they can get right to it.
The above image was taken from a 1962 Hall-Mack bathroom accessories catalog in my private collection. As you can see, the metal box to hold the scale is recessed into the wall between the studs. It needs to be installed at exactly the correct point on the wall, so that the rubber-covered handle rests on the floor. I tend to believe that this unit came with a bathroom scale — but I am absolutely sure about this.
Above: I spotted this fold downscale at a 1964 time capsule house nearby. It’s combined in a nook that includes a laundry chute — very thoughtful design.
Above: Cindy has a fold down bathroom scale in her 1960s bathroom, too. I think that when I went to visit Cindy, this was the very first time I ever saw one. Ooooooooh, Ahhhhhhhhhh. Love.
The fold-down bathroom scale is not the only highly desirable vintage Hall-Mack or Nutone bathroom accessory. These “Concealed Lavatories” (above) — revolving toothbrush holders — are now going for more than $200 on ebay for New Old Stock. Golly — I have one in my attic somewhere that I paid $5 for, 10 years ago. I better go find it!
And I tend to believe that, most rare of all is the Hall-Mack Relaxation Unit: You get your toilet paper, your magazines and — hey — even your cigs right there where you need ’em:
“Luxurious and practical and designed with a man in mind…”
I think that Hall-Mack was ultimately purchased by Nu-Tone, so these vintage chrome bathroom accessories may be in later Nu-Tone catalogs, as well. I will have to put this on my list to research. Why did these fantastic ideas not perpetuate? The only real reason I can guess is: Simplification and cost-cutting, probably during some severe recession. Alas, it happens.
Susan C says
I don’t know if you noticed that my Hall-Mack scale holder (minus the scale, unfortunately) – my comment about which on another post inspired this post – is pink to match the tile.
There’s a picture of it in this album, along with a few other shots of interesting stuff in my soon-to-be house. It’s no time capsule, but has some neat stuff. I’d be very interested in any info about the toilet, especially, Wall-mounted, pink, looks to me like it was very expensive. Have a white one just like it in a yellow bathroom.
http://on.fb.me/LpYPUq
52 PostnBeam says
My built-in collection includes several concealed lavatory units, a chrome french door shaving unit, a couple “cosmetic boxes” with sliding glass doors, a relaxation unit, a recessed kleenex box with chrome cover, a recessed thermador heater, and a caloric fold down-scale is on its way now via UPS. A hall mack scale is ending in 25 min on the bay (the one using your catalog pic) … but it’s not on the carousel because it’s listed as “retro” not “vintage” … currently it’s at $205, which is the most I’ve ever seen one go for…
The only built-in I’m missing is the chrome TP holder that has a little box with a lift up door to hold a spare roll. Saw one of those once but it got away. I plan to install everything in a tiny 5 x 8 bath when it gets a gut reno! Who needs walls?
Oh, and I also have the built in stainless steel kitchen paper towel holder, both single, and the one with three rolls (paper, wax, tin). You can still buy smaller rolls that fit. It has taken years of searching but this stuff is all still out there, and can be found for reasonable prices.
52 PostnBeam says
The fold down scale on the bay sold for $240.
Lee in Florida says
Hmm… I’d be interested in seeing pics of the shaving unit.
TappanTrailerTami says
Ahh, the good ole days, when relaxing in the john was a priority! I should tell everyone who already has a relaxation unit, that I think it is a near *must* to also find a vintage phone to put on the back of the toilet….I think that was common back in the day too.
Not sure I would have a built in scale, since I really have an aversion to people scales in general, LOL. I never really thought about it until now, it’s kind of weird because I collect antique scales that don’t weigh people and love them.
Once in awhile you can still find the occasional built in goody, new. I spotted a recessed cabinet on Overstock.com that installs into the wall near the toilet and it stores the toilet bowl cleaner and toilet bowl brush out of sight. I was pretty jazzed about finding it and bought two, one for each bathroom….but it is white plastic and not nearly as eye catching as vintage Hall-Mack chrome!
wendy says
I have two of these! Found them both on ebay. Here is the first, it is in mint condition – although it’s very hard to photograph chrome, and my fingerprints show in the photo:
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/144225714
100% chrome exterior, including the four screws that hold the scale.
Here is the interior, which shows the only age issue – a very minor amount of surface rust on the part that recesses:
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/144225715
It is not a Nutone – the tag says Ketchum Manufacturing. The scale inside is a Borg 🙂 I have actually been afraid to get it installed, since it will mean chopping into a vintage tile covered wall. Yikes.
Here is the other – it is larger than your typical wall scale, (16″ x 24″), and it is a Nutone:
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/144226131
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/144226134
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/144226136
This one obviously needs repainting, but it works just fine. I love the gold speckled scale!
What I REALLY REALLY want is a built in paper towel holder, like the one in Nora’s time capsule kitchen: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/10/24/noras-time-capsule-house/
If anyone has an extra, I’ll trade you the white scale!
pam kueber says
WOAH! Thank you, Wendy, may I add your online photos to the post – so’s we have them as part of the historical archive?
wendy says
Sure! I can try to get better photos tonight. I think taking them outside might work better.
The all chrome scale’s tag says, in full:
G.M. Ketcham Mfg.
70-70 Eightieth St.
Glendale 17, NY
Sarah g says
Ive got the relaxation unit in my lavender jack and Jill bathroom! The daughter of the man who built my house in 1964 said that it was all the rage and that her dad thought he was so modern and high tech for putting it in. My tenant currently uses that bathroom and uses the ashtray nook to store her tampons! : )
Chris says
I’m dying laughing imagining some hairy ol’ guy, sitting on the john, reading a magazine with a cigarette stuck between his lips!
Geez, what a picture to have stuck in my head!
🙂
Russell says
There was another company called Marchand Inc. out of NYC that made some really cool similar products. There tag line was “conceal all accessories for bath and kitchen”. I have a recessed paper towel holder (found at the Springfield Restore), Kleenex holder, and a toothbrush and soap holder from them stashed away in the garage. Pam- you once featured a beautiful blue steel kitchen from someone famous, I want to say it was a musician that had a recessed paper towel/wax/foil unit from them.
pam kueber says
Louis Armstrong? Yup, I see what you’re talking about: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/08/16/the-louis-armstrong-house-museum-historic-home-with-mid-century-flair/
Russell says
That is it! Thanks – I was really getting annoyed when my Miles Davis search on your site was coming up empty. I think my brain was making some association between the color and his famous album “Kind of Blue”
Linda says
I am looking for more information about the Marchand company who manufactured bathroom mirrors and vanities in 1951. My house was built in 1951 and has an awesome bathroom mirror and matching vanity in it. I have not been able to find any information for sale about this manufacturer.
Lindsey C. says
Love these! I winder why houses no longer come with built ins?
Janet says
We installed the three bar chrome towel holder when we built our house in 1992. I also put in a great in-the-wall Kleenex tissue holder. They were from Nutone and were very expensive so I would bet that is alot of the reason they weren’t used much. The Kleenex holder must have been an old design because I couldn’t find a Kleenex box that fit in it so I had to crush and cut one down to fit every time I replaced it. They still had the scale holder then and I wanted to put it in but didn’t have a spot where it would fit. Also, the wall had to be blocked to screw any of them in properly to the 2 x 4’s, so it would have been difficult to install them as an afterthought; they really needed to be installed before the sheetrock and/or tile was put up.
Lee in Florida says
My Grandfather had the relaxation unit installed in a house he built… in 1987.
pam kueber says
good to know! Nutone, I bet!
Lee in Florida says
I’ll have to check next time I’m out there. It’s not chrome, though, it’s a brushed bronze (like all the bathroom fixtures, ick).
BlueJay says
I’m obsessed with built-in stuff! To me, it’s the coolest thing ever! These products really have that futuristic feel! I think you definitely hit on why these went out; cost-cutting. I imagine these were fairly pricey to produce. But the value of being able to walk into the bathroom and belt out in a 50s announce voice “Behold! The bathroom of tomorrow, today!” is just priceless! 😀
Marc says
Builders found that buyers wanted bigger spaces… more square footage vs. intricate design details like built-in cabinetry and appliance-like conveniences.
So lots of pressboard cabinets, pine trim and sheetrock.
pam kueber says
Yes, I think you are 100% correct.
BlueJay says
I’ll take smaller square footage if it means I can get built ins! 🙂 My ultimate favorite: the Modern Maid wall toaster. Lord help us if I find one reasonably priced. I think my wife realizes its a battle she cannot win…
Ann B says
They were also expensive to install. Think about it… slapping a toilet paper holder on a finished wall probably takes 10 minutes. Planning and installing built-ins took much more time.