Weekly update: Stephanie and her family have continued unpacking, cleaning up, and counting and measuring all the New Old Stock cabinet parts found in the family’s warehouse full of New Old stock Hardware store stuff (affiliate link). <— Click that link around 3:30 today (Friday) Central and her ebay store will be loaded up with sneak peek HERE ON RETRO RENOVATION: New Old Stock Youngstown Diana countertops [note the integral edging and backsplash] topped with Formica Charcoal Skylark laminate sections…. Youngstown countertops topped with Formica White Skylark countertop sections…. Youngstown countertops topped with Formica Green Linen countertop sections… Youngstown cabinets… Whirlpool cabinets… even some Universal-Rundle cabinets… oh my.
Stephanie writes:
I have 8 pieces of charcoal Skylark…
2 pieces of white Skylark…
and 5 green Linens….
Cabinets:
10 meridian blue Youngstown…
12 white Youngstown…
4 Sunset Copper Youngstown (sitting in front of the counters, which are Green Linen)…
3 Yellow Dawn Youngstown…
3 Sandalwood Youngstown…
35 Monterey Sandalwood oven housings with pull out drawer…
7 white RCA Whirlpool cabinets…
2 Youngstown sinks…
And more — see our slide show below.
And again, all the action will start around 3:30 p.m. Central Friday here (all affiliate links):
- Lots of NOS from an old hardware store
- Mac and Iphone and IPad users try this link instead
— when you get there, look for the Search box that says SEARCH WITHIN STORE, then type in New Old Stock to narrow search.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read any captions… click anywhere to move forward and look for previous and next buttons within photo to move back or forth… you can start or stop at any image:
Vicki LeResche says
I just bought all of the Youngstown Meridian Blue kitchen cabinets and I am SO HAPPY to be able to put authentic to the period cabinets in my 1954 kitchen!!! We are lovingly restoring our midcentury modern home and these cabinets will be treasured! A few only need cleaning, many are in pristine condition and the two that really need work were thrown in for the price paid for the other ten. Stephanie was TERRIFIC and I’m grateful she is undertaking the daunting task of uncovering two entire floors of treasures. I drove to Kansas City Saturday and can tell your readers it is worth the trip!
This wonderful hardware store’s upper floors are HEAVEN to midcentury lovers! Vicki
Mary Elizabeth says
Lucky you, Vicki! So happy somebody got those lovely blue cabinets. Now you need to start collecting Pyrex Butterprint or some such to show off the cabinets! Be sure to send Pam photos of the finished project.
Grama Robin says
The white Skylark has never been reproduced. I’ve been watching for years because the counters and dinettes in my vintage camper were done in it, and there were scratches. Plus I’d love to make a matching side table. I’ve polished them enough to make them presentable, plus there’s that selective positioning of decorative items, but I’m wishing there was some white Skylark laminate stock to go with the finished counters so I could finally make that table!
Mary Elizabeth says
How close are you to Kansas City? Maybe you could buy one of those counters and cut it down to make a table.
Penny says
I’m happily perusing all the photos but can’t work out how to read the captions. Is there a trick to it I don’t know?
pam kueber says
There aren’t any captions in this particular one.
Joe Felice says
After studying the slides, I have some additional comments and questions.
1. The guy who is dusting stuff off should be wearing a mask. There could be some nastiness in that dust of 60 years.
2. The base-cabinet supports look like they’re recessed a bit further than today’s toe kicks.
3. Did people finish the toe kicks, or just leave them black? I seem to recall that some homeowners ran the linoleum up under the front of the cabinets, as an integral cove molding. I don’t recall that they had ready-made cove molding in strips or rolls, like we do today.
4. The sink bases came with punch-outs for different options.
5. I can see why people were fans of shelf paper. You’d want to protect the bottoms, especially from moisture. I do recall often seeing rust on the bottoms, especially under the sink.
6. These are truly modular kitchens. Even the counter tops come with a rounded corner. Just slide the pieces in, hook them together and go. I love it.
Joe Felice says
Stephanie has become our own personal trip back 60 years. What a resource. I just love seeing the new stories and e-bay listings every week. The meridian-blue cabinets with boomerang handles are just too cool! It appears there are matching counters, though I’d probably pair them with something contrasting, yet coordinating. Just yesterday, Marni wrote in her column that blue is the most-popular color for kitchens, and will probably remain so for some time.
I didn’t realize Whirlpool had made cabinets, though it only stands to reason, since its major competitor, GE, dabbled in cabinets for a while, too.
I’m jealous of Mary Elizabeth. I wanted to be the “Queen of NOS!” LOL
pam kueber says
I had never seen Whirlpool steel cabinets until these. We have a story on them (so’s they’re properly counted and categorized) coming. I think we have 75+ brands now identified!
Mary Elizabeth says
My favorites are the blue cabinets and green linen countertops. (Of course, they don’t really go together.) I found a green Wilsonart that was similar to that linen style when I redid my knotty pine kitchen.
Karin says
Retrophile. What a great word to share with my baffled relatives. The cabinets are indeed a gift. I think they are in remarkable shape for their age. In my neck of the woods in Canada, they are very rare and what cabinets were in houses often ended up in dumpsters. I have literally never seen so many Youngstowns in one place before. Usually only the sink cabinets turn up once in a while. Even rusted cabinets get snapped up to fix up and complete sets. Sigh. I envy the lucky people that get them.
Laurie Louise says
Those blue cabinets are to LIVE for! Loads of thanks to the fam for sharing. Such a gift to us retrophiles!
Tom says
Noticed a lot of the stuff listed is very damaged not what I consider NOS but still fun to look at.
Carolyn says
Jeez, Tom, who bit the ears off your chocolate bunny? Some of the ‘damage’ could just need a good cleaning (5 Green Linens) and if it doesn’t come off, well that’s where you put your canister set/toaster/coffeemaker and no one’s the wiser.
The 12 white Youngstown? It’s an upper cabinet so you just don’t invite tall people to your house or keep them out of the kitchen (that’s my cleaning method “never invite people taller than you can dust” – I didn’t say it was a good method, just mine.)
Now I’m still pretty new to this NOS but I think the definition is it’s “never been installed/out of the store and was ordered forever ago.” If the buyer thinks it’s a good price even if they have to do some reasonable repairs especially if they’ve just about given up finding this exact/pretty durned close countertops, cabinets, etc., then it’s all good.
Am I right, peeps?
Tom says
I learned about NOS from Pam she is an expert on NOS and it means New Old Stock which would translate to new condition meaning no repairs needed. I said it’s still fun to look at but it’s not all NOS from what I read on this site. I’m not trying to be negative just giving my opinion of what I saw posted on ebay for these metal cabinets.
Of course there is some amazing stuff to buy here but is it truly NOS condition? Love your saying “who bit the ears off your chocolate bunny”
Maybe Pam should educate us all on the definition of NOS.
I didn’t mean to sound negative I was just a little surprised to see so many of the metal cabinets in need of paint etc. when the hype was NOS condition.
pam kueber says
I did not look at all the photos closely. It could be that some of the stock was damaged over time, while it sat in its boxes or was transported.
“Mint in Box” would indicate awesome condition. “Mint” being the operative word.
“New Old Stock” does note necessarily imply perfect.
But all this is splitting some hairs. I think the important thing is transparency: Is any damage or imperfection(s) disclosed. That’s what buyers need to know.
Mary Elizabeth says
Pam, my sisters have started teasing me by referring to me as “QNOS,” Queen of New Old Stock, because among other things I have bought two NOS vanity sinks to go with my pink bath and green bath. Now I am hunting for 1960s and 1970s bed linens that are NIP (New in Package). I have managed over the last year to assemble several sets or partial sets for my queen and double beds. From following many listings on eBay and etsy over the past years, I have discovered that NOS does indeed mean never used or installed, but often the items so labeled have been damaged during moving or storage (for example, plates stacked without protectors, boxes dinged by movers, a sheet package slit by a boxcutter). It’s always a good idea to check out the photos and description and contact the seller with any questions.
pam kueber says
I should do a story that identifies and then defines all the acronyms and terms:
Mary Elizabeth says
Great idea, Pam! Plus, you might mention the difference between “retro” and “vintage,” as well as the difference between “vintage” and “antique.”
Mary Elizabeth says
No, Brenny, there is no “NOS” degree. One becomes an expert in it by experience–examining a lot of online and in-person sales (estate sales and the like) and recognizing what sellers usually mean by the term.
Brenny says
I’m aware……..Just a bit of sarcasm infused into a silly situation. Anyone who has been in the retro world for many years is an expert in a sense.
Mary Elizabeth says
Also, NWT and NWOT.
pam kueber says
Thanks, good ones!
Deanne says
EUC
ISO of INO
Joe Felice says
I think a lot of what we see is dirt, and maybe some rust. Most could probably be cleaned off, but I’d certainly inquire first.
brenny says
How exactly does one become an expert in New Old Stock? There is no “degree” in that. It’s just New Old Stock. Doesn’t even necessarily imply “perfect condition”, just that it’s new old stock.
Laurie Louise says
Carolyn–Years ago I had a tall friend who would tell short me that I would never find a boyfriend because I didn’t dust the top of my fridge. I’d tell him he was welcome to grab a rag and help the cause. Funny, he never did. (I’m happily married and still don’t dust the fridge roof often. Don’t tell anybody.)
Carolyn says
My idea of cleaning is to “sweep a room with a glance” – too many books to read and I’m only halfway through all the RetroRenovation blogs…
Mary Elizabeth says
Carolyn and L.L., I really like your housekeeping suggestions. The top of my fridge is hidden under an upper cabinet. I did dust it–when I moved in 5 years ago! 🙂
Joe Felice says
Well, back in the day, Sunbeam made cool stools with pull-out steps for getting up high. (Though I never did feel they were all-that sturdy.) Today, they have a Swiffer for you! LOL
I can’t tell you how-many hair cuts my mom gave me on that yellow step-stool. Ah, yes, the memories! (“And if you don’t sit still, it’s going to be ruined.” One time I coughed, and she left a big hole in the back of my hair. Wish mom were here to reminisce with me.)
Mary Elizabeth says
Great memories, Joe! In my case, Dad was the amateur barber and Mom did permanent waves (“Toni” brand). I have one school photo with a permanent gone to frizz and a chunk out of my bangs. 🙂
Sarah Janeczek says
I have the Skylark countertops in my original 1954 Youngstown kitchen! I didn’t realize that the countertops and trim came as one piece!