Vintage aluminum folding chairs are a triumph of modern engineering and a staple of mid-century outdoor living. They invoke a strong sense of nostalgia every time you fold one open, too. There were numerous manufacturers of aluminum folding chairs and loungers. Some of the more prolific and popular were from Telescope (who are still around today) and Adams Engineering. We have been collecting, and using, vintage aluminum folding chairs for years, and here are just a few of our favorites.
A complete gold anodized aluminum mid-century modern desk set. This stylish and incredibly well-built vintage office desk set was actually manufactured in the mid-1980's by Matel Manufacturing, Inc. who are still around today manufacturing commercial-grade office products (and in no way related to the Mattel with two L's). The set includes a desk blotter pad, a double-tier letter tray, a pen tray set, and name plate bar. The tray, pen set, and name plate are all made of brushed aluminum alloy and finished in an anodized satin gold tone. The blotter has a leatheresque vinyl top and matching satin gold aluminum bar arcoss the bottom. The same matte black vinyl lines the letter trays. The all-aluminum pen set has an envelope stand and various caddies for paper clips, notepad, pens, etc. All of the accessories are heavy and sturdy...the pen set alone weighs about six pounds and the completely solid aluminum name plate could easily double as an improvised weapon. The set was crafted with pride in Los Angeles, California, where Matel continues to manufacture ultra-high quality and highly stylish desk accessories. Here are some more photos of the individual pieces...
This sleek, single handle mid-century bathroom sink faucet adds a fine touch of authenticity to your retro bathroom renovation. It is an early Moen M4600 model, utilizing the same innovative single-handle technology used by the manufacturer since they first engineered it around 1960-1961.
Owning a Harris Strong tile wall clock is like owning a genuine piece of utilitarian art. Manufactured by the Harris G. Strong Company from the late-1950's into the 1970's, these amazing mid-century modern wall clocks are typically made of walnut veneer wood and decorated with the iconic Harris Strong tiles. Harris Strong tiles have bold and unusual colors and glazes, often with raised embossed images. The illustrated tiles always have a fun, abstract vibe, no matter what varied subject matter is depicted. Harris Strong and his team of artisans, which included artist Bill Chaiken, manufactured these tiles in his Brooklyn, New York facility...a former sausage factory! Harris Strong made a variety of elaborate tile art wall hangings, but these clocks are truly impressive timepieces that serve both an aesthetic and practical function. These are Harris Strong wall clocks from our collection...
These mid-century modern boomerang cabinet pulls are made of solid cast aluminum and finished in an anodized copper metallic finish. These are heavy, cold and substantially-cast pulls that have a quality feel and will be a pleasure to use in the kitchen or bathroom. Their retro metallic copper color is an excellent complement to many ceiling light fixtures of the 1950's and 1960's with the same copper-like finish.
A vintage shag rug ranks high among home decor items as a universally recognized symbol of cutting-edge 1960's and 1970's interior design . Here are some of our Ege Rya shag rugs. As prolific as the shag rug trend was, they are not so easy to come by these days. Vintage shag rugs can still be found on the internet (sometimes in surprisingly excellent condition). This particular vintage shag rug is an Ege Rya rug, measuring 6 feet x 8.5 feet. It has a classic retro color scheme of orange, yellow, red and brown. The dyed wool strands are laid out in an abstract pattern that is hard to define and easy on the eyes. There are no big polka dots or flowers, just tasteful lines, stripes, and scalloped borders laid out in a non-linear fashion. The rug was definitely used, and there are some threadbare spots and areas missing their shag strings. Fortunately, the colors are still bold and bright, and the worn spots really don't detract from the striking visual impact this vintage shag rug will bring to any room.
Older mid-century homes often had in-wall electric heaters installed in their bathrooms and other smaller spaces. Unfortunately, original heaters can "burn out" from overused heating elements and transformers (that is, of course, if they weren't already removed entirely during a HVAC renovation). However, working vintage in-wall heaters are affordable and easy to replace or install. In-wall electric heaters still make economical and aesthetic sense, too, even if you have central heating in the home. They typically have classic retro styles, featuring chrome or polished aluminum grills and glowing heating elements. They are also perfect if you just need a little warmth in the bathroom on a cool morning without having to heat the entire home. Here are a few examples of some vintage in-wall electric heaters we have rescued and restored over the years.
Using vintage outdoor outlet covers on your home's exterior adds a touch of genuine retro style to a patio or porch. Modern weatherproof outlet covers can be bland industrial eyesores and drab blemishes on your house. These Hubbell-Bell outdoor outlet covers have an all-metal construction, finished in a quintessential mid-century anodized green finish that will remind you of your grandpa's toolbox every time you plug in your boombox or electric garden tools. We found a stash of these new old stock outlet covers, complete and sealed in their original packages. We installed some of these on our 1973 ranch house, and they look awesome and work beautifully. They are equipped with modern polarized sockets in a classic brown bakelite-esque finish. The foam rubber waterproof gaskets are still in excellent shape, so these receptacles can be installed and used safely. Foam rubber breaks down in poor storage environments, so even "old stock" vintage outdoor outlet covers may need some updating before installation, but you can purchase inexpensive universal replacement gaskets at your local hardware store.
This vintage Gerber blue bathroom sink has a manufacture date of January 12, 1959 and was found with an early Moen brand single handle faucet. Made of vitreous porcelain ceramic finished in Gerber's iconic Dawn Blue glaze, this blue bathroom sink has classic mid-century style, complete with angled corners and mounting holes underneath for attaching optional chrome towel bars. Soap dishes are molded in the right and left ledges, and there is room enough on the shelf for basic toiletries. It mounts to the wall and is designed to use bathroom sink leg supports on the front.
These vintage Steelcase chairs feel like they were built to withstand an atomic blast. Steelcase has been around for over 100 years now, still manufacturing top-quality office furniture that is both commercial-grade and aesthetically-pleasing. Take this vintage Steelcase chair, manufactured in February of 1981.
