I spotted this breadbox on Etsy – CLICK HERE to see it. It looks like the Nesco breadbox on I Love Lucy except the decal is different. See my earlier post about the breadbox I repainted to look like Lucy’s.
Update:
The breadbox pictured above has been sold – here is another one still for sale:
CLICK HERE for the Etsy Listing
Lucy uses a state of the art vibrating hair brush to make Rickys scalp tingle in the season one episode Ricky Thinks He’s Going Bald . This looks very like the Vitabrush vibrating hairbrush pictured below.
Look for the Vitabrush on eBay
BE FAIR TO YOU HAIR Want better looking hair? Embarassed by falling dandruff, itching scalp? Get the new VITABRUSH, the electic-automatic brush with build-in brush head motor… gives scalp and hair an invigorating “workout” in just 3 minutes. Cleans scalp, stimulates blood supply, distributes the natural oils. Fun to use – relaxing. Write for satisfaction-guaranteed offer – today.
Hersey Mfg. Co., 3714 Field Bldg., Chicago 3 (Popular Mechanics, Mar 1949)
Thanks to another Ricky for today’s post.
Rick writes: “This was an hysterical scene to say the least and Lucy & Desi played it to the hilt. If you recall, Lucy tortured Ricky with several things; one in particular was an Electric Scalp Massage Vibrator. In the scene, she even mistakenly goes too low on his face and starts massaging his eyes.
I cannot locate a similar 1950’s version that was used on the show, but it really did exist in the 1920’s and 1940’s.
Here are a few articles on these torturous devices and a few screen grabs.”
NEW SCALP EXERCISER IS DRIVEN BY ELECTRICITY
BALDNESS seems to be the fear of all men. Here is the newest remedy for that fear. The new motor-driven scalp exerciser is guaranteed to give the scalp all the exercise that it needs. Scientifically the principle that this machine exemplifies is correct. Since blood is the food on which all the tissues of the body feed, the supply must be kept fresh and plentiful. Exercise will draw the blood to that portion of the body that is being so developed. The scalp does not receive sufficient exercise to warrant the growth of hair and as a result baldness ensues. To overcome this condition, the use of hair tonics became common. The chief value of any tonic is the process of application. The rubbing that is always prescribed makes the blood circulate and thus helps the hair gain new life. It was found that the hand could not deliver as much exercise as was really necessary, so the inventor of the scalp exerciser got busy. His machine possesses four rubber pads that are comparable to the human fingers. The motor is at the top and by means of vibrating rods causes the pads to move, which action exercises the scalp. (Popular Mechanics Feb 1929)
Multiple Electric Vibrator Massages the Scalp
FOUR hundred and eighty artificial fingers give the scalp a gentle and beneficial massage, in a multiple electric vibrator just introduced. Light in weight, the appliance may easily be self-manipulated as at left, with the aid of two convenient hand grips, while four vibrating disks do their work in unison. The machine is said to stimulate the circulation of blood to scalp and brain cells and to remove all dandruff and loose hair. Source Popular Science – Oct 1940 – Page 126
In the episode Ricky Thinks He’s Going Bald Lucy goes to work on Ricky’s scalp with a variety of scalp treatments including this barbers scalp massager which looks very like the Stim-U-Lax Scalp Massager by Oster.
The Stim-U-Lax Scalp Massager pictured above is one of several vintage models available on eBay at present
Peter is back again ( thanks Pete!) with a great ID for the Asian boy and girl salt and pepper shakers seen in the Ricardo’s Kitchen: “Here is some information about the oriental style salt & pepper shakers. 
They were distributed by the Cardinal China Company which began in 1946 as the Carteret China Company, at Carteret, New Jersey, where they remained in operation until the 1960s. Cardinal China were distributors who added their own mark to products made by manufacturers such as American Bisque Co and possibly Shawnee Pottery. They were known as the first US company to produce a spoon rest.
These salt & pepper shakers were part of their Kitchen Companion line that also included a laundry sprinkler named “Sprinkle Plenty”, a measuring holder called “#1 Measure Boy” as well as a potted plant that held measuring spoons and a spoon rest shaped like a flower. Only the salt & pepper set were used on I Love Lucy and are often found on the side wall kitchen shelving. The other pieces to the set can easily be found however the salt & pepper are hard to come by”
Reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Official-Price-Guide-Pottery-Porcelain/dp/0876378939
Lucy uses a brass clad fireplace bellows in a scene from “The Gossip”. I don’t have a maker name for this yet but I found one with the same brass relief design on eBay UK this week – unfortunately the leather bellows on this one is damaged . Click Here for the listing
Peter shares another great find with us (Thanks Pete!), this time it’s the matching brass plate that goes with the brass pitchers we looked at previously:
Peter writes: “The Peerage company also made the brass plates that can be seen in the Ricardo’s home when they move to the country. Two smaller ones (probably around 10″-12”) are found behind the door to the den, as seen in episode “Lucy Raises Chickens” when she and Ethel put the 500 chicks in there to keep warm. But most noticeable is the larger one that sits on top of the fireplace mantel. Close ups can be grabbed when she’s cleaning in thr early part of “Building A BBQ”. I was able to find the exact pattern and like the pitchers (which they placed on the mantel as well) are pretty inexpensive. Here’s a link to one currently for sale: Vintage Brass Wall Hanging Plate – Pub Scene – Made in England. They mounted it to a wood circle. I can’t seem to find any that include the wood plaque so I think the prop masters made them specifically for the plates. I might try and do it myself if I can find a wood circle that measures around 18″
As Peter mentions above the brass plates were mounted on a wood backing for use on set – this may have been a practical solution to prevent noise from the brass rattling on set as the actors moved about – so if you want a similar look you may have to DIY or get a carpenter to make the backing boards.
Peter is back with another great find to share with us. ( See also his previous contribution on the mantel lusters )
Peter writes “The pair of french fashion prints can be found to the right of the kitchen door in the first couple of seasons. They first appear in “The Marriage License” episode then last until she gets new furniture and replaces them with the Trend banjo clock. You can then spot them in the Mertz’s apartment until they move to the country.
They were prints from La Mode Illustree and can easily be found on eBay but the trick is to find the illustrations that were used on the show. Here’s a link to a set that sold recently: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Oval-Framed-Fashion-Prints-La-Mode-Illustree-set-of-2-/261700000496”
The mirror Lucy is using above in the screenshot from an early episode is a Victorian style Bacchus mirror with easel stand. The cast metal figural Bacchus mirror is usually found with its original beveled mirror but not always with an easel stand. See pictures of one below with a stand like the one on the show. I have seen versions signed Emil Blaesius who may have been the original designer. The one pictured below is by Bradley & Hubbard marked B&H.
The photos of the mirror above are from one for sale on Etsy
at https://www.etsy.com/listing/181742227/bradley-and-hubbard-bacchus-mirror
A set of English brass pitchers are seen on the kitchen shelf on the I Love Lucy set. I was able to grab a screen capture showing enough detail to identify the patterns seen above. the larger pitcher about 8″ tall shows a seated man in a pub scene, and the smaller jug at 6 3/4″ tall has a nautical theme with a ship and lighthouse. There were two of the smaller jugs and one large jug on the kitchen shelf. See examples I found pictured below. They are made by Peerage Brass and are easily found on the secondary market often at low prices. Lucy’s pitchers are seen on the show from early in the series and later in the Newport house they are on the mantel along with matching plates.
CLick Here to Find Peerage brass pitchers like this on eBay
For the Juice decanter and glasses set also seen in the screen photo above see my earlier post here.