Category Archives: 50s Retro

Ricky’s Scalp Massager

rickys scalp massager
Lucy gived Ricky a Scalp Massage in the episode “Ricky Thinks He’s Going Bald”

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.

Ricky Thinks He's Going Bald
Vintage Stim-U-Lax Scalp Massager -click picture to see the listing on eBay

The Stim-U-Lax Scalp Massager pictured above is one of several vintage models available on eBay at present

1950 Ad for Stim-u-lax scalp massager
1950 Ad for Stim-u-lax scalp massager

I Love Lucy Vintage Ronson Table Lighters

ilovelucytablelighters
Image credit: Seller ‘theunlimitedcollection’ on ebay

These original vintage prop Table Lighters are on eBay this week with provenance to the I Love Lucy show. CLICK HERE for the sellers page on eBay. They will be familiar to avid watchers of the show as they were on the coffee table in many episodes and used by the actors on screen.
If your budget does not stretch to original props then use the following links to look for identical vintage table lighters:

They would look great on the convertible coffee table.

I Love Lucy’s Mersman Hi-Lo Coffee Table

I Love Lucy  Convertible Coffee / Card Table
I Love Lucy Convertible Coffee / Card Table

On eBay this week is a Mersman Tables Hi-lo  convertible coffee table similar to the one on I love Lucy. coffeetable4It appears to be walnut wood and identical in style and construction to the one on the show. It can be adjusted in height and the leaves opened for use as dining or card table just like the one seen on the show.  It has a product number 1402S pictured in the  listing.  See pictures below from the seller’s listing or Click here to view full details on eBay
Alternative Listing for this table: CLICK HERE See this table on Etsy (US)

coffeetable
Source: eBay
coffeetable2
Source: eBay

Measurements:
Lowered 15.75″ high
Raised 26 2/3″ high
Top:
Leaves Down 36″ x 20″
Leaves Up 36″ x 36 1/4″

Inventor of the spring and hinge mechanism:
Boris Hoppe
Patented Mar. 6, 1951
US2544229

Lucy’s TV planter lamp

plantertvlamp
Image Source: Etsy

Mid Century Planter TV Lamp stamped Stewart B McCulloch California Pottery just like the one on I Love Lucy available for sale on Etsy Click Here for details
A planter lamp just like this one was used as a planter on the shelf next to the kitchen, as seen in the screen capture below,  in most of episodes of I Love Lucy, until they moved to the country. tvv lamp planter on i love lucy

Read more details about this piece on my Previous post: I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters

Lucy’s Cosy Ribbed Knit Hat

Lucy Ricardo Rib Knit hat
Lucy Ricardo Rib Knit hat

This is Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo wearing a cute ribbed knit alice band hat in a scene from an I Love Lucy  episode on the Newport home set. I am not offering a knitting pattern at present but it looks very easy to knit in a simple rib stitch with contrast stripe border.
You need:

Continue reading Lucy’s Cosy Ribbed Knit Hat

Lucy’s Bedroom Figurines

lucy-bedroom-figurines2 Lucy and Ricky’s bedroom figurines can be seen on the shelf above the beds in most of the bedroom scenes. The pair below are a match for one of the pairs of colonial style figurines that are easy to spot in many of the dialog scenes.

colonial pair figurines
Pair of Figurines Made in Japan – similar pair seen on I Love Lucy – seen on eBay recently

In  the occupied Japan period such figurines were imported in large numbers and found their way into homes throughout the country. The I Love Lucy set reflects this trend at a time when cheap imports were beginning to impact local industry, with inexpensive imported knick knacks seen on the set, alongside US made decor items ,often local California pottery, usually the heavier items.

Look for similar figurines in the Occupied Japan section on eBay and also in the Collectibles section Continue reading Lucy’s Bedroom Figurines

Ricky Jr’s Nursery Decor

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Dolly Toy Mother Goose Pin-ups in the I Love Lucy Nursery
Dolly Toy Mother Goose Pin-ups in the I Love Lucy Nursery

The “Most famous nursery in the world” was a showcase of the latest in nursery style. TV Viewers could buy the same items in stores and decorate their own nursery with Mother Goose Pin-ups from the Dolly Toy Company
The cute nursery wall pin-up pictures are the 50’s version of today’s wall art stickers, but they have a retro charm that would not be out of place in any modern nursery  or kids playroom.

hickorydickorydock1

dollytoypinups

Mother Goose Pin-ups as seen on the wall of the I Love Lucy nursery.
CLICK HERE To See Mother Goose Pin-ups on eBay
Continue reading Ricky Jr’s Nursery Decor

Lucy and Desi’s Spice Rack

lucy-desi-griffith-spice-rack
Griffith Spice Rack in Desi and Lucy’s kitchen at home
lucy-desi-griffith-spice-rack2
Lucy’s Griffith spice rack – milk glass in a metal rack, could be red caps and red metal rack.

In this publicity shot of Lucy and Desi Arnaz at home in the kitchen there is a 12 piece Griffith spice set in a metal rack.
griffith-spice-rack
I see a similar Griffith spice set on eBay this week There are several sets of vintage Griffith spice sets on eBay at present but not many in the metal rack.  The racks are also found in other materials. These are very collectible milk glass spice sets that can be found in very good condition. They were made and distributed by Griffith Laboratories Inc., Chicago, Illinois, from the 1930’s – 1950’s. Click here to see similar Griffith spice racks on eBay.

Lucy’s Pyrex Mixing Bowls

Lucy's Pyrex colored nesting bowls
Lucy’s Pyrex colored nesting bowls

Lucy’s Pyrex Mixing Bowls were a nesting set in bright colors which we only see in grayscale on the show, but we can see the original colors in the original vintage sets that are still available for collectors. See this set on eBay today:

Vintage set of 4 Pyrex nesting bowls on eBay
Vintage set of 4 Pyrex nesting bowls on eBay

Find more like this on eBay
Vintage borosilicate  Pryex dishes made by Corning are more heat resistant and shatter proof than present day products bearing the Pyrex label which are made from inferior glass.  However they have to be more than 25 years old to be sure they are indeed Corning dishes. (Read more at http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/pyrex.asp)

Original 1952 Pyrex ad
Original 1952 Pyrex ad
Lucy and Desi at home in the kitchen - see similar bowl  on the left.
Lucy and Desi at home in the kitchen – see similar bowl on the left.

Tip for Collectors:
Do not put your vintage Pyrex in the dishwasher.
FAQ for Pyrex collectors at:  http://www.pyrexlove.com/faq/

Lucy’s Westinghouse Commander Super-Corox Range

Kitchen Range on I Love Lucy
A 1950 Westinghouse Kitchen Range seen on I Love Lucy

Here we are looking at two different models of the Westinghouse Commander Range seen on the show.

1954 Westinghouse Commander Stove also seen on I Love Lucy
1954 Westinghouse Commander Stove was seen on a later season of I Love Lucy

A 1954 Westinghouse Commander Stove Model was seen on a later season of I Love Lucy, it looks similar to the 1950 model but the controls have a different layout.

1954 Westinghouse  Commander Range offered on eBay
1954 Westinghouse Commander Range offered on eBay

There is a working 1954 Westinghouse Commander Stove Model BD-74 offered on eBay this week like the model that was seen in a later season of I Love Lucy. Click HERE to see details.
Continue reading Lucy’s Westinghouse Commander Super-Corox Range