Lucy’s mixer is a Westinghouse Model #FM-511 Food Crafter with separately sold juicer attachment
Continue reading Lucy’s Westinghouse Mixer
Lucy’s Westinghouse Mixer
Category Archives: 50s Retro
Ricardo’s Holiday Decor Santa Sleigh and Reindeers
The Mantelpiece at the Ricardo first apartment for a holiday episode presents a very simple display with a retro appeal that is both charming and easy to emulate today.
Its never too early to look for choice vintage pieces such as a genuine vintage cutout sleigh like this one.
Here is a Vintage Putz Santa Claus in Sleigh with Reindeer for the mantelpiece. Spot-Lite brand, made in Japan in original box. 10-1/4” x 3” x 2-3/4” high. See it on eBay this week
Lucy’s Kitchen Wall Matchbox holder
No longer a commonplace item in the home, the matchbox holder was found in most homes in days gone by when matches were in constant use to light lamps, stoves and fires. Seen here in the kitchen, the wall mounted holder, usually of metal or wood, kept the matches dry and safely away from tiny hands.
Lucy’s matchbox holder is painted tin, in a design that can still be found by collectors, the floral nasturtium decal has a gingham check lower border.
I see a red version on Etsy this week Click Here for Details< Etsy (US)
Look for similar items on eBay
Tip: Vintage tin often has rust spots, use raw potato dipped in baking soda to gently clean rust spots, dry completely, a hairdryer on low heat is useful, then apply some oil to any bare spots where paint is missing to prevent more rust.
Lucy’s Rooster Figurine
Lucy’s Rooster figurine is seen in various places from the livingroom, to the kitchen and in Ethel’s livingroom after she gets the Ricardo’s old furniture.
The Rooster uses a similar mold to the rooster of a Kay Finch rooster and hen pair of chickens called BUTCH n BIDDY. The Rooster & Hen figurines were a popular California pottery set hand painted in various patterns. However the pair I have seen that most closely matches the paint pattern of the rooster on the show does not have the “Kay Finch” signature on the base, it signed M. K.
The rooster figurine above is one that resembles the painted pattern seen in the screen shots from the show. This pair is black and white has the initials M.K. on the base. The Hen measures about 5″ by 5″ and the Rooster is about 9″ tall by 4″ wide.
I have seen a similar mold in use under other marks as well. The distinctive rooster tail design makes it easy to identify. The coloring and angle of the rooster tail matches the characteristics of the Japanese Mottled Bantam. (This may or may not be a clue that it was made in Japan)
This pair was found on Etsy View details here.
Find more like this on eBay
Reference:
http://www.aboutbantamchickens.com/bantam-chickens-japanese-bantams-luxury-feathered-lap-dog-of-the-aristocrats/
Desi’s 49er Plaid Shirt Jacket
Not an exact match but vintage and similar in style jackets can be found in the vintage clothing section on eBay See this one on eBay
If you are looking for a vintage Pendleton 49er jacket check the label to tell you whether it is a man’s size or woman’s, the womenswear label is always white, and the menswear label is blue. Later era Pendleton labels have the Woolmark symbol, which was not added until the mid 1960s
See Pendleton 49er jackets on eBay
Lucy’s Accent Shaker Set
Product placement on I love Lucy is evident as the series soared in the ratings. The Accent seasoning shaker set is usually seen on the kitchen stove top – the screen capture above is from the Season 2 episode Million Dollar Idea where Lucy and Ethel go into the business of selling salad dressing.
This was an Accent flavor enhancer promotional set from Owens of Illinois, that included salt and pepper shakers and a third shaker of Accent MSG seasoning.
Seen on eBay this week is the set pictured above ( details here). A vintage 4-Piece Set of Glass Bottle Salt & Pepper & Accent Shakers with Red Plastic screw top Lids. They come with their original plastic stand just like the one on the I Love Lucy show..
Recently sold on eBay was a set in original packaging seen pictured below.
Continue reading Lucy’s Accent Shaker Set
I love Lucy’s Vintage Dish Towels
Peter has contributed the following information about a dish towel seen prominently in the kitchen of the I Love Lucy set:
Vintage Strawberry Tea Towels or Dish Cloths were made by a company called Cannon. These are often found on eBay and Etsy. Below are photos from ebay listings
“I have them in my home and they’re actually really nice. Made of linen and cotton.” Says Peter “It’s so awesome to be able to watch the show and see the same thing in the Ricardo’s home that’s in mine. ”
BEAUTIFUL Vtg Kitchen Dish Cloth CANNON 32X15 Strawberries
A lady also sells them on eBay as I Love Lucy Prop-A-Likes:
RARE Vintage Dish Towel seen on I Love Lucy Lucille Ball Collectible Prop Alike
I love Lucy’s Vintage Print Tablecloths
Above is a screen grab of Lucy and little Ricky seated at the kitchen table, set with a leaf print Calaprint tablecloth and Franciscan Ivy breakfast set. One of the easiest ways to add a touch of instant vintage to your table setting is to throw on a genuine vintage print tablecloth. Luckily there are lots to be found on eBay and Etsy and other vintage re-sellers online and possibly at your local garage sales.
In the Love Lucy episode “Sentimental Anniversary” the Wilendur Dogwood print tablecloth takes center stage when the Mertzes decide to throw a surprise party for Lucy and Ricky’s wedding anniversary. Wilendur is a popular vintage brand of tablecloth that is easily found on eBay.
The Calaprint ( a D.B. Fuller & Co. brand) design has been seen in different color schemes apart from the green and pink above. The Wilendur dogwood print designed by John Stanley Madsen for Weil & Durrse is also seen in seen in various colors.
I see a Wilendur 6 Napkins Tablecloth Pink Dogwood Floral Cotton set on ebay pictured above similar to the one that Ethel brought over to the Ricardo’s apartment to set up the dinner table on the “Sentimental Anniversary” episode of I Love Lucy.
Tip: Use Oxyclean to clean vintage cotton tablecloths. Oxiclean Versatile Stain Remover, 5 Pounds
Reference:
- September 27, 1956 Tri-City Herald from Pasco, Washington · Page 7
3-Tablecloths, reg. 3.98 ‘ Calaprint, mercerized cotton, large pattern, 54×72
Lucy’s Plastic Salt and Pepper Shakers
The I Love Lucy kitchen had several sets of salt and pepper shakers. You many have already noticed the ivy shaped shakers that belong to the Francisan Ivy dinnerware set. Today we are looking are a plastic set by The Plas-Tex Corporation, Los Angeles,. Calif., that were patented by the same company -see patent figure below. Following are examples Continue reading Lucy’s Plastic Salt and Pepper Shakers
I Love Lucy’s Bedroom Set Framed Ballet Pictures
In the bedroom Set of “I Love Lucy” prominently displayed on the wall behind the twin beds are a pair of ballet sketches in matching frames. One of these original prop sketches turned up on eBay in 2006 and the story that was related in the auction description is an interesting one.
Description from the auction lot:
“This is an ORIGINAL set piece or prop off of the Desilu set for the I LOVE LUCY show! It has been stored for the past forty odd years — and recently found — by me because it was in my family’s storage area since the early sixties!
It is the actual pastel and ink on art paper — an original piece of artwork, not a print — AND the original frame that was used as a prop on the set of the original I LOVE LUCY show starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.” Continue reading I Love Lucy’s Bedroom Set Framed Ballet Pictures