Ethel Mertz, I love Lucy Props, Mid-century, Vintage Electrical Appliances, Vintage Tape Recorders

Lucy and Ethel use a Tape Recorder

September 24, 2015 Patricia

taperecorder-ilovelucy-oilwells — Lucy and Ethel use a Crestwood tape recorder on I Love Lucy, Oil Wells episode.

Lucy and Ethel use a Crestwood Tape recorder on the episode Oil Wells (15 Feb. 1954). The Ricardo’s new neighbors claim to be Texas oil tycoons and a tape recorder features prominently in the story line. The Crestwood tape recorder was a new model that was widely promoted that year. Reporting on the appearance on the show an article in the popular Tape Recording magazine 10-1954 p. 42 followed with a picture of Lucy and Ethel on set.

taperecording-10-54 — Tape Recording Magazine 1954 Article mentions Lucy’s Crestwood Tape Recorder

On eBay recently I came across a listing for a vintage Crestwood tape recorder that looks very like the one used on the I Love Lucy show – click on the picture below to see the listing.

A Crestwood Taperecorder similar to the one used as a prop on I Love Lucy

1954 Crestwood tape Recorder on I Love Lucy — 1954 Crestwood Ad for the Tape Recorder on I Love Lucy

The Crestwood is the second tape recorder we have seen on the I Love Lucy show – previously we looked at the Webcor tape recorder used by Ricky to record his song “There’s a Brand New Baby in Our House“.

Lucy devises a plot involving the the use of a tape recorder in the episode "Oil Wells" — Lucy devises a plot involving the the use of a tape recorder in the episode “Oil Wells”

References:

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Vintage Toys

Little Ricky’s Superman Costume

September 19, 2015 Patricia

In the I Love Lucy episode “Lucy and Superman” Little Ricky is seen wearing his official Superman playsuit. A similar costume pictured below was seen in a past auction at liveauctioneers.com

50s-superman-costume — Vintage child’s Superman costume 1950’s, marked “Copr. National Comics Publications, Inc.” Image source liveauctioneers.om

Superman Playsuit ad
SUPERMAN Issue No. 101 November 1955

50s Retro, I Love Lucy Nursery, I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Vintage Toys

Little Ricky’s Mr Squawker The Duck Toy

September 19, 2015 Patricia

rickys-duck-toy — Fred entertains Little Ricky with a Mr Squawker duck toy

In the above capture from the I Love Lucy episode “Ricky Minds the Baby” Fred Mertz tries to amuse Little Ricky with a squeek toy. The rubber squeek toy is a Mr Squawker The Duck toy made by Rempel of Akron Ohio who also produced Froggy the Gremlin which we looked at in a previous post.

Rempel-mr-squaker — Mr Sqwaker The Duck Toy original

From the original patent application:
Mr. Squawker the duck, [Fanciful figure of clothed duck in walking position] Rubber, H. 12 in,
Appl, author: Dietrich G, Rempel, © Rem-
pel Enterprises, Akron, Ohio;
10 Mar52; GP3259.

Click Here to find Mr Squawker toys on eBay

Books on I Love Lucy, Ricardo's Bookshelf

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: The Great Events of the Great War

September 18, 2015 Patricia

In I Love Lucy Season. 2 episode 13 Lucy Hires an English Tutor Lucy prepares for motherhood by studying to become “a walking book of knowledge” for her new baby. On her bedroom shelf we see a selection of reference books, among them a set of decorative hard bound history books.

The Great Events of the Great War Volumes 1-7 Hardcover – 1923, Edited By Charles F. Horne and Walter F. Austin (Author) 7 volume set. “These volumes are an earnest effort to give the reader such frank and full information as will enable him to comprehend clearly this greatest of all wars.”

Detail from the eBay listing: “This copy of The Great Events of the Great War is registered in the name of Captain George Hl Ormrod, the binding design on these volumes is an authorized facsimile of the original art binding on the official French copy of the Versailles Peace Treaty, which was signed by President Poincare and Foreign Minister S. Pichon, and deposited in the Archives of the French Government, gilt decorated front covers and spine, top edges gilt”

50s Retro, Canisters, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Mid-century, Nesco, Restoration Project, Toleware

I Love Lucy style Bread Box and Canister set

September 17, 2015 Patricia

Nesco Breadbox and Canisters restoration - Just like Lucy Ricardo's Set — Nesco Breadbox and Canisters restoration – Just like Lucy Ricardo’s Set

A fine Nesco breadbox and canister set expertly restored to look like the set in the Ricardo’s kitchen on I Love Lucy – pictured above- submitted by a contributor to this blog who was inspired by the previous blog posts. “With the help of my dad, who sandblasted, painted and clear coated everything and a friend who helped with the graphics, I too now have those Nesco canisters that are used in my kitchen every day!”

Read more about the original Nesco design in this post.

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen

Wall Matchbox holder like Lucy’s

September 17, 2015 Patricia

Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy's kitchen — Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy’s kitchen

Matchbox holder like one seen in the I Love Lucy kitchen

Seen on Etsy this week is a metal matchbox holder for your kitchen wall just like the one in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen. You place an open matchbox with the open end down through the top and the matches can easily be accessed via the chute at the base. These were practical when the gas stove had to be lit using a match or flint tool. Now they are sought for their retro appeal.

Click Here for Details on Etsy (US)

I love Lucy Props, Record Keeping

Record Keeping

September 16, 2015 Patricia

lucyhouseholdaccounts — Screen Capture from I Love Lucy, “The Quiz Show”

Lucy keeps her household accounts in a classic record keeping book. Boorum and Pease record keeping account books have been around for over 100 years and look similar in style to Lucy’s account book and they are available on Amazon.

Boorum & Pease Canvas Account Book, Record, 20 Lb., 9 1/2 x 6-Inches, 200 Pages, Olive Green (667-R)

Boorum & Pease 3738150R Record/account book, blue/red cover, record rule, 9-5/8 x 7-5/8, 150 pages

The Title of Lucy's account book appears to be a sticker added by the prop dept. — The Title of Lucy’s account book appears to be a sticker added by the prop dept.

50s Retro, Fostoria Glass, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Mid-century

Lucy’s Glass Candy Dish

September 16, 2015 Patricia

Lucy serves peanuts in her glass footed dish

In the screen capture above from the “Lucy and Superman” episode Lucy is sharing peanuts from her pedestal glass compote/candy dish. Lucy’s dish looks like the Fostoria ‘American’ Compote Candy Dish which can also be found with a matching lid. Hand washing is recommended it is not dishwasher safe.
Pictured below is an example of the Fostoria footed glass candy dish in the “American” pattern currrently on eBay HERE.

Fostoria-American-Compote-Candy-Dish — Fostoria American Compote Candy Dish

Fostoria’s “ice-cube” style American pattern, line 2056 is pressed glass (which you can tell from the seams in the glass) not cut crystal: The color called “Crystal” means clear glass, not lead crystal and does not give an indication of lead content. According to this article American pressed glass made after the Civil War does not contain lead. [If you are concerned about lead content and wish use a vintage bowl to hold dry food such as peanuts or unwrapped candy, line the class first with transparent plastic – cut a rounded corner from a plastic food bag to make a funnel large enough to fit the bowl place into the bowl before adding the food]

Ethel munches on peanuts from Lucy’s footed glass dish

See more like this on eBay

Books on I Love Lucy, I love Lucy Props, Ricardo's Bookshelf

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Lobagola

September 15, 2015 Patricia

ricky-ricardo-lobagola-book — Lobagola book on Ricky’s bedroom shelf

In the I Love Lucy episode ” Little Ricky gets a Dog” we see the book Lobagola on Ricky Ricardo’s bedroom shelf. Bata Kindai Amgoza ibn LoBagola (1877 – 1947) was an early 20th-century American impostor and entertainer who posed as a native of Africa, his real name was Joseph Howard Lee from Baltimore, Maryland.

“LoBagola” posing as an African “savage” managed a long career in the early 20th century, during which he delivered lectures to institutions and conducted public debates and published articles. This book from publishers A.A. Knopf,1933, a pseudo biography, was an attempt to capitalize on public interest at the time.
References

I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Mid-century, Vintage Electrical Appliances, Vintage Tape Recorders

Ricky Ricardo’s 1953 Webcor Tape Recorder

September 14, 2015 Patricia

Ricky's Webcor Tape Recorder on I Love Lucy — Ricky’s Webcor Tape Recorder on I Love Lucy

The I Love Lucy episode titled “Sales Resistance” opens with Ricky using a new Webcor tape recorder to record his song “There’s a Brand New Baby in Our House”. The tape recorder was the must have gadget in 1953, the year Little Ricky was born. Ricky is seen using a 1953 Webcor Reel to Reel tape recorder from Webster-Chicago.

webcor210reeltoreel — Webcor Model 210 with 2 hour tape and microphone $197.50

According to the ad pictured above the Webcor Model 210 with 2 hour tape and microphone sold for $197.50 in 1953, which calculates to a buying power of $1,765.21 in 2015 dollars.

A closer look at a Webcor 210 as seen on eBay

Pictured above is a vintage portable Webcor seen on eBay this week (Click Here to view) selling for below the 1953 price although not in 1953 condition. Continue reading Ricky Ricardo’s 1953 Webcor Tape Recorder →

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