Found a Natalie Kalmus in Sacramento, CA
 

Hey folks,

I was browsing an antique mall in Sacramento, CA over the weekend and found what looks like a fantastic example of a Natalie Kalmus in restored functional condition. I am not affiliated with this set in any way, but thought i would pass it along if someone has been looking for one. It's hard to see in the photo but this set has two big planter boxes on either side of the set. It seems like a pretty rare configuration.

It's located here: http://www.midwayantiquemall.net/

They think awful HIGHLY of it.....

Natalie Kalmus would be proud. She would have priced it out the roof, too!

Aren't these things nothing more than yr std '50s consolette TV in a fancy-schmancy box that ordinarily would be lucky to fetch $100 on a real good day ?

Lemme guess...chassis by Kaye-Halbert? :scratch2:

You'd have to be a real ass to pay that much for that TV.

...Or have 4 large burnin' a hole in yr pocket...I think, even if I had more moolah than even I could conceivably spend, I'd pass on that TV...I just don't care for its "Gee, Mr Wizard, it's 1960!" styling...Oh, I guess I'd HAVE to have one, just like I'd like a Kuba Komet...But they'd both be kinda far down on my "Bucket List"...

The price is all about the design. You should see the movie Please Give with Catherine Keener. The main character is wracked with guilt because she buys estates cheaply and resells the "Mid Century Modern" furniture for thousand$$$ in her showroom. One man's tacky is another man's treasure.

Phil

That's been suggested before, but I was told by Howard Halbert that they didn't sell any chassis to anyone, and he had no affiliation with the NK TV company. Like most of the small-label 50s TVs, Kaye-Halbert built their own chassis with RCA/Hazeltine licensing agreement.

Charles

To me, the knobs and pencil box look a lot like Packard Bell, which might make sense due to location.... only a guess. The parents of a grade school buddy owned a blonde PB that looked much like the set in question, but with magazine racks on the sides.
jr

I read in this forum that the chassis could be made by Calbest or possibly Pacific-Mercury. Dave.

Where are you guys seeing a price, I looked all over that Site and couldn't find it?
And no, I have no intention of buying, just curious. :scratch2:


Doh! never mind, I see it's posted right here!

Four grand! but it does have angled planters after all. :D

The line about the angled planters is odd-I think all of the ones I've seen in that style had them.

More speculation: Since I discovered a tv branded for the Sherman-Clay piano store chain, I've often wondered who made them as well. They are a Bay-area to Seattle area retailer, so it could very well be another West-coaster who made them as well. Who does that leave, with Kaye-Halbert not the one? Pacific Mercury? Hoffman? Packard-Bell? Gilfillan Brothers?

I've seen the Sherman Clay sticker on several common 30's radios-at least at that point, they were just putting a sticker on a mass produced cabinet.