The first time I heard about Witco was on a discussion on a Mid-Century Facebook group about Tiki art, the name that kept coming up was Witco, with a link to this post on a Tiki Fan board:
My name is Burke Hovde (aka…The Witco Kid on www.tikicentral.com). I’m the son of Ron Hovde, one of the Witco Co-Founders and Artists with Bill Westenhaver. I grew up with Witco everywhere. Witco wallhangings and furniture are all over my parents house and our family’s cabin. Witco started out as Western International Trading Company and imported South Pacific home furnishing items like Capishell Lamps. They also were into carvings that eventually evolved into the rough cedar chain saw carved furniture and Tikis that most people know Witco for. The artwork and production plant was in Mt. Vernon,
found on http://miahunamoku.blogspot.com
Washington and they eventually sold $15 million worth of Witco products throughout the world over a 10 year run in the 1970’s. Through my Ebay Storefront at “intertrader2005” you can purchase a book on “Fun and Profitable Chainsaw Carving” that Ron Hovde and Bill Westenhaver published under their company Westho (i.e. Westenhaver/Hovde) after Witco shut down. If I can answer any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at hovdeinternational@hotmail.com
I couldn’t find whether they were Witco or not, but these definately remind me of the siamese cats in Pete’s apartment in Mad Men. If you’re looking to purchase some Witco, a quick search turned up some on Ebay at this store http://gulfcoastretro.com/default.aspx
A sampling of Los Angeles midcentury, atomic, and retro liquor stores by new contributor Diane Vallere. Read more about her here. You don’t have to wait until the cocktail hour to appreciate the influence that midcentury modern style had on liquor stores all over the country, but you may want to act quick. The atomic aspect of these houses of spirits can still be seen, but disrepair, changes in management, and retiring business owners are
Nearly 50 years after Georgia and the late Tom Webb hired architect Talivaldis Meijers to design an H-shaped post-and-beam home, with lots of windows, the residence represents an architectural milestone in Hoosier history. The Webb home is one of three houses designed and built by Meijers that will be featured on the Mid-Century Modern Home Tour on May 21 in Columbus. For the rest of the article, click here…..
We’re off on another Retro Roadtrip – this time to give some support to the communities around Colorado Springs our moral and financial support after the big wildfires here. So, here’s our Mid-Century Photo Friday – two fantastic Mid-Century Motels in Manitou Springs Colorado. Watch for our reviews next week!
In 1887, Conrad Hilton was born right in New Mexico. Eventually he would become the owner of the grand Hilton hotel chain, but in between then, he did a great many things. From being a Representative in the New Mexico Legislature when the state was newly formed to serving two years in the U.S. Army, Conrad Hilton was a man of many experiences. It wasn’t until 1939 that he returned to his home state of
I couldn’t find whether they were Witco or not, but these definately remind me of the siamese cats in Pete’s apartment in Mad Men. If you’re looking to purchase some Witco, a quick search turned up some on Ebay at this store http://gulfcoastretro.com/default.aspx
