Lovely Lustroware Lustro-ware Plastic

Lustroware is just one of those fantastic plastics that I can't ever have enough of in my kitchen. Not really melamine or melmac, but funky all in it's own right. Many people just don't realize how much plastic by Lustro-Ware is actually floating around out there. From canisters to measuring cups, from bins to measuring spoons you may be suprised to know that at one time, this fantastic plastic dominated kitchens everywhere. From an old magazine (A reader named John sent to me and said it was featured in an old Hardware Age* but this is not verified) comes this great store display. Wow. What's not to love?

If you look closely we are to discover that the "Step-On can" which I assume was made of plastic fantastic, was the "Grand Award Winner" in the 1956 plastic housewares competition.  Wow. I don't think I've ever seen a Lustroware Garbage can quite like that. What bugs me is they say it's unbreakable yet some of the canisters are easy to get cracks as they appear more harder plastic than the more supple juice reamers. I wonder if this was just a hiccup in advertising or if they truly thought those canisters could not crack.  I guess you learn something new every day in plastic land.

Read my other posts on Lustroware.

You may also like to see what prices Lustroware is currently selling for on the web:

Lustroware Spice Rack from reconstitutions on Etsy for $72.50 is gorgeous.

Funky Lustroware Ice Bucket in Cream and Gold goes for $14.00 at SuperMagic on Etsy.

Lustroware Juice Reamer on Etsy in pretty pink $10 at HartzellVintage.

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Lustroware Lustro-Ware Plastic Collecting

Sweet P's Vintage on Etsy has this juice reamer by Lustro-ware $9.95

I simply love Lustro-ware, a bit different than melamine, a thermoset plastic (possibly Polystryene) examples from the 1950s still are around today. LUSTRO-WARE was made by the Columbus Plastic Products Division of The Borden Chemical Company.   I see the trademark was filed August 23, 1950, although it's safe to say in the late 1940's it was being produced with "patent pend" stamps on it.

Laura's Last Ditch has great photos of Lustroware utensil tray!

This Lustro-ware utensil tray is from LaurasLastDitch, go there to see it!

By 1968, Lustro-ware was booming, and manufacturing over 300 kitchen and household products. Most were sold in five and dime stores and at cheap prices.  Everything from measuring cups, spoons and scoops to utensil trays for the kitchen.   Juice reamers,  recipe boxes, napkin holders, canister sets, spice racks, and salt and pepper shakers, picnic sets, ice buckets, cocktail shakers, and more.... Here is a rare example of an original price of scoops. Though they can still be lasting in kitchens today, the original price of each scoop was less than a dime each!

Etsy shop RetroRejuvenation offers these great finds!

Also in 1968 Japan acquired licenses to sell Lustroware products, under Waterdale International of Osaka. By the 90's Rubbermaid Newell had acquired the Lustro-ware name. As for the vintage, I've seen napkin holders sell for $40 and up, complete spice racks into the $250 range, and recipe boxes upwards of $25 depending on rarity.  Reamers, scoops and utensil holders were plentiful and most can be acquired from $10-$15 still.  

Simply lovely picnic set at Cashmere Jelly Bean, $18

There are many original Lustro-ware collectors out there, and a lot of people collecting melamine or melmac kitschy items also enjoy Lustro-ware. What is really strange are the oddities that pop up by Lustro-ware that one would not have known existed. Here are a few examples: 

Vintage 45's Record case for sale at The Rad Pad....proving Lustroware ain't just for kitchens baby!

Strange corner shelves are Lustroware! For sale at ToHellinAHandbag

Pretty little clothesline, at Vera Viola

Lustro-ware's craft products called Lacecraft, rare booklet available at IsMoyo's Vintage Playground.

Collecting Lustroware can be run, endless, and colorful!  Here are some great Etsy Lustroware finds, check 'em out!

'Lustroware Love ' by RetroChalet

Plastics fantastic finds from Etsy for feature on the Melmac Central Site!

1950s NOS Lustroware Scoops RetroRejuvenat... $10.95	Lustro-Ware Canisters-Lemon ... VandyleeVintag... $20.99
vintage 50s bright red lustr... dawnsdivinefin... $12.95	Set of 6 Lustroware Plastic ... RoomServiceVin... $9.99
Vintage Lustro-Ware Plastic ... WAlbridge8 $3.50	Aqua and Green Lustroware Sa... CarpetBagVinta... $9.25
Vintage Retro Avocado Green ... TeamRuster $5.50	Vintage 40s Lustroware Fiest... randomretro $24.00
Vintage LustroWare 45 Carryi... theradpad $30.00	Pair of Vintage Lustro-Ware ... ToHellinAHandb... $50.00
Lustro Ware Pitcher Plastic,... lipmeister $20.00	Vintage Advertising Salt Pep... RetroChalet $9.00
Cream and Sugar Set, Vintage... RedHenStudios $6.00	VINTAGE Plastic TEA Canniste... babylonsisters $6.00
Vintage Red Lustro Ware Kitc... PeppermintNatt... $16.00	Vintage Turquoise Juicer . P... SweetPsVintage $9.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.