Last week I wrote about a visit I made to Rambler Ranch, located in Elizabeth, Colorado--click here--to read that post. That post highlighted the fabulous vintage car collection owned and displayed by collector Terry Gale on his sprawling ranch. This week is a continuation of our visit to Rambler Ranch but now it is all about his also equally amazing collection of memorabilia from the early '30s to the 70s, beginning with Kelvinator appliances!
As you may remember from my previous post, Mr. Gale also collects mannequins, which adds a touch of realism to his displays, as they are dressed in his collection of vintage clothes and accessories. Mr. Gale began his collections with his father's 1954 Nash automobile which he lovingly restored. He then added almost every year of Nash automobile ever made except for one year that eludes him. He then went on to add many other automobiles from other eras, many of which are on display, and others are still waiting for restoration. On October 27, 1936, it was announced that Nash Motors and Kelvinator Corp. were merging. The merger took effect on January 4, 1937, to form Nash-Kelvinator Corporation as part of a deal that placed George W. Mason at the helm of the combined company. Because of their connection, Mr. Gale also began collecting and restoring Kelvinator appliances among other automotive-owned appliances made between 1930 to 1970.
It is a fascinating walk back in time to see perfectly preserved appliances that may have graced your grandmother's or mother's kitchen or laundry room!
Even the appliance colors brought back memories. My first apartment kitchen in the 1970s had a harvest gold refrigerator and my neighbor had avocado green.
My husband is looking at a range that slides out of a one-piece wall unit with an oven in the collage above.
We visited the Rambler Ranch with friends and I asked them to pose on the front porch of one of the buildings that held the appliances. We were all amazed by the collection and memories they evoked.
Another bend around a corner of a car display building led to a replica of a diner, complete with jukebox, both stand-alone and individual table models
Notice the collection of novelty cookie jars on the shell near the ceiling and also memorabilia on the windowsills.
On the other side of the room was a replica of a 50's or 60s kitchen!
So many vintage collectibles that Mr. Gale is constantly adding to!
He told me that he often falls asleep at night with an iPad in his hands opened to an online auction site.
The very best is yet to come!
Walk into the door of this porch where "grandpa" is enjoying a cold beer...
...and enter a "Twilight Zone" like episode back into time!
It is an entire house decorated like the 1960s!
The formal living room.
The dining room.
The guest bedroom
The parent's room with bassinet and chenille bedspread...
...and vanity and dresser.
The pink bathroom with "Mr. and Mrs." towels
The colorful kitchen
I smiled when I saw grandma's beehive hairdo, cat's eyeglasses, and cigarette!
Mr. Gale has associates that help him maintain and restore the cars and kitschy memorabilia, including one man who is skilled in dressing and staging the mannequins so creatively. He allowed us to peek into the area where he has closets full of vintage clothes and accessories. So much fun!
Also, scattered through the large car display barns are other collections of vintage toys, advertising brochures, camping supplies, and even a Santa Claus waiting for Christmas! We really enjoyed our visit and spent hours browsing all the displays.
Rambler Ranch is a private collection.
All tours are by appointment only on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday beginning at 11 AM
36370 Forest Trail, Elizabeth, CO. 80107
Call 302-324-6750
Bonus photo of an actual ranch we passed on our drive home from Rambler Ranch for Skywatch Friday. It has been a beautiful autumn in Colorado this year.
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40 comments:
Wow what an amazing collection as well as a whole house. It must have been fun going through and seeing stuff you remember.
Hello Pat,
The Rambler Ranch is amazing, what a collection. I like seeing the vintage items and the mannequins with their vintage clothing. The last photo of the horses is pretty. Looks like a beautiful sky day. Enjoy your day, have a happy new week.
What a hoot! The colors and styles are right out of my childhood.
Wow! His collection is extensive. Love the pastel appliances!
You came away with some great photos of amazing old things...nostalgia is one reaction of course! What a neat place to see all those bits of the past!
I remember that my mother had one of those round ironing things. I think she ironed pillowcases even. The things that were done back in the day.
What a collection that the man has. I love all your photos.
Now that will take you back in time for sure. Great photos Pat! We were in Colorado for a hundred + miles on our way to Wyoming. I waved a very distant wave to you!
The aqua and pink kitchen makes me feel so good, I wish I had one! Hugs!
Very interesting collection. Happy Monday
Much💜love
Such an amazing collection! I especially love the pastel appliances!
Happy Monday, Pat.
This looks so fun!
...what an awesome place, I love the first stove!
OMG, that's so wild. You could spend hours in there. I bet you were snapping away non-stop! #RubyTuesdayToo
They are amazing and so colourful I do like a bit of nostalgia fab post
Have a notalgictastic week 👍
Great collection of seventies stuff. Those colors are really remarkable for that period. Great reportage.
Very much a throwback.
I think The Rambler Ranch looks an amazing place.
Lovely photographs, a great place to visit.
All the best Jan
It's like a time machine! Wow!
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/10/homemade-hamburger-buns-yum.html
Suddenly I feel very old. Many of those items don’t look that different than what my parents had. Very interesting photos.
I would have enjoyed that tour. He has collected so much memorabilia.
Pat - this is mind-blowing; the extensive nature of the collection and the attention to detail in displaying it truly sets it apart. I remember an avocado refrigerator in our house, and I could relate to many other aspects of the 60s house! This is definitely the sort of "museum" I would like to visit! Thanks for giving everyone at Mosaic Monday such a thorough tour!
What a fun place! I have a friend that has retro appliances in her kitchen.
Wow! Odd things to collect but as a group it makes for powerful nostalgia.
It was really another World. That's my sight looking into the past. The kitchen and all the other rooms are amazing. Long time ago. Thank you for sharing. By the way, a friend of mine collect Jukeboxes, especially Wurlitzer!
Happy MosaicMonday
That is so cool. I would love to visit there. I love vintage kitchens. We still have the original flooring and the Premier metal cabinets. And someday I want a vintage look fridge.
Little kitch but very, very nice place. Funtastic!
My older sister's first house had a pull out stove top just like that one! I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. Thanks for linking up and sharing your adventures. #HomeMattersParty
These images brought a smile to my face. Thanks.
Worth a Thousand Words
Wow! The retro kitchen and diner photos are fun and fabulous. I love the pretty soft colors.
Very colourful.
Oh, these made me smile! Love the vintage colors. The mannequins add a creepy factor, but I like them!
When I was first married, we rented a house that had a porcelain gas stove and how I wish I had it today! I loved cooking/baking with that stove. I enjoyed seeing all of the items in this post. MCM decor is something I enjoy. Thanks for linking up and have a great weekend.
Oh geez. It's like scenes from a 50s sitcom. Ozzie and Harriet here we come!
I'm glad someone is holding onto these relics, but I sure wouldn't want my kitchen or house to look like that now.
Wow! Great collection. Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.
Greetings and Salutations! I'm in love with the PINK bathroom. It is fun to turn the clock back in time. Weird place I hope to see someday. Great job on the photographs. You are a good writer too.
Oh wow!
That's quite a museum. Such a great collection. Such an interesting place. I'm sure it was nostalgic. :)
Wow, what a lot of blasts from the past! I love seeing such collections.
Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!
This is SO cool. If I ever get to Colorado, I need to visit here. (I wish I could have sold him my '63 stove I gave up in winter 2019.) We used to have that yellow fridge, too! I love the mannequins he used. Often the mannequins one sees at places like this look very fake but these have wonderful faces, clothes and positions. It's fabulous!
Amazing pics and mosaic
Have a nice week
Much💛love
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