(UPDATED DECEMBER 2017)
Nelson “Cupcake” Basic Series Drawer Pulls
Occasionally I am asked to help owners restore their Nelson dressers with replacement “cupcake” knobs, If the knobs are to be finished in a walnut stain, I will generally use Poplar wood as it takes stains well. I have also provided Dark Walnut knobs and Maple for non-stained knobs. These knobs are turned on my lathe using a template made from an original Nelson cupcake knob.
I also have occasional requests for replacement drawer knobs for the Drexel Parallel Series desk. The knob is also for some Drexel Parallel Night Stands and Coffee Tables. The brass hardware for the original knobs is no longer manufactured, so the old knobs and the new knobs are obvious mismatched when used together.
What I have been asking people who have an original knob and need 3 replacements, I will accept the original knob and replace it at no charge with a new knob so the set matches.
McCobb Aluminum Ring Pulls
I’ve been able to help several people with the few extra rings that I had left over from my original foundry castings. Though the foundry that I used is closed, I will be trying to make more of these rings by machining them from slices of a thick aluminum pipe. Will keep you updated if I get to this project.
Buttons for Carter Brothers Scoop Chairs
I have made many replacement leather or vinyl buttons for Carter Brothers and Plycraft Scoop Chair leather upholstery. I have a leather cut-out pattern for those chairs as well.
I also have made buttons with fabric covering. Most of the mid-century pieces use prong-backed buttons with metal washers on the other side of the cushion that keeps the prongs from eventually pulling through the foam or other padding used.
George Nelson OMNI Wall System – Cabinet Mounting Hardware
The number of people seeking Omni Cabinet mounting hardware continues to surprise me. Many of you have asked if I still have brackets and if not, will I have some in the future. At first, reader interest was mostly about the cabinet hook bracket, but increasingly inquiries have included the pole mount bracket that the hook bracket engages with to support the cabinet.
After making and supplying the brackets to numerous OMNI owners, a machine shop started making both pieces on a computer-controlled milling machine from one piece of aluminum. I do have a piece parts to make more of the brackets and receivers, but I would rather meet the demand for the knobs mentioned above and complete more of my projects if the demand for these critical OMNI parts are being met with a quality products. I would consider restarting making the brackets if they become unavailable through this source on eBay.
To find the brackets on eBay, just search for “George Nelson mid-century Omni mounting bracket hardware.”
George Nelson OMNI Wall System – Support Brace
There has been a good amount of interest in this piece from as far away as Japan (I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since I live in earthquake country).
I’ve anchored my wife’s Omni bays with the support braces I’ve made, and we love them. It absolutely adds stability to the unit.
As with the OMNI hardware brackets, after I started making these, a source showed up on eBay with a functional product that met the need of securing the system to the walls. It is much simpler in design and manufacture than the original Nelson OMNI part which I had reproduced. I’ll still make them, but for now only one or two for our personal needs.
To find the support brace on eBay, search for “George Nelson Mid-Century OMNI + CSS Storage System Reproduction Wall Bracket.”
Does RetroRefit make replacement parts that can be purchased?
Some of the replacement parts we make are one of a kind, and some have to be made in batches. If we make more reproduction items than we can use, we certainly want to help others save their vintage furniture. I can’t make any iron-clad promises as this is our passion and hobby and we’d like to keep it that way.
If you check with us and let us know what you need, we will respond quickly to your request. Email us at info@retrorefit.com with your questions and we’ll answer you in a timely manner.
If we do have extras, here’s some info that may be helpful:
* PayPal is good for us. We have no way to accept credit cards.
* A 30-day, no questions asked, return refund for the price of the parts. Parts must first be returned to us by you, at your expense.
* Shipping is by USPS unless otherwise agreed.
great! very exciting. just acquired some omni boxes and will be needing a way to hang them on poles. looking forward to your solution…
I’ve always wondered why these weren’t made out of metal! Glad to see somebody’s addressing this issue. There are definitely a lot of people who could use some extra brackets (me included). Hope this happens soon!
Thanks for your interest!! The bracket for the cabinet will be a combination of a very hard wood and an aluminum “hook” that will probably be riveted together. I’m close to making the prototype with several of the wood components fabricated – just need to cut the aluminum and get the right rivet. The piece that attaches to the pole will be all metal. I’m further along on the cabinet mount piece because that comprises all of our broken mounts – the pole mounts are OK.
Will keep you updated over the next 2-3 weeks!
Sounds good! My pole mounts all seem to be in good shape too. It’s just those darn shoddy cabinet mount pieces! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing your final product!
Hi, Im looking for some Omni shelf brackets.
I have the gold and blond wood version. Are you considering these as well?
The system is usless without brackets…
Jeff and I exchanged emails and photos. The shelf brackets are probably the most difficult Omni mounting hardware to replicate. Rather than try to fabricate them, I’d advise looking for some of the old stock on eBay, etc.
I wonder if there would be any interest in fabricated “wall-tie brackets” for these units. I’ve heard enough horror stories about entire systems crashing down to be more than a little wary (I actually got MY system after the previous owner had it crash down and decided he’d rather burn it than put it back up! Fortunately, I got there before that happened!) Anyway, I realize you do this as a hobby, and I’m not sure if these stabilizers are a piece that you’re interested in for your own system, but if you are, it looks like it might be somewhat easy to build, and I think it’s a piece that a good number of people would want!
The piece that I’m talking about is visible in the following pictures:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mid-Century-Modern-Omni-Wall-Unit-George-Nelson-/280709137794#ht_500wt_935
http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpimages/images/images1/1/1008/01/1_4be9047bf0d78859ffd58b8335f776a3.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23066246@N00/6475097541/
Hi Brian,
Great question – I knew that these existed but had never seen one. We live in Northern California and I’ve been worrying about my wife’s unit falling down in a medium quake. Glad you saved that great wood from the fire!
This is absolutely something I’d like to see if I could build. Do you have any idea how it ties to the wall – the photos look like they are tension pushing against the wall to keep the distance the same – I would want them secured to the wall and to the pole to stabilize the unit and keeping it from falling forward. If you or anyone out there has any input or photos with detail, please pass it along. Meantime, I’ll be doing some conceptual shop drawings to see if I can come up with something strong enough and easy enough to fabricate.
Thanks for the comment and a new challenge for me! 8-))
Great! A few weeks ago, I actually found somebody’s hand-written instructions on how to install these things online. I can’t seem to find those again, but I’ve made a little diagram for you, that I think explains everything pretty clearly. The brackets ARE attached to both the wall and the poles though. I tried to link to a photo of one of the brackets (in its unattached state) in my last post, but it looks like that link broke, so I uploaded everything to my flickr account. You’ll find that pic, my little diagram, and a scan from my Omni instruction book about how to install one of these brackets:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23066246@N00/sets/72157628336916985/
I’m glad you’re up to the challenge! 🙂
I am a user of Japan which purchased OMNI of the top picture by eBay.
I am glad.
Thank you.
My blog
http://ameblo.jp/imal69/theme-10031994976.html
I also need Part of OMNI.
I am looking forward to your activity.
Hello Hiro-san!
Thank you for your comments. I will be updating progress on these projects and will let you know when I have the wall braces. Thank you!
Hi
I’m Interested in the omni shelf tie-ins. Did you end up fabricating any? Let me know
Thanks!
Dear Retro,
My wife was amazed when we found your site and the fact that you are helping to support those of us who have spent years with the OMNI WALL SYSTEMS. I found one of my cabinets on the floor this p.m.
I could use 4 pair of Cabinet male mounting brackets for the George Nelson OMNI Wall System: The opening for insertion of the male bracket is approximately 2.44 inches x 0.47 inches. It is made of a brown bakelite.
Hope you can help us out.
Norm
Hi,
Can you please add me to your list of folks looking for the Omni cabinet mounts. Mine look just like the bakelite ones in your photos and it wasn’t till today that I even knew this was a George Nelson designed set.
I’d like 10 total if possible.
My dad gave these to me, he had them in his architectural office for years and lost some of the bits.
Can’t believe I didn’t find you years ago!
Cheers~
Steve
Thanks Steve! I bet the Omni looked pretty classy in your Dad’s office. I will add you to the list and let you know about progress in building the brackets. I appreciate your note and helping me figure out the build. Take care! 8-))
Hi!
Are you selling those cupcake knobs? I need two and can’t find anything like them in any store! You are making awesome items! Thank you!!!
-Lise
Hello Lise,
I do have a few left I think. Are you matching other existing knobs? Do you know what type of wood you’d like? I’ll contact you via regular email for more details.
Thanks!!
8-))
Hi. Please contact me about having four Drexel Parallel pulls made. I have an original pull that I can send. Many thanks, Renj
http://www.treadwaygallery.com/lotInfo.php?i=42978#.VDo30hM1g3s
Greetings, one of the pulls on this George Nelson cabinet broke. Can you obtain or manufacture a replacement? Thanks, Stephen
Hi Stephen,
The pulls on your cabinet are what are commonly called J-Pulls. Every once in a while they do appear on eBay, but that’s probably not going to solve your problem quickly. I’m afraid I can’t make a replacement.
The pulls are made of what’s called “pot metal” or sometimes monkey metal or white metal. The term comes from the past practice of auto manufacturers of collecting their non-ferrous scrap metal, throwing everything into one pot and melting them to make quick, inexpensive castings. Depending on the mixture of metals, some of these castings do crack and/or break with age, similar to the Bakelite used in the original Omni cabinet mounting brackets.
As to a solution to your problem – pot metal isn’t easily soldered or welded, but if you know an expert welder, I’d ask him/her if they have any suggestions or ideas on how to repair the J Pull. An expert with the right equipment may pull off a miracle.
I have a cabinet with the 3″ J-Pulls where a large piece of the most used, top pull cracked and broke off. After a lot of research, like you’ve done, I super-glued the pieces back together with one of the super-glues made for metal (I forget which one). I then moved that handle to the bottom drawer where it would get much less use. That was over 2 years ago and the pull is still in one piece and it is hard to tell visibly that the repair was made.
I’m sorry I can’t help more and hope that your break lends itself to an easy super-glue solution while you wait for some to pop up on eBay.
Best of luck!
Retro
Thank you!
I’m interested if you have or currently are still in the process of making another run of the replacement brackets to hang the Omni? I would need quite a few, found a entire system for a great price almost two years ago, but almost all my Bakelites are broken. So now it just sits as is 🙁 and it’s just about one of the saddest things ever.
I hope you have good news! You’re truely a MCM hero!!
– Kate
Hi Kate,
Are you still looking for some brackets for your Omni?
Hi RetroRefit: I am in need of George Nelson OMNI Wall System Cabinet Mounting Hardware. Do you have a run coming up soon?
Hi RetroRefit: So glad to find you. I need a cupcake knob in popular wood. Please send me price and availability?
Rich
Hi, my brackets are snapping like green beans. HELP! I would like to purchase 20 of your awesome Omni Cabinet Mounting Hook Brackets – Wood & Aluminum. Are you still producing them?
Brian Stafford
Hi Brian,
I’ve dialed back production and am making just what my wife needs. There is a machine shop in Santa Cruz, CA that now makes both the hook and receiver on a computerized milling machine from a single piece of metal. Here’s a link to their eBay listing – http://www.ebay.com/p/George-Nelson-Mid-century-Omni-Wall-System-Mounting-Bracket-Hardware/1369805336. The price is what I’d sell them for and they can make more parts faster than I can ramp up, so please try them. Let me know if this doesn’t work.
regards, Retro
Thanks for the info