Miner Industries "Rooms-in-miniature", room boxes, 1960s

These lovely 1/2 scale (1:24) room boxes were produced in the mid 1960s by Miner Industries, Inc., New York, NY. The furniture was made in Japan and I’m unclear whether the room box parts themselves were made by Miner Industries or in Japan. In the great dollhouse reference book, “Dollhouse & Furniture Advertising, 1880s-1980s” by Dian Zillner, page 111 shows the Sears Christmas 1964 Catalog advertisement for the three, beautiful, yet fragile, room boxes.

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Big old box, finally!

The directions are easy to understand and use, thank goodness!

I had been collecting Miner Industries’ Rooms-in-miniature furniture for quite sometime before I realized what it was. A piece here and a piece there would come up and I’d purchase it, if I could afford it. Then one day I saw and was able to purchase a complete bedroom set, in its box and a partial living room set, in its box. 

The grey, bland little box labeled “Made In Japan for Miner Industries, Inc.” on the side holds the most lovely, fragile furniture, pre-assembled, made with fabric, laminate and solid woods.

One of the joys of this set is the reversible, cardboard, wall panels. One side is painted and the other has a wood paneling effect. Plastic bottom and top frames provide the floor and wall support for the panels.

The shelving system seems to be a miniature version of the Mid-Century Danish modern designer Poul Cadovious’ teak Cado Shelving. It has long wood supports with holes to insert brackets that shelves and cabinets are placed on.

Completed room box, minus the clear plastic front and top -I like the look of both the paneling and painted walls together.

The plastic shelf supports flex so they can be inserted into the floor and ceiling frames.

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Living/Dining Room 

I had dining furniture already and decided to meld it with the living room furniture as so little of the living room furniture I have is useable.

The table actually spreads apart in the middle to accommodate a separate leaf. Amazing!

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Bedroom

I’ve never been too fond of pink, or green, but these pieces are just lovely together.

The dresser's drawers open and close. Just a lovely piece!

I love the little typewriter!

The back display the opposite choice for the walls. Still quite lovely!

Keep your eyes out for these lovely sets and pieces. No kids allowed, however!

Christmas Kingston Castle - ArtMinds' Wooden Craft Castle Dollhouse

My grandson turned 3 this last year. He had always been enamored with the wee wooden castle that was on the burn pile, marked for extinction (too many mice had made it their home and it had been outside for a year)! "No Ben no!" I would call out, "Too much mice poop!". And the poor little mug would look at it wistfully, and toddle off. He's such a good kid.

But then it occurred to me, I could clean that thing and bring it to life for Ben's Christmas present. It already had a great patina from enduring the out of doors and was still in great shape. I don't know what ArtMinds makes these castles out of, but the wood and glue held together through sun and snow...

So I got to it and laid claim to it, to heck with those little mousies!!

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Kingly Remodel

I stained the stairs, "gilded" some internal walls and polyied the whole thing. Of course, I just had to use fabric for some of the room walls. I made card stock backings to glue the fabric to, and then wood glued and clamped the panels into place.

I'm glad I started in October as the expanse of time made it a joy to work on. I never felt pressured and just let my mind, and the fabric, do the talking. Just what an old, working grandma needed!

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Tra La La La!!

It was done by the middle of December and I had already begun my quest for furniture and knightly items!

I discovered that Playmobil Medieval people and accessories were the perfect size and afforded so many dueling options! I also purchased and painted a couple of wood treasure chests and a wood jewelry box (used for the dastardly dungeon) at Michaels to hold all the accessories. A couple of my old dollhouse finds and we were in the castle business!

Kingston Castle, outfitted for travel.

Open sesame!

Kingston Castle, set up for play.

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Merry Christmas Little Dude!

Yes, it was and is a big hit and when it's put away it makes for a nice display. 

Kingston Castle, who knew?