Many Houses Had One In The '50s — Now It's The Organizer We Want In Our Kitchens

Have you recently taken a deep dive into a cluttered kitchen drawer in search of that long-lost roll of waxed paper and subsequently cursed yourself for not being better organized? A vintage kitchen tri-roll dispenser could be a quick and easy solution to your frustrations. True, there are lots of DIY paper towel storage ideas. But few offer the function and style of a vintage tri-roll holder. 

A popular kitchen staple in the 1950s and 60s, the wall-mounted dispenser is actually three dispensers in one, dispensing aluminum foil, wax paper, and paper towels all from one central location. Each type of roll has its own separate compartment with a serrated cutter, so there's no confusion about what is coming out of the dispenser at any given time — or lack of control over how much. Tri-roll dispensers can help you maximize kitchen storage and organization and, luckily, they can still be found fairly easily in thrift stores, antique stores, or online via platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace.

Tri-roll dispensers first appeared on the market sometime in the 1940s or '50s, and remained a staple in many kitchens through the 1970s. Some of the main brands to look for from that era are Lincoln Beautyware, Kromex, Garner Ware, and Masterware. Lincoln Beautyware produced a lot of chrome tri-rolls in a mid-century style, as well as some with copper plating. Other companies offered a variety of colors and finishes. Some of the later 70s versions of the tri-roll dispenser were even made of wood, painted with colorful flowers or mushrooms. Whether you're shopping online or in person, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $70 for a vintage tri-roll dispenser, depending on the quality and condition.

The wonderful thing about buying a vintage kitchen roll organizer is you won't just be following the whole retro kitchen decor trend – you can make the piece uniquely yours. Tri-roll dispensers can be sanded and painted, whether they are metal or wood, and new decals can be added to replace the old, faded ones. If you don't often use either the waxed paper, aluminum foil, or paper towel that are specifically named on the dispenser, consider swapping in other products or papers such as parchment or kraft paper.