Anyone remember Castro Convertibles?
In the 1940s when TV was starting, the first local television commercial in NY showed 4 year old Bernadette Castro opening the Castro sofa bed all by herself. That became one of the most frequently aired commercials of all time. At age 12, Miss Bernadette starred in a re-make which was the first color television commercial to air. If you’re over 35 years old, chances are good you’ve seen it at least a few dozen times in your life. I’m guessing I was watching cartoons like Gigantor and Speed Racer back in the early seventies, and I stared at that little girl running around the living room so many times I still have the CAH-stroh CON-vertibles jingle memorized.
I just saw a Beamax projection screen video showing an adorable 2 1/2 year old opening and closing a wall-mounted video projection screen, all by herself. The screen survives within easy reach of a 2 1/2 year old. That’s gotta be good press for Beamax. Is “Evi” the modern-day Bernadette Castro?
August 20th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Didn’t it start:
Who’s the first to conquer living space?
Cas-tro-Convertibles!…
That brings back nice memories. But I also remember being confused, because everyone was yelling about Castro taking over Cuba. I didn’t understand how he could also have a furniture store.
September 1st, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Yep, I remember them!
October 10th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I used to work for them…good product
October 21st, 2007 at 11:58 am
I have a Castro Convertible Chair that the back raises up into an ironing board with a GE iron and GE hairdryer in the back. All still works! I would love to get any information on this piece of furniture I could. On the back of the chair after it is raised up it has the Castro Convertible sticker stating it meets the 1920’s compliance and the sticker showing it was inspected. Please advise if anyone has information about this piece. Pictures available
November 18th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I remember that ad - I was always confused by the second line, though. I just found it and it’s no wonder
Who was the first to conquer space
It’s incontroverible!
that the first to conquer living space
is Castro Convertible
Who conquer space with fine design
Who saves you money all the time
Who’s tops in the convertible line?
Castor Convertible!
December 4th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Does anyone have a logo for them?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I don’t ever remember actually seeing a commercial but this is my “family”. Bernard Castro(who started the company) was my Grandfather’s Brother. We had a Castro Convertable sofa until about 9 years ago.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Does anyone have a photo or image of the Castro Convertibles billboard in Times Square they can send me?
January 4th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I worked on “Southern Trail” in the 1960’s based in Ft. Lauderdale.
i drove Bernadette to her first honeymoon at the Fontanbleau.
Jr. and I were about the same age, and we became good friends along with a cousin of his (A girl), from Connecticut. As I recall vividly, Teresa treated her side of the family like servant’s.
I always thought that Bernard would end up marrying Rocky Marciano’s daughter.
I was gone before he died, and frankly, attributed a lot of the blame to his mother who spoiled her children rotten.
Bernard was a good friend, but he had the view that he could get away with anything and his mother would always bail him out. It cost him his life.
I feel sorriest for Bernard’s children, whom Teresa had nothing more to do with.
March 4th, 2008 at 8:03 am
To “Michael Teseniar”
You say you have a piece with the ironing board, etc. I would love to see pictures of this!! If you’d like to share please do, icyu114u@yahoo.com. Anyone else that might have some to share- that would be great.
I’m a huge fan of functional furniture and while shopping and researching for some new pieces, it led me down the road to read up where it all got started. It’s been such a fun ‘ride’ that I’d like to consider this subject for a school project. I’d like to include some pictures of Castro Convertibles pieces. Thanks!
March 15th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I have a Castro Convertible sectional sofa. It was covered in a gold velvet, the back was ‘tufted’ and it had a skirt around the bottom. I had it recovered (not velvet) and the skirt removed so that it has a clean modern look. The bed is very comfortable still and the sofa looks great. I believe it was purchases in the 1960’s from the Tampa FL store. I bought it for $50 from the original owners in 2001 and it sat in my garage for several years before I had it redone. I’m glad I did.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I have a convertable table. It starts as a beautiful coffee table and converts to a table that seats eight. I can’t quite figure out how it works, but I’ve seen my mother open it up, it’s pretty cool.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Michele, I have the same table….release the Slide Bar to the left and it will spring up, then flip the table flap into double the size…I wonder what these are worth. My Mother-in-law was the original owner. I wouldn’t sell it for anything, just because it’s a conversation piece.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
THE FUNNEST THING…AS A CHILD MY MOTHER ABANDON ME, AND I WAS PLACED AT ST.DOMINICK’S HOME FOR OPHANAGES…I WAS TAKEN OUT OF THERE TO TRY OUT FOR THE COMMERCIAL OF OPENING THE SOFA IN WHICH BERNADETTE DID AS WE ALL KNOW. I SOMETIMES THINK OF THAT TIME AND WONDER WHY I WAS SENT.I DO REMEMBER THEM MAKING ME OPEN AND CLOSE THE SOFA……BUT THEN AGAIN MY MOTHER ABANDONING ME IS STILL A MYSTERY.. SO WHY NOT THIS……….
May 8th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
My Castro convertible coffee/dining table is in need of repairs(the hardware). Can these pieces be purchased, and if so how,and where. Thank you. R.Kelly
May 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I just purchased what I consider to be a chair and a half for $50! It is a Castro Convertible. It is very boxy and modern. It has a twin bed mattress in it. It is in the original fabric I am sure which happens to be a Fern green color. Very cool chair indeed! I don’t know the time in which it was built but I imagine it came from the Florida store since I live in Atlanta. I just thought I would share how excited I am to have such a neat piece of furniture that seems to hold a little place in history! (by having the Castro name!)
May 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I want to purchase a Castro Convertible Queen size sofa bed. Just like the one I purchased in San Juan, P.R. in 1965. I was told at that time, IF,I recall correctly, that Castro supplied the Hilton Hotel with all there beds and sofas.
It was the best bed. We slept on it every night for over a year. As far as we were concerned it was as good as any bed. I wish I still had it.
Instead of sleeping perpendicular to the back of the sofa, you slept parallel to the back of the sofa. The support was wonderful. The fold in the mattress was in the center between the two sleeping people, and the poodle. She loved it too!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
looking to purchase a castro convertible coffee table live in long Island ny, if possible a dark wood color
June 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
i have an old castro convertible fold up bed that i’m looking for a mattress. the matress comes in two pieces . i wish i could find one . i hate to part with the fold up cot. any help would be greatly appreciated.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:06 am
diane, their is a table & chairs for sale at Boston Craigs List.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
diane, seller is 723671156@craigslist.org. Good luck..
June 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
E Simpson: A queen sized Sofa Bed at - New Haven Craigs list. Sale - 720962473@craigslist.org. Good luck.. Hey Guys! Try looking into Craigs list. Best of luck to all. I remember the commercials and I remember driving by the company in NYC as a child..
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I have a castro Convertible coffee/dining table that I am trying to sell. I’m asking $250 obo if anybody is interested. I live near Lancaster, PA. It is the darker wood color.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Castro Convertibles Queen SOfa bed for sale!
(ad deleted)
@jessica: Sorry, but this is not craigslist so please don’t publiush your ads here.
July 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I have two Castro Convertible Coffee/Dining Tables and live in Long Island. If you are interested please let me know.
July 27th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
susan
what color are the tables you have…i am looking for a black one.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
The tables are a dark brown wood color. Let me know if you are interested.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Like Anita, I also have a Castro Convertible ottoman which converts into a bed. I need anothere matress. The frame is in perfect condition. I bought it in NY in the 1960s. I love it. Let me know where one can be purchased.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
E. Simpson,
I have a Castro Convertible Queen Size Sofa for sale. I live in Ocala, Florida.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
i’m looking for a castro convertible table - preferably a dark color but am flexible. i live in south carolina - if you know of or have one for sale, please email me at sonyadunn@hotmail.com. willing to pay shipping charges.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Does anyone know where to purchase the mattress for the ottoman castro? I basically grew up with that in my bedroom and would hate to give it up.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am
This is for #3 - Frank…I worked for Castro Convertible as well. I drove a truck for them 1960 - 1970.
#7 - I also would like a picture of the Time Square Sign… additionally, T would to get a picture of the Truck.
Mickey
September 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’m looking for pictures of the Castro Convertible delivery truck…can anyone help???
September 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
What fond memories, I remember growing up in my grandmothers house in the mid 60’s, every piece of living room furniture was a castro convertible. We have a very large family, for the holidays the whole family would come to visit and everyone would sleep over parents,grandchildren great-grandchildren. In the morning there would be beds opened all over the livingroom and in the 2 spare rooms. The adults would go to the kitchen and prepare breakfast for roughly 30-35 relatives that had stood over.Due to Castro Convertible furniture family staying over in large groups was never an issue when it came to sleeping there was alway room.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Susan-I am looking for a castro convertible table. Do you still have one and what is the price if you do? I live in NJ.
October 26th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I would love to have a castro convertible coffee/dining table. Are any of the ones mentioned here still available? I live in San Francisco area so I would need to ship these unless someone out there is in California with one of these tables. If you have one available, any idea how much shipping might be?
Thanks for your response.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hi: I have A Casro Conventible coffee/dining table I want to sell. I live in S.C. and will mail you pictures if you are interested.It is medium colored and in good condition…thanks barbara
November 27th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Is Castro Convertible still in business and if so where are they located.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
That jingle drove me crazy, and it still does. Make it stop!!!!
It’s not on youtube…
December 12th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I have a castro convertible table for sale. It starts out looking like a cradenza. You pull the front straight out for about 10 feet. There is a metal track that hold the leafs. once together it makes a dining room table that seats about 14 people.
I can email pictures if you are interested and we can discuss prices
I live in North Florida
if interested please email me at peachi@earthlink.net
March 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I have a Castro Convertible combination coffee-dining table that has been in my family for more years than I can remember. I believe it was manufactured in late 50’s early 60’s It’s in nearly perfect condition, too. There are some usage marks on the legs, but mechanically, this treasure is sound.
You can find tables like this for sale around the country and online. Prices range from $300 to $600. It’s a handy table for an apartment or small house, because it can serve as a coffee table in the living room, then convert to a dining table comfortable for four people. The legs expand to dining height and the top lifts up on a hinge to double in size. Castro Convertible Corp.’s original patent for the table was issued in 1972, but the company may have been manufacturing the tables before then. Castro, founded in New York in 1931, was better known for its convertible sofa beds. The company was sold to Krause’s Furniture, Inc., in 1993. Krause closed in 2002.
The Danish modern style spring loaded Coffee Table / Dining Table lifts to table height and top swivels and folds open to reveal a table big enough to easily accommodate 8 people to have dinner.
Coffee Table
46″(L) x 26″(W) x 16″(H)
3″ Thick Table Top
Dining Table:
49″(L) x 44″(W) x 29″(H)
1″ Thick Table Top
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I remember the Castro Convertible Furniture. They made it in Ocala, Fl. That ironing board-hair dryer thing was in the school the Castros built-Golden Hills Academy. Mrs Castro had a huge sale every year and always sold some of them. She put them in every dorm room.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I was given a castro convertible table by a friend. it was trashed but the hardware works. I am rebuilding it using bammboo for the cofee table and 200yr old growth walnut for the rest of the table. im building this table the way castro should of built it.
May 25th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
We’ve got a Castro convertible dark brown coffee/dining table we’d love to sell to a good home, if anyone is interested. It’s in good condition and has been in my husband’s family for many years. My mother-in-law always liked to have the most modern innovations. We had many holiday dinners (with extra guests) around this table. Sweet memories! We live near Ocala, Florida.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Do anyone know how I can contact Bernadette or Terri? I would like to contact them. In 1973, I worked for the Castro’s in the twenty-one bedrooms manison. In 1973, I provided some care for Terri Ann, David, and I can not remember the baby name.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Hey,
She resides here in Ocala, FL The home of Castro Convertibles. She also has a NY Office.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I believe Bernadette now lives in Ocala, Florida. If I am correct she owns a golf course there.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I was a body guard for the Castro family and plan on writing a book, Mr Castro and I have had many talks about his son and daughter Bernadette. If anyone would like to contribute to the book please contact me. Lived with them in the sons home after his death.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
My neighbor just gave me a vintage 1960’s Castro Convertible Sofa. I was so impressed with the styling of the 60’s vintage sofa. It is a black sofa with three black and white striped cushions on the seat and back. It has chrome trim that runs around the front, back and sides. This is a beauty! It looks like designer furniture from the French or Italians. Does anyone know if these vintage sofa’s have any value?
For me, it is priceless but I am curious how collectalbe it is.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:15 am
My Aunt is selling her Castro convertible Coffee/dining table. She lives in Queens, NY. It is walnut colored.
July 19th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Help! Am also looking for a replacement mattress (original came in 2 pieces - one long part and one rectacular small piece) for our folding Castro Convertible ottoman. See that others also requested info. Any luck?
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 am
In answer to an earlier question of whether Castro convertibles are still manufactured, I quote from a NY Times article:
11 June 1993, New York Times, pg. B5:
Last month, Bernadette Castro — who assumed the mantle after her father died two years ago — sold the Castro Convertible trademark, the rights to the feather-lift mechanism and the factory’s remaining inventory to a California-based chain of sofa-bed stores, Krause’s Sofa Factory, which is part of the Worth Corporation. The plant in New Hyde Park, which employs 65 people, is to close this summer.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:04 am
August 30, 1990 my mother-in-law lived up the block from the New Hyde Park store and took me inside and bought me the dove style sleeper loveseat
September 26th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I have a castro table dark color 3 way table coffe/cocktail/dinning its fantastic
Iam in ct photos upon request
like new conditon
bill
bmac423@hotmail.com
860-985-7661
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:11 am
We have a Castro Convertible sofa. It is sort of a lime green and in great shape. The unique thing is that it converts into two twin beds instead of one large queen. There is a little night stand that pops up in between the beds. I was wondering is there is a market for this and how in the world you move these. It weight a ton. THanks…Terry
November 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
We have two castro dark brown color covertible tables for sale. The tables are in mint condition. Will email photos upon request. I am located in long island, ny.
prumiys@yahoo.com
November 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I absolutely LOVE my black courderouy dove-style individual sleeper sofa. I would sell it for the $800 I paid for it, but ONLY to someone who respects and loves the Castro quality reputation. If you want new, go to jennifer sofa for the similar concept, $700. i prived it last month in the Bay Shore, Long Island, NY store. They buy on bulk from cheaper Asian labor mills. Although this was hardly slept on. Hardly even sat upon. Used for weekend guests in our downstairs. Terrific condition.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I have a Castro Convertible ottoman in mint condition - the cover is a little beat up due to my cat’s love of the ottoman - however the mattress is in mint condition and the frame is as good as new - I would be interested in how much it is worth at this point. We now live in a condo and have no room for it.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for the Information/history update about Castro Convertible - Ottoman
I’d also been searching for information about this. Helpful hints from other bloggers reported there was a Krause’s Furniture acquisition of this company. Website says business location now/or/most recent contact info lists it in Brea, CA 92821 - - I hope they have mattresses. I am trying not be wasteful - -I’ve got a good frame and need a mattress as well. Noted also by 3-4 others on the blog.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:59 am
My husband and I just purchased a used pull out couch. It is in wonderful shape and we use it every night. It is soooo comfortable. We don’t know how old it is, but we do know that Castro Convertable has not been in business for a long time. We do have the original Castro sticker with the little girl pulling out the couch, along with the patent #, and their trademark.The stock#, order# and serial# has worn so we cant read it. But, its the best pull out sofa we ever slept on.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
If anyone has a castro convertible coffee/dining table in the Philly/NYC area I’m interested. Thanks!
December 15th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I am presently still writeing a book on the Castro family, if anyone would like to contibute to lives with the Castro family please contact me at my E-Mail address. I am looking for a New York publisher. Gladys if you still need to know how and where to contact some of the family let me know. bobusafla1@aol.com (Gotcha)
December 21st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
@ Freda, How much is the table?
December 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I have a Castro Convertible sofa that we bought in 1970 in NYC. Rather boxy, and VERY heavy, due to its oak frame. Black/white originally (but washable!), won a design contest somewhere. Had it recovered in 1978, and we still use it in the rec room. Needs a new mattress though.
Imagine — 40 years old and counting!
January 6th, 2010 at 7:55 am
I have a castro coffee table in a cherry wood color. I am in NY. It is in ok condition.
You can contact me at
lanikai808@verizon.net
January 12th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I have a castro coffee table from the 60’s.
I don’t think it’s any older than that though.
Still in great shape.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
I won the Castro Convertible Trademark Girl contest in Long Island in 1967 (I think it was 67) and I did the commercials for a few years. Later I believe that Bernadette’s children did the commercials. I was told I was the only non-Castro to star in the commercials.