Retro bathroom faucets for your 40s 50s or 60s bathroom – Update
Available from deabath.com
These are my two favorite lavatory faucets for 1950s bathroom restorations or renovations. The shape of the faucet escutcheons (the bases of the handles, yes that’s what they are called) are the most reminiscent of the wrecked faucets I pulled out of my original 1951 bathrooms. They are not inexpensive, each around $250 on sale, but I found the quality to be excellent.
Buy the 4″ above from deabath.com
Buy the 8″ from mac the antique plumber or other sources online – it’s called the Mississippi. (Sorry I cannot get the link to work for antiqueplumber.com.)
available from antiqueplumber.com - and other online sites
A note on the 8″ “Mississippi” lav (the second featured). It larger in scale than many 50s lav faucets — although I am pleased to add (Oct. 15, 2008 update) that it has a clear antecedent in the lavatory in the 1956 photos below:
Do note, though, that if you are purchasing a sink to go with the Mississippi – ensure you have adequate “deck” space on the sink. The Kohler cast iron self-rimming sinks recommended look great with this sink – again, just check the deck space.
Regarding the 4″ “Deco” two-hole-mixer faucet shown, I have never seen anything anywhere else to match this one. It was not available when I renovated my bathrooms, and instead, I had the original faucet rechromed for $115. It leaks to this day and is a real pain. I wish this had been available then, and may end up with it yet. Ugh to the brass, though. Go for chrome, for sure, or nickel if you must.
I am a fan of Kohler bathroom sinks – they have styles that will fit right into your retro bathroom, seamlessly.
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Hi,I’ve got a faucet set like the one above – have searched the web for a long time and never able to find ——- my sink came out of the Notre Dame School for Girls in the mid 50’s when they were remodeling. It will leak – you have to use stuff called ‘packing’ – and there are no threads on the faucet so you can’t hook up a carpet steam cleaner or other appliance. I always thought the escutcheons were called “Bell” and I think for some reason my handles aren’t 4 sided, just one. I still use the sink but the faucets are in storage.Thanks for sharing this great pix.
Question-I was just looking at Mac the Antique Plumber and loved that faucet for our new bathroom. I have a problem figuring out what all of the colors offered look like. What is the difference between brushed nickel/chrome etc? Any help would be great! Thanks!