By 1961, there were 46 colors of Case toilets (and presumably, sinks and bathtubs, too)
Mid Mod Pam on Apr 21 2008 at 8:01 am | Filed under: bathroom
It seems that many readers are trying to find just one or two matching pieces to bring their original bathrooms back to their full glory. Sinks seem to be big contenders in this search - they get dinged or otherwise worn out, or they were replaced at some point with plain white.
I was amazed when I saw in this 1961 ad, that Case made 46 distinct colors by that time. Holy cow, that’s too many choices! I don’t want to be a downer on a Monday spring morning - but be forewarned, anyone trying to recreate a very particular look, in a bathroom or elsewhere for that matter, that this is a quest not for the faint of heart. And as I got into my retro renovations, I actually got more picky, not less, that everything be “just so.” This is not a bad thing, I think of it ultimately as artistry. But, it takes time. If you are up for it, the decorating gods will be teaching you the virtue of patience.
2 Responses to “By 1961, there were 46 colors of Case toilets (and presumably, sinks and bathtubs, too)”
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Judi's Lexington ranch
Amy's San Diego bungalow
I am glad that you found this ad to confirm our earlier, sometimes offline, discussion about the subtle variations in colors of bathroom fixtures. My own search for pink bath fixtures was made impossibly difficult by the enormous variation in shading of that one basic color. So much so that I eventually gave up and bought a matched suite from a single source, though I had to settle for blue instead of pink. If Case had 46 “colors,” there must have been multiple shades of yellow, multiple shades of blue, etc. The mind boggles and the eyes cross! We are also reminded how homogenous home decor options have become, thanks to warehouse stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Our choices are limited to white … and more white … and occasionally ivory (still white!) or taupe/tan/beige (dirty white). The only way to express your individuality when purchasing from these retail giants is by going uber-trendy (which by definition is not really all that “individual”) or by tripling and quadrupling your budget to buy special-order. Imagine walking into HD or Lowes and finding 46 colors of sinks, toilets, and tubs on the shelves, “all at one low, low price”!! Ah, the good ole days……
Hi,
Ronn at FUTURES Antiques here. Two thoughts: 1) I TOTALLY agree about patience and pickiness. Don’t compromise, especially when it comes to big, heavy, perhaps expensive items that need INSTALLATION. 2) As far as “matching” colors go, I lean that way myself, however, I have a good friend who does not see life in that way, and every single separate piece in his bathroom is a different color (toilette body, toilette seat, toilette lid, sink, etc. etc.!), and because he carries the wackiness through the entire home in varying ways, it’s a brilliant idea and effect.
Stay out of the box. That’s all I’m saying.