If you are looking for mid-century bathroom fixtures — tubs, toilets, sinks, shower doors — the most likely places you are going to find them are on (1) your local craigslist or (2) your local Re-Store / Habitat for Humanity or other local salvage shop. The easiest and cheapest route is going to be to BUY LOCAL. You can see the stuff first-hand, so you know what you are getting, and you won’t pay shipping — you will haul your treasure away in your own car. Be sure to practice smart safety habits when buying from craigslist — see their recommendations.
One other idea that readers have been successful with: Ask the neighbors. Their houses originally had the same fixtures as yours, and they may have old ones in their basements, from previous remodels — or they may be about to remodel. Also: Watch the curb! Yes! We have had examples of readers deciding they needed, say, an old pink toilet — and a few days later they spotted on out on a neighbor’s curb waiting for the garbage truck. SERIOUSLY!
Tip: Another important reason to buy local is that you can be sure the color you are getting matches. There were many manufacturers back in the day — and their colors were all slightly different. If you buy locally, you can check the colors in person.
If you can’t find what you are looking for locally, there are other options as well. Retro Renovation’s Steel Kitchen Cabinet Forum also has a spot for “Other Stuff” including “Bathroom Stuff.“ And, intrepid reader Scathing Jane posts there almost every single day.
Jane looks at Craigslist listings from all over the country and loads up some of the best. Case in point: Look at the vintage American Standard bathroom suite, above, with its swoonable sweet Cinderella tub. And the tile to the left – there’s 38 s.f. of it, posted by Jane last night. Hint: It’s easy to see what’s new on the Forum every day. Subscribe via RSS (read the instructions.) Thank you, Jane, and others of you who post often to help out other readers.
The farther you get from home (craigslist, Re-Stores, or other local salvage places), the more expensive finding vintage bathroom fixtures is going to get. And that’s before you even have to think about shipping and crating. That’s because specialty places are likely to pick up only the best-of-the-best, and to do that, they also have overhead to cover. If you are on a serious search, though, you might also consider this list of potential sources. Two salvage places with online stock include:
- deabath.com
- historichouseparts.com
There are surely other salvage places that will deal with you online, but these are the two that I am most familiar with. Note: We have not heard positive things about reglazing — it just doesn’t hold up to water, and that’s what bathrooms are all about.
Pink tubs, pink sinks, pink toilets, pink tile — “Save the Pink Bathrooms!” #2 
Where to find parts for your vintage bathroom faucets and toilets 
Retro bathroom sinks, toilets — and a new choice for a current day faucet — from American Standard 
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My aunt has some 1978 bright pea green linoleum, similar to those tiles, on her floor in her dining room and kitchen, mint condition, I swear I’ve never seen linoleum in the superb condition it’s in after 31 years of daily use but she managed to pull it off (with 3 boys to top it off!)
Gerson’s, in Tucson, has a wide selection of vintage colored toilets, some sinks, and a few bathtubs. I bought an aqua toilet there five years ago; finally got a sink to match earlier this year.
So, if you have a tub/shower area in really good condition, but want to change the color, what other alternative is there, other than reglazing it? I mean, the expense and demo involved just to change a tub? Could you please describe the bad things you have heard or experienced about reglazing? Thanks
Jason, I have not personally *heard* good things about the durability of reglazing. That said, the technology is likely always changing…and I am not an expert on this…
Hi Jason. I am a reglazer in MA and I believe that, if done correctly, reglazing is a durable, cost-effective option to replacing a tub. You can save up to 80% by reglazing. You’re going to hear horror stories about any business, including reglazers. But we have hundreds of satisfied clients. We have refinished tubs and tile in people’s homes, as well as clawfoot tubs and vintage sinks with great results.
The primer we use is the same product used to prime Air Force jets. So it’s very strong stuff. As Pam states, the technology is constantly improving. But reglazing is sometimes more art than science. Improper application of even the best products can lead to problems. Hopefully you’ll consider giving a reglazer in your area a chance.
Hi Pam,
I am looking for a lavender toilet from the 1960s to replace mine that cannot be fixed. I searched American Standard and the like to see if they may possibly offer the color in a new one, but alas, the color is a thing of the past!!!
Any advice?
Jean
Jean, this story is about where to find sinks, but the same advice applies to toilets. Lavendar = a very difficult color, I think. But be a good and humble servant and the RDG’s (Retro Decorating Gods) will send you what you need: http://retrorenovation.com/2010/11/02/where-to-find-vintage-bathroom-sinks/
My husband and I bought a light blue vintage sink and tub for our upstairs bathroom, but found out the toilet had been broken. We don’t know the brand, so I have no idea where to start on finding a color match! Any ideas? I can send a pic of the sink– it’s pretty distinctive….
Erin, deabath.com might be able to identify them for you and find you a matching toilet. good luck, pam
Definitely, definitely the thing to do if the normal channels don’t work is to contact your local kitchen and bath remodelers. They’re tearing out these beauties often. Tell them you’ll pay them when they find something for you.
Whenever I need something and want to get it cheap or free, I always ask myself, “Who has it, but doesn’t want it?” I’ve scored all kinds of goodies by answering this question. It works for many, many situations, from getting free umbrellas (answer: lost and founds, especially at hotels), to free carpet (Who has pieces big enough for a home office? Answer: commercial carpeter layers, for whom a remnant would be a pretty big piece).
I expect the same thing will work for getting vintage fixtures.