We’ve written extensively about 1950s bathroom tile — ceramic tile, plastic tile, and even Sani Onyx, glass-like tile made from fused rock. But here’s a vintage variety in our spotlight for the first time: Porcelain-enameled steel wall tiles. Yes, every now and then we see steel tiles — but this is a particularly big stash, plus, we have marketing materials to illustrate.
These Veos tiles for sale on ebay were found in their original boxes. Veos Tile was made in Rehoboth, Massachussets.
I tried searching for more information about Veos tile, and I was also able to find this vintage Veos Tile brochure that I spotted on Amazon. Looks like Veos was owned by Clyde Porcelain Steel Corp. of Clyde, Ohio.
The vintage brochure — likely from the 1940s — shows several installations of Veos porcelain enamel steel tile and touts the tile’s strength, durability and light weight:
Weighs only 3.5 lbs. per square foot installed as against 16 to 18 lbs. for clay-bodied tile.
It also includes a list of colors — though grey is not one of them — and touts:
“No Extra Charge for Color — In all sizes and shapes, Veos colored tile is price the same as black or white.”
Tiles made of steel? Why not? We had 70 plus brands of factory-painted steel kitchen cabinets. AND we had Lustrons!
- Read the story of Lustron House #549
- Read all of our stories about steel kitchen cabinets
The tiles look pretty darn nice!
Mega thanks to ebay seller thebombshelter1 and Amazon seller The Jumping Frog for allowing us to feature their photos in our happily ever after archives.
pam kueber says
Note: I am closing comments on this post, as they are getting redundant.
Readers: If you have fixit questions, consult with properly licensed professionals — and be sure to Renovate Safe! https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
Me says
My 1941 bungalow bathroom has metal wall tiles that are colored with paint or some type of resin and I am looking for advice on how to clean the tiles and grout without pulling off the color.
Pam Kueber says
Hi Me, this is not a blog that focuses on that kind of advice. I generally advise: Find a pro who can help… also, be sure to renovate safe. For more info: https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe
Alecia says
We have these metal tiles in our kitchen! I love the tiles, but no the color. Thanks for posting this info.
Kevin W Leeser says
this is so close to what i am dealing with in detroit, 1950’s bungalo, but the edges are a harder bevel, not a round edge. I need just a few peices to replace some missing/damaged ones. 3 bullnose and about 4 squares. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Pam Kueber says
Kevin, try ebay.
Note: No buying/selling/trading in comments or else it would be chaos…