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From the category archives:
toilets
I HAVE BEEN FEELING ANXIOUS about getting this new toilet recommendation out there into the retro universe. I see a nice toilet good for a midcentury bathroom — and the world must know. It must know!! This is the Gerber Ultra-Flush, and doesn’t it have lines reminiscent of the lovely 50s model in Susan’s yellow bathroom? I like it a lot. Gerber’s website, I don’t like it so much, though. Here’s how to get straight to the Ultra-Flush page. I think there may be another toilet like this Gerber out there, but one with swoopier less angular lines on the tank. I must find it. I must!!
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Drum roll, please. I’m adding a second toilet recommendation for 40s and 50s houses to the Bathroom list: The Kohler Cimarron two-piece, round-front. This model joins the Kohler Wellworth on the list of toilets that get my nod for having some modicum of a retro look. Or, damning with faint praise: They are at least not “Victorian on steroids.”
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Where can you find the perfect pink, peach, blue, sunset tan, mint green or harvest gold toilet seat for your vintage toilet? We have three basic answers to this common question about updating your 40s 50s 60s or 70s bathroom – including a new-found source. A typical plea: Heck yeah there is more…
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I think I have finally lost my marbles. Jumping up and down in my office, all excited to find a company that offers 94 different colors of toilet seats… and dying to share it — to stop the presses — to postpone the planned laminate story — get this NEWS on the blog! Heck yeah there is more…
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Where can I buy a tank cover for my vintage toilet?
Do you need a cover for your vintage toilet tank? Here’s the place to go, they have more than 10,000 varieties of vintage tank covers in stock: http://www.plumbingsupply.com/tanklids.html
Pretty amazing, huh?! Of course, I also went right to their FAQ for this one:
How did you get into the unique business of selling toilet tank lids?”
Over thirty years ago our founder Vic began saving toilet tank lids. It’s his passion. He loved how unique they all were as well as saw how much history was in each toilet tank lid. In 1980 Vic started offering his vast inventory of toilet tank covers in Northern California. Fifteen years later in 1995 when he started our Internet store he offered/showed his inventory of toilet tank lids on-line. We were the first by far on the Net and we still have the largest selection of toilet tank lids any on the Internet by far. Experience and longevity does make big difference. We’ve heard it said that: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” and so we look at our competition and feel flattered.
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A Monday reader FAQ:
I’ve been using Google to search for a replacement tank for my 1952 Crane pink toilet. I stumbled upon this site and was wondering where are the places I should be entering my plea? Do you have any suggestions for me?
Thanks, Jane
Jane: This is likely a needle-in-the haystack search – to get the exact brand, year, color. Here are a few sources:
- DEAbath.com. On Crane especially.
- HistoricHouseParts.com
- This place in New Jersey — There appear to be pink new-old-stock Crane toilets here (photo above)!
- And salvage yards and craigslist where you live.
Readers – Please contribute your thoughts! And Jane, let us know how it turns out.
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There is nothing that makes a true retro renovator happier, than finding the perfect toilet.
I have a 50s house, so I must have a 2-piecer. And today, there is nothing new that really fits that old groove so my recommendation is basically, something innocuous.
However, if you have 60s home with a more defined modern style, you can go with a 1-piece elongated toilet like this Champion Elongated from American Standard. I particularly would like to see this suite — including the toilet, tub and sink — in gray. Or: Match it to the sinks in today’s ebay pick.
And remember: Painted wood seat, chrome attachment hardware.
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I could name every toilet at 100 yards, when I was in the market a few years ago. As with everything, I searched endlessly to find a model to replicate the original 50s toilets in my 3 bathrooms. Alas, most everything was “Victoriana on steroids.” Ultimately, I chose Kohler Wellworth, which was streamlined, simple & with good flush ratings(!)
I am very happy. I ordered white, with a chrome handle, and white toilet seats also with chrome attachments. Also: “NO!” to one-piece or elongated, you must get “two-piece, round bowl.” And as I mentioned, this model has done well in testing, as there can be issues with these low flow models. I think Congress is considering the issue. I am serious!
There are other options out there – from Gerber and Toto – that also get good ratings and which have a similar, simple design. I approve.
Finally, if you’re doing a 60s bathroom retro renovation, the one piece elongateds fit fine in there. In fact, I love them as part of a suite of grey fixtures, as one example.
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