It’s not a hootie ring. Or a huddee ring. It’s a hudee ring. I still don’t know why it’s called that exactly – presumably there was a Mr. Hudee involved. But now, we at least have a paper trail via these 1958 and 1959 ads. At this point the ubiquitous metal ring for porcelain kitchen and bathroom sinks was sold by the Walter E. Selck and Company of Chicago. And according to the second blue ad, there were 1062 different kitchen and bathrooms sinks to take a metal ring!

In my research, I see there are numerous other manufacturers. But by 1958 some 5 million Hudee rings seem to have demonstrated their superiority in the market. Alas. It does not seem their days of ubiquity would last much longer. Although: You can still get metal rimmed sinks today from Kohler and Crane.

Related posts:

• Can I save my hudee ring?
• Cast iron kitchen sinks with hudee rings
• Tahoe bathroom sink from Kohler

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DC Girl Rebecca sent in this question about hootie rings. Yes — hootie rings!!

Pam,
do you know if anyone sells just the metal rim to go around sinks? I have a fantastic, huge cast iron sink that I want to reuse after replacing our countertops, but a plumber I had in recently said I couldn’t because no one makes that edging anymore and it’s next to impossible to remove the sink without damaging it.

This can’t be true, can it?

Rebecca

I consulted with John V. of deabath.com, who explains:

Hi Pam;
Unfortunately, the plumber is fairly accurate.  Quite a few of those old Hootie rings were made specifically for the sink, and once the sink is discontinued, the ring goes as well.  The best I could recommend to your reader is to hit up local, well established plumbing houses and hope there’s one kicking around in the warehouse…

I’ve saved them before, and I’ve lost them before as well.  It just depends on what material was used to seal the ring onto the old countertop.  I would certainly give it a go.  And, as long as the ring isn’t physically broken, a body shop can probably repair the damage incurred during removal.  Give it a shot, what do you have to lose?

Believe it or not, the ring were originally made by Hootie Manufacturing.  Love the name….

John

Love that name, too, John, thank you!

Some pristine fixtured for sale now at deabath.com

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