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Retro bathroom sink faucets from Chicago Faucets

Posted by: • January 27, 2011

faucets for a bathroom sink

Here is a newly discovered option for a mid century bathroom sink faucet. Note, the hexagonal base of the levers — that touch gives this faucet from Chicago Faucets a mid century feel, to me — I had these hexes on my original towel bars, for example. Mostly, I think that bathroom faucets for 1940s, 1950s, 1960s or 1970s bathrooms need to be on the simple side. No Victorian steroids and no Euro modern tubular projections. I used a Chicago Faucets faucet for my 1963 kitchen restoration — love it. Hefty. Note, this company has a variety of faucets in this basic style, in a variey of spreads. Check them out here: Bathroom and kitchen faucets from Chicago Faucets.

Mid-century American Standard Gracelynn sink

Posted by: • August 6, 2009

Bathroom
YES, I AM OBSESSED with this sink. I have one — in white, although I also love this icy gray — in my garage on hold for my tiny, storage-challenged master bath; I am waiting to see if the retro decorating gods also send me the vanity. Meanwhile, I have finally learned its official name: It’s the Gracelynn Cabinet-Lavatory.  The toilet: The lovely Carlyle. You know it is one of my life goals to be able to name every midcentury toilet and sink on sight. This 1960 photo is from flickr friend Java1888, click the image to go straight to his photo stream. Another flickr friend, What Makes the Pie Shops Tick, has a 1965 American-Standard catalog posted where I found the name of this much-coveted sink, and more. Final note, I believe this sink was introduced in ’59.

Vintage 1941 Montgomery Ward metal kitchen cabinets

Posted by: • May 9, 2009

vintage-1941-montgomery-ward-kitchenVINTAGE EYE CANDY today — a complete catalog of steel kitchen cabinets from Montgomery Ward, circa 1941. You can see from this brochure, how much simpler kitchens were in the pre-war era. Of course, we were still in recovery from the Great Depression. Even a kitchen like this — which would seem so basic today — would have been immensely luxurious in 1941. Heck yeah there is more →

Vintage 40s and 50s kitchen drainboard sinks

Posted by: • April 23, 2009

youngstown metal kitchen sink

In response to Friday’s post on the patriotic 40s kitchen, Josh writes: I’m in love with that sink. Do they still make any like that? Heck yeah there is more →

1930s reproduction sink for a bungalow, four-square or romantic revival bathroom

Posted by: • March 25, 2009

reproduction-1930s-bathroom-sink

When I visited Rejuvenation in Portland, I saw this wonderful early 20th century reproduction sink for sale. I am not sure of the exact timeline for sinks like this. They were originally porcelain enamel on cast iron — and I would guess they spanned the 1910s through the 1940s. This “Liberty” reproduction pedestal sink from St. Thomas Creations — is made of vitreous china. Even so – the sink looks like the real deal – gorgeous – and would be a wonderful choice for a pre-war retro renovation bathroom – for a bungalow, four-square or romantic revival bathroom, for example.

A special faucet for vintage American Brand kitchen drainboard sinks – still available

Posted by: • February 24, 2009
1946 American brand kitchen

1946 American brand kitchen

faucet-for-american-brand-kitchen-sink.jpg1946-american-kitchen-crop2.jpgCan you believe it? You can still get the exact faucet required for a vintage American-Brand kitchen drainboard sink. It’s available here from Locke Plumbing. The owners tell me they still sell quite a few of them, including to lots of folks in Europe. Click on the thumbnail of the faucet for sale – you can see it’s designed to nestle right into the backsplash of the sink top. I am told it does not fit other sinks, so no need to go there. Cool, huh? I just love having found this – thanks again go to Russell for turning us on to Locke Plumbing. Remember folks, they are also great if you want to fix a particular brand of vintage toilet.

The also are good go-to’s for:

Four, 4″ faucets for your retro bathroom sink

Posted by: • January 8, 2009

gerber-lav-faucet2

Do you need a new faucet for your vintage bathroom sink? TodayI happily add a third alternative to my short list of recommendations. It’s this simple Gerber 4″ lav. Nice lines, nice faucet handles. Also a nice one here with fluted handles.  Hurray.

Update: Nathan went looking for this and Gerber eliminated the image from their catalog. However, it IS still available. Here is what Nathan reports – MANY THANKS, Nathan!

Hey Pam,

I was able to track down that particular faucet that you had on your site.  I contacted Gerber, and they gave me the part number.  I then tried to find it locally here in Abq, but that was a dead end.  So, I then resorted to shopping on the internets (d’oh), and found it here: [link now gone - search for model number online, folks - Pam]

I ordered 3 of them ;)

Thanks again, and I’ve bookmarked your site

Hasta,

Nathan

Other faucet choices:

One of my very favorites - great deco style

One of my very favorites - great deco style


The mystery of the hootie ring – first clues uncovered

Posted by: • December 9, 2008
hudee ring ad

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!

Heck yeah there is more →

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