toilet — Retro Renovation

The Eljer Ellis toilet … great 50s style for the bathroom

Posted by: pam kueber • March 5, 2009

1959-eljer-bathroom-ellis-toilet

There’s nothing I like better than a pretty, midcentury toilet. This 1959 Ellis model from Eljer has wonderful lines, and came in 7 “decorator colors” including this great shade of pistachio green that is heading in a straight line toward avocado.

The text says that the toilet, along with coordinating bathtub and wallhung sink on chrome legs, were designed by the Dave Chapman firm. Chapman was a well-known industrial designer and seems to have had a long career with Montgomery Ward, in particular. See his IDSA bio here. Eljer has existed since 1904 and along with Crane, is today part of the American Standard brand. I keep an eye on Eljer’s product line … As far as retro renovation choices, they have one wall-hung sink (Murray II) and several simple toilets (with some of my favorite names: Titan…Diplomat…Patroit!) worth a look.

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A gorgeous vintage toilet for your retro renovation bathroom

Posted by: pam kueber • November 6, 2008

So where else can you come to swoon over beautiful toilets (without a hangover being involved)!

Truly, when I was renovating my three bathrooms, I searched and searched for a retro style toilet. Most everything out there was “Victorian on steroids.” I swear – I could name ANY and EVERY toilet made in America by make and model on sight. It was really rather impressive, I was quite proud, I wanted a gold star. I ended up with a milquetoast Kohler Wellworth.

Oh what I would give for three Crane Criterions JUST LIKE THIS.

Heck yeah there is more →

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Toilet seats in 94 colors – for your retro bathroom

Posted by: pam kueber • September 23, 2008

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 to get a cover for your vintage toilet tank

Posted by: pam kueber • August 23, 2008

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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