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  • Home » Kitchen Help Category » Faucets » Dishmaster factory in Mitchell, Indiana – Mom & I take a road trip

    Dishmaster factory in Mitchell, Indiana – Mom & I take a road trip

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    Posted by: pam kueber • December 5, 2008

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    As part of my trip to Louisville last week, I visited the home of the Dishmaster – a fun road trip to Mitchell, Indiana.

    Roger Swayer, owner of the company that makes this wonderful authentic retro kitchen faucet, gave my mom Fran and me a tour, told us how he ended up the caretaker of this amazing brand, and then took us for wonderful lunch at the nearby Spring Mill Inn, where we also met his wife Millie.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana
    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    The factory is a small operation – with lots of personal attention to the production of each Dishmaster faucet. There are six employees in this subsidiary of the business – including Sharon, above.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    Nearby, Sam was fabricating Dishmaster brushes – on a machine that has been in continuous use since 1948! Roger and Sam explain that it can be finicky, especially after the lunch break – but it gets the job done just as good as ever once it gets going.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    The steps to make the Dishmaster are mapped out on the wall. Every single unit is quality-tested by an employee.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    How did Roger and SilverStream LLC end up with the Dishmaster? Roger explained that the Dishmaster got its start in Pontiac, Michigan. The inventor/owner also had a place in Southern California. So the faucet was successfully marketed in those locations, in particular. Then, as Dishmaster owners – who are exceedingly loyal – retired to Florida, Arizona and Nevada, they took the faucets with them, literally and figuratively. The early models, Roger points out, look like Studebakers, and you can still see the Michigan/automotive influence in the M76  models today.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    Roger’s company SilverStream LLC acquired the original Dishmaster company in 2004, after seeing it advertised for sale in a trade publication. SilverStream had previously manufactured and sold bathroom fixtures – under the brand name Indiana Brass Co. – but they eventually had to exit the business as the mainstream fixture market moved to Asia. They had been looking for something unique to fill the gap – and are seeking to give the Dishmaster brand a whole new lease on life.

    From Dishmaster factory, Mitchell, Indiana

    At the end of the tour, Roger even showed me all these mint-in-box, new-old-stock Dishmaster faceplates from history, bought up with the factory and tooling four years ago. Guess what I came home with.

    Get one straight from the company via Amazon:

    • Or via the company’s website.

    Thanks so much to Roger, Millie – and Ronda, my key contact at SilverStream LLC – for their exceedingly kind southern hospitality!!!

    Related stories

    1. The Dishmaster!
    2. Dishmasters & the American dream kitchen
    3. Get Dishmasters at dishmaster-faucet.com
    Comments 27
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    Comments will re-open on Jan. 2, 2020

    Commenting is paused while I take a break to spend un-distracted time with family over the holidays. Come back Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, when comments reopen and for another year of retro fun. Have a wonderful holiday season and happy new year, everyone!

    Comments

    1. Marc Bineau says

      July 17, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      Hello,
      Do you do a faucet with out the brush on the side, just Hot and cold faucet 50′
      Thanks.
      Marc

      • Pam Kueber says

        July 17, 2019 at 3:07 pm

        Hi Marc, contact Dishmaster directly. I do think they have the design you are suggesting.

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