ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for something we’ve never seen before, I was ecstatic to find this “Tappan Ultraflo push-button plumbing” innovation. It was featured in a copy of Popular Mechanics (Sept. 1963) that I picked up at Ron’s place last week. According to the story, mysterious unseen solenoids mix the temp magically so you never have to bother with those, what are they called again…oh yeah, faucet handles. This could be installed in the bathroom, too. Click through to see the groovy wiring diagram and full text.
And let’s hear your guesses… Why do you think this innovation failed?
Note: Get with your own properly licensed expert to assess safety etc.
Gary G says
Barb
I have the system and have only changed the seals 3 times in 29 Years. Email team4747 [at] yahoo [dot] com for a few spart parts.
Good luck
Richard DeBusman says
Gary,
Looking for Ultra flo selenoids. Can you help?
Richard De
Jeri Wenger says
Do you have any lead on parts?
pam kueber says
i don’t have any info on parts for tappan push-button plumbing…. this level of electric / electronic / plumbing detail generally is not something i cover on this site.
Carl says
Email team4747 [at] yahoo [dot] com for a few spart parts.
Sherri says
Elaine,is your water select knob something new? If its old it would be cool to see!
Barb says
The system didn’t actually fail. Our home was built in 1963 with the system throughout the main floor. However,when the man who developed the system, Doug Didion died suddenly from a heart attack sometime around 2001, the family, rather than pull together & keep the business running, fought to the point that they simply closed it down. At one point there was a warehouse full of parts, but no one seems to know what happened to those. Consequently, as the diaphrams dry out & you lose a solenoid you slowly lose your system. We have searched for years for parts & are now preparing to replace the system with a standard system. If anyone out there has found a place to get parts please post it as I would love to keep our system!
Jeff Pickle says
Barb,
go to http://www.ultrafloinc.com and email me for parts
Jeff
Erica says
My high school boyfriend had a 1963 Plymouth Valiant with push button transmission. (This was in 1995). ’63 must have been a button year!
Beejay says
WE have lived with this system for 13 years. Where can we get parts for it? Anyone interested in “retroing” your house, make an offer on the system…………..
Vicki says
We have this system, working but parts hard to find. Would be willing to buy whatever parts you have?
Elaine says
My first car was a 1962 Rambler Classic with the push button automatic. It worked great. I loved that car, it was so dorky-looking, but the back seat made into a full size bed.
These push buttons for the water are interesting. I have a water temperature select knob in my shower. It works by establishing the correct mix, and is not electronic. No matter where you set the temp, though, you have to let it run awhile to get up to operating temperature. Husband likes 110, I like 85, so luckily it is easily adjustable.
Alice says
Wes, I hope someone else appreciated your techy humor…that is very funny! 🙂
Wes K. says
It failed because running water is so very analog.
Judy P. says
Very cool! My Aunt still has and uses her push button stove. The push buttons are above where the vent-a-hood is.
Joe says
My dad has always been addicted to all the latest gadgets for home and garden. He’s in his 80’s, so he’s seen it all! He tells me he thought these pushbutton faucets were the greatest thing ever invented when they first came out, but was quickly “talked out of it” by salesmen and my mom. The salesmen expected tons of sales just because it was something new but felt that one person’s idea of the “perfect warm setting” was not the same as someone else’s. My mom, ever the practical one, simply stated “No. We’re not getting it. If the power goes out, we can’t get any water!
pam kueber says
Great story, Joe. So this post gave you a reason to call or see your Dad and ask him for his memories? SO COOL! What else does he have to tell us?!