1930s, 1940s and early 1950s kitchens often had a rubbery-linoleum countertop that was trimmed very “tightly” with chrome edging. It’s a very different look that the laminate associated with later 1950s kitchens. Reader Tamara recently acquired a circa-1948 catalog for the Chromedge Company, and she scanned it to share. Tamara also told me a little about her house…
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To view the following slide show, click on the first thumbnail, it will enlarge, then move forward or back via the arrows below each image.
Tamara writes:.Our little house was built by my grandparents and designed by my great-grandfather, so it obviously is special to me! I still have the original plans and all the original bills and statements for building materials – so fun to explore those. [Regarding the Chromedge catalog:] The original manufacturer was B&T Metals Company out of Columbus, OH. Have seen some references to them on the ‘net but nothing productive. If you find anything like the cove trim pieces, could you let me know? I would so love to find those for my bathroom. We have lots of renovation/restoration plans for our house, but have only re-done one room as of yet. I will be looking for input from you and your readers – that is probably my favorite part of your blog (aside from the fabulous photos I can drool over). We have a lot to do, and I am hoping to tackle the bath very soon. Our house is a bit of a mix…in some ways very mid-modern, but it also has (and we have enhanced) a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian feel to it, which lucky is a pretty seamless combo, at least in my mind. So we have a bit of Danish Mod, a bit of Wright, a little streamline late 40’s, and some Arts and Crafts as well. Somehow I hope to make all that work together! Again, love your blog/forum/site and am happy to make contributions when I can because that is what makes it such a fabulous resource, people sharing their materials and knowledge! Thanks, let me know what you think of the scans! Both sources are 1948 era. Don’t you love that green and purple movie room, or what?
Yes, I love the movie room — a 1948 home theater — but alas, Tamara, I don’t know where to get trim like this… although there are sources for the kind of edging into which you can insert color strips. I need to post that source soon. Many thanks, Tamara, for sharing.
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An opportune time for another reminder to readers about renovating safe: I have no idea what your old countertops may be made of, or what is in their adhesives. Consult with pro’s to test all the materials that you have in your house when you move in, so you know what you are dealing with. And, before you go scraping things — you may want to bring in the experts again, as adhesives and backings also can contain harmful materials.
3 midcentury home design products we wish they’d bring back NOW 
Where to find speckled gold laminate for countertops? 
Fingerblock parquet flooring — an authentic choice for wood floors in a midcentury house 
Glitter vinyl floor tile — we found a source! 
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Patrick Coffey says
Tamara after that cool description you gave of your house let me be the first to say…….WE WANT PICTURES!!!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!!!!……please take some pictures of the inside and outside of your house and share with us PLEASE!!!!! I also think it is really cool that not only do you know every bit of history about your house and have all the recipts from, its construction but the fact that it is, for lack of a better term, a family heirloom makes it really neat……
Sara in WA says
That is so special about your family house. I’ll bet all the photos of holidays would be an interesting timeline. And I agree with Patrick! Show us please.
Erin in Ohio says
I agree with Patrick! Please, please, please share pics of your home. It sounds like everything my husband and I love! We live in an early 40s home filled with mid-century/Danish modern furnishings, and we love Arts & Crafts style. I regularly take walks in a neighborhood of Wright-inspired homes and admire their beauty. I’d love to see all of these different looks in one place — your home and my dream home! 😉
Jane (aka Elvis) says
The filled chrome edging is just what was in my kitchen when we bought, and it’s still in some of the cupboards. We loved it but couldn’t find a supplier when we needed to resurface (the counters were 50 years old and worn out). We ended up using the standard fluted aluminum edging, but it would have been much cooler to have this!
How wonderful to have your family history in your house! I concur: pictures, pictures, please!
Neil says
A few months ago, at an estate sale, I came across three 8-foot lengths of vintage chrome counter trim, still in the original packaging. I snapped it up so fast the air shimmered around me! Since I sell vintage kitchen furniture I just know it will be worth its weight in gold for some needy, borderless cabinet with a cracked-ice top. And I’ll be praising the gods for the find.
Corrina says
I am on the hunt for the plastic trim within. I have these old trims on my cabinets and the metal is fine, but the inside needs to be replaced. Any leads? or ideas of what to use instead?
Thanks
Roger says
I too, need a source for the plastic insert on the chrome counter top edging. My strips are 9/16 of an inch wide. Can anyone steer my towards a source??? I need at least 13 feet of this insert material.
pam kueber says
We don’t know of a source for this…
Shauna says
Did anyone ever find a source for the plastic trim within the chrome edge? I have been diligently looking for a provider! Thanks!
pam kueber says
So…you have the edge? You just need the color insert? No specific known supplier but can you jury rig something?
Barry M. Wise says
Hi: Have you posted any updates about where you can get chrome edges that you can insert colored strips in? Would love to see that. We had a kitchen and bar with chrome edges that must have come out of the catalog above. Very cool stuff. Wish we could get something similar for some remodel work we are doing.
Pam Kueber says
no I haven’t. I’d recommend starting with places like Heffron’s and Bars & Booths and see if they can help you.