Woah. This is the most AMAZING kitchen faucet slash appliance: EVER! A 1963 Electro-Sink Center, spotted by reader oldgun31 on ebay and posted to our Forum (now closed). As oldgun31 points out:
For history’s sake, I will archive what the listing said:
To start off with, here is a link to see what a new one looked like when the door to door salesman came a knocking on your door in 1963. PHOTOS (of discussion on another Forum of same piece found at an estate sale by another person-Pam). This electronically controlled faucet that I have was installed in 1963 in a house in Portland Oregon. Looks like they paid 399.00 for it, but made payments of $13.08 a month for 36 months, ($470.88). I was at an auction at that house and found it in the basement in one of its many junk rooms.
It took me a while to find the items that went with it, but I wasn’t able to find everything. It did surprise me that I found the book and original receipt. I’m sure that the rest of it was there, but lost in the clutter, (These folks never threw anything away. It just went on a shelf in the basement, then later years, things were stored in one of the bedrooms or in the huge attic). Needless to say it is untested, and sold for parts or repair. The heavy glass bowl is in good condition, (No nips, chips, or cracks found). The ice cream maker also looks very good and appears complete.
AND, here is another link, which oldgun31 added, and which is referenced in the Photos link. It is for a 1964 Electro-Sink Center brochure!
Finally, someone mentions that perhaps Laura Petrie had this in her kitchen in one of the early episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show — ????? If anyone can spot this watching the show online — grab a screen shot, and I’ll post it.
Wonders!!!
Victoria says
Alicia, what state are you in?
Alicia Mitchell says
Utah
Alicia says
I was cleaning out a garage in an old 1947 home and came across one of these sink centers. It appears to have all the parts there and is in really good condition. Does anyone know how I would go about selling it?
Thanks!
pam kueber says
Alicia, put it on ebay. We have numerous stories about this product, I own one myself! https://retrorenovation.com/search-results/?q=electro-sink
P.S. Please don’t use any of my photos on ebay without asking permission.
Victoria says
Let me know if you list it, would love to have one! Our vintage kitchen would ROCK that sink…and I had one when I was a kid so really interested!
Alicia Mitchell says
Victoria,
I’ve tried putting it on eBay, but it’s incredibly heavy and they will not allow the shipping to exceed a certain amount. If you would like to contact me by email, I am very interested in selling it and would like to work something out.
I’m renovating an old house and I found a full sink center in a box in the garage. It appears to have all the parts as well as the instructions. If anyone is interested in buying it or could give me a reference on websites that purchase the items I would appreciate it. Thank you
pam kueber says
Alicia, no buying/selling here on the main blog.
You can list it on our buy/sell Forum, but please read the instructions carefully, you must include all info requested for the listing to remain. https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
I see heavy stuff on ebay all the time. I bought my Electro-Sink Center on ebay. Surely there must be a way. That is your best bet.
Victoria says
I don’t want to violate any rules, just asking for a heads up if it gets listed. It would look so pretty at my little one-room B&B, Victoria’s Last Resort in Cambria! cambriahermit@aol.com
Bren says
WOW, thank you. I was trying to figure out what in the WORLD Laura had above her sink. I thought maybe it was a hot water unit, or water purifier but there were additional outlets, now I know why. $400.00 was a LOT of money back then. I guess Rob really was doing well….Laura had some top of the line stuff. (Ever notice they had 3 phone extensions in their house? Not typical.
pam kueber says
Yes, we have quite a few stories on the rare and wonderful Electro-Sink Center. See them here — https://retrorenovation.com/search-results/?q=electro%20sink
Joe Felice says
I recall another faucet/device, from which one could control lights and appliances in the kitchen. Can’t remember the name, but, when I saw it, and by today’s codes, I think it would be unsafe. I mean all that electricity so close to water, and they didn’t have GFCIs back then. Now I also wonder if anybody remembers the Ronson “Can-Do” from the early ’60s. It was a cool little gadget that hung next to the sink, and had a coiled cord, so you could extend it around the kitchen. It had different attachments that snapped in the end, for mixing, whipping, drink-making and knife-sharpening. But when you popped up the side, it was an electric can opener. My parents had one, and gave it to me when I got my first house. Of course, like a fool, I got rid of it when I moved 33 years ago, and I still regret doing that!
pam kueber says
Neat-o! We’ve chronicled a few Appliance Centers here — https://retrorenovation.com/search-results/?q=appliance%20center
Patty Kenney says
This past week on the Dick Van Dyke show that electronic sink machine has been on the program it’s the one that has Robert Vaughn on it, and the episode where Laura threw a surprise pajama birthday party for Rob.
Tracy Middleton says
My brother’s mobile home has one. It was the first thing we removed. SCARY to say the least. It has the blender bowl. No ice cream maker. No manual. It has been thoroughly used. Anybody interested?
pam kueber says
Put it on ebay…
Bill says
Just in case you need them for later, you can search greedbay for;
1960s Electro Way Push Button Sink Center Fliers Instruction manual with recipes
Victoria says
We HAD this sink. It was amazing and so much fun for us kids. We never really used the ultraviolet lamp that sterilized things, but I have coveted this since I was a kid…my mom tossed it! The side parts had a multitude of attachments from blenders to meat grinders and mixers. We had them all. You could preset the water temps so the degree of “warm” was the same every time. My mom bought it from a door-to-door salesman. She also bought the full Kirby floor system…and we didn’t have any rugs. 🙂 I might need one…who has one to sell? 😉
Bill says
I still have one more set of fliers and owner/instruction/recipe manual.
Victoria says
Thanks, Bill, I am hoping to locate the actual sink but I do appreciate you telling me about the brochure!
Joanne Wulf says
We had this too. Every house in the development had an Electro-Sink Center (Westminster, California, 1964). If the power went off, you couldn’t get water at the kitchen sink–had to go to the bathroom or an outside faucet. Ours was set so close to a wall that it was impossible to clean behind it, so those UV lights sterilized a lot of debris.
I liked my Hamilton Beach mixer and my Osterizer much better.
pam kueber says
Very cool!
Jim says
Wow! I was glad to find this site and this discussion. I was watching the old Dick Van Dyke Show now on Blu-Ray when I saw this contraption in the kitchen and could not figure it out. Now I get it.
It looks like Laura did not have the side bowls attached, but it still looks pretty cool.
Sceenshots are here: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/28080277_3KdqTm#!i=2372324644&k=5vgRDfg
pam kueber says
Yes, we have a separate story on this — that is, the fact that the Electro Sink Center was in the show!
Bill says
Hi Pam,
Did you ever get yours up and running?
I sold all the NIB accessories that I had for these, but I still have a lot of fliers and owner/instruction/recipe manuals left.
Mark E. says
I do believe seeing in the literature that there was a lesser model that simply managed the water flow but did not include the side motors for the accessory appliances. That must have been the version installed in the Petrie kitchen.
John DVDfan says
The unit on the Petrie’s sink was the Electro Queen – sort of a light version of the Electro Sink Center. The Queen did not have the swivel sidecars with motorized attachments, but the center control unit appears to be the same – push buttons to operate solenoid valves that turn on hot and cold water, plus the dishwashing wand. In Season 2 DVDs, Rob and Laura are shown dispensing cold water into the coffee maker at different points.
Interestingly, in Season 1, they had a valve unit
on the sink that also seems to be an Electro-Way design – same swing-arm faucet and dish wand, but no pushbuttons. Instead of the sheet metal box with lights and buttons, it is a small stainless-looking tank – the detergent reservoir maybe? I call that one the metal bullet. I have searched for info on the bullet and the Queen without result.
John DVDfan says
Update -a search of your excellent site turned up the Magic Queen faucet. This must be the metal tank on kitchen sink in the first season of Dick Van Dyke. The Magic Queen has the same logo as found in the Electro-Way documents for the Electro Sink Center – the genie with magic wand. The Electro Queen on Laura Petrie’s kitchen sink was obviously the child of the Magic Queen – same name, style of swing-arm faucet and same dish wand, just updated with electric lights, switches, and solenoid valves. The Queen was augmented by the motorized side units to become the Sink Center. I am not sure if Electro Way Corp. designed the original (non-electric) Magic Queen or if they acquired it from someone.
Does anyone have manuals for the Magic Queen Faucet ?
Pam Kueber says
Interesting and fantastic that you spotted that detail. Here’s our story on the Magic Queen: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/06/27/vintage-kitchen-history-magic-queen-faucet-major-new-discovery/
taylor says
I literally am watching the Dick Van Dyke show now and had to stop and look up what in the heck that was in the sink! How funny!
Bill says
I still have 3 sets left if anyone is interested.
lynn says
hey bill i know its way late but was wondering if you still have any parts for the elecro sink?
Terry says
Hi Bill
I would like to buy a faucet if you still have any.
Terry
Pam Kueber says
See our recent story on another source for these – use Search box or see Kitchen Help / Faucets
Susan Halla says
Still looking? I just had someone contact me with one of these, and I could put you in touch.
Terry says
Hi Susan
Yes please have them contact me about the faucet.
Thanks, Terry
Susan Halla says
Terry – please send me your contact info to susan(at)makeitmidcentury.com.