When I recently spoke with Bill Rapp, the president of Vance Industries, who shared the history of metal sink frames, he clarified that if homeowners need a replacement sink rim aka frame aka hudee ring, you can not only select from his company’s 18 stock sizes, but the company can make you virtually ANY CUSTOM SIZE you need for your vintage kitchen or bathroom sink. As followers of the blog know, “hudee rings” are among the most beloved artifacts of mid century homes here at Retro Renovation. .
Over the years, I have been been fond — in an evil glee way, okay, I’ll admit it– of telling readers “good luck with that” when they asked about replacing their odd-sized sink frames. That’s because there were some 1,062 different sizes of metal sink frames at one point back in the day. Yes: 1,062 — America was rockin’. Now, though, no matter what size problem you have, Vance Industries can solve it. Bill Rapp points out, though, that the radius of the bend is limited — the company, which is the galactic market leader for metal sink frames, still makes them, using the original tooling and there are only so many angles they can bend. He said the basic “rectangle” and “round” should be fine. He says:
Yes, we can do it. We have one employee who spends full time making them… He’s 65…. Nobody retires here anymore. We’re all retro.
Clips are also required to hook the sink to the rim and the countertop from below. Bill says that Vance Industries also can supply those:
There were certain standards, and if somebody needs a pack – we will have a clip to install it.
How to contact Vance Industries to get your hudee ring replacement, or your sink clips, stat: Vance Industries.
Goodness, I love these stories of longtime companies that started up during America’s postwar boom… have endured… and now, may be seeing a renewed interest in their products for preservation, restoration, and in this case, just plain groovalistic reasons.
And may I dispell a myth? I have a hudee ring — the original one — around my 1963 double bowl Kohler kitchen sink. It does not collect dirt or grime or schmutz! I tend to think that if you have these locked down properly, they should not be gunk-catchers — not at all. Don’t be dissin’ on the hudees, people. They are welcome here!
Here are links to my continuing hudee-ring coverage. (I am galactic leader in hudee ring news, history and events.)
- A short history of Hudee rings (June 28, 2011)
- Metal trim to prevent food from falling between your stove and countertop (June 7, 2011)
- Built-in, metal-rimmed cutting boards and trivets to drop into your countertops (March 4, 2011)
- 18 sizes of metal rims for kitchen and bathroom sinks — hudee ring supplier found! (March 3, 2011)
- Where to buy kitchen sinks with metal rims. Update: Kohler Bakersfield sink now discontinued (Nov. 11, 2010)
- The mystery of the hootie ring – first clues uncovered – We learn how to spell hudee correctly (Dec. 9, 2008)
- Can I save my hootie ring?– We discover that metal sink rims are called hootie rings. (Dec. 23, 2008)
- Do drop-in, 50s cast iron sinks need clips? (Oct. 23, 2008)
- Retro kitchen sinks from Kohler – cast iron, metal framed – my new #1 choice if you are buying new! (Oct. 8, 2008)
- Where to get the steel ring that “locks in” a vintage sink, Maggie asks – My first story on metal rim sinks, showing a different model or porcelain sink with no faucet holes (March 20, 2008)
- Retro bathroom sinks – including the metal rimmed Tahoe — still available from Kohler (Feb. 23, 2008)
Pennie Miller says
When buying a hudee ring, is it the same size as the sink?
Jo Ann says
Hi. Oh my, who knew about hudee rings? And retro aluminum trim? First of all my project is the sink, counter and back splash for my 1957 Silver Streak trailer. Almost done except for the hudee. I found the edge and cove pieces at http://www.outwater.com. I had a spare piece of the edging that is the same extrusion as the hudee and just figured I’d satisfy my curiosity and try making the bends myself. Guess what? It worked pretty darn easily. Problem is I need a longer length than the 4′ piece or just add a 5″ inch piece and put it at the front edge where it won’t be visible. I can give item numbers from outwater if anyone wants to know. I think they are on page 60 of their online catalog. People were helpful for this small diy order when they normally service contractors.
Maria says
What about a Hudee ring for a cooktop? My cooktop has one but is worn and I’d like to replace it. Their website doesn’t seem to sell it. Where to look?
pam kueber says
you need to contact them, they say they can do any size special order
letty says
I have a NOS hudee ring sink 19″ round new in the box with directions. Any idea of it’s worth?
Thanks
pam kueber says
difficult to assess. you gotta find someone with a 19″ round sink… put it on ebay. it may take you a while. it may take you forever…
Ron Nell says
The hudee ring that is on our kitchen sink measures 42 7/8” x 22″, outside to outside of the ring. The flange width is 3/4″ wide. We need anew ring for our sink. Your ad states any size ring. My question is , can you make a new ring for our sink with a flange width of 1″. The installers of our marble counter tops cut the sink hole slightly to large and the 3/4″ flange does not cover in one of the sunk corners, If you can do this , please let me know the price including shipping and handleing. Please let me know as soon as you can. Thanks, Ron Nell, Scottsdale, AZ
pam kueber says
Ron — you need to contact the manufacturer listed in the story.
ClaudiaD says
Yay for the Hudee ring!
I recently tiled my kitchen countertop and as my husband was getting ready to put the original sink, complete with Hudee ring, back in he suggested that perhaps we might consider getting a new sink.
Believe me, he won’t ever suggest that again!!
Seldom says
Do you have any photos of your tile countertop with a hudee rimmed sink? I am thinking of doing something similar but not quite sure how it will look.
Dulcie says
I’ve still got the original sink frame in the original sink in the original countertop, etc from when my 1850’s farmhouse was updated in what looks like the 1950’s. It’s very easy to keep the frame clean and it’s in much better shape then the sink it surrounds. Now, if only I could get all the stains out of my old gold-flecked countertop, I’d be a happy camper.
Jon Hunt says
I have to also say that the customer service at Vance is remarkably great, in that old-fashioned, nobody-does-it-anymore kind of way. There was a bit of delay in the delivery of my cutting board — they had to print it, it apparently isn’t that popular a design! — and they kept me updated all along the way and sent me a nice little bar cutting board as a conciliatory gift for the slight delay! They were fantastic.
Kersten says
After talking a friend into hauling a white porcelain sink 150 miles to me, it sat outside for almost a year before I came after it with a can of bar keepers friend and scrubbing sponge. The hudee ring is a bit bent up on the back end (the part that will be away from my tummy when standing at the sink). Any guesses as to whether or not I’m going to have to replace it, or can it be bent back down? Since it is a double kitchen sink, it’s probably a pretty standard size- 22 ¾ x 33 (almost 33).
Kersten says
I clicked on Pam’s link to “Can I save my hootie ring?” and my cast iron sink is identical to Rebecca’s! It’s the top left corner of the Hudee ring that has been bent up a bit.
Jon Hunt says
Well, Kersten, mine was bent a bit when I installed it — I just hammered the side back down. It’s not PERFECT, so if you want perfection, you might want to go the replacement route. But if you’re willing to endure a bit of imperfection, it works fine. The key is to put a bead of clear caulk around the edge of the thing, and then use a credit card to kind of push the caulk into the crack — so if there’s any bits where it’s sticking up and might collect crumbs, it’ll be prevented by the caulk. Of course, as Pam says, a perfect, tight Hudee ring wouldn’t collect crumbs, but an imperfect one might!
Kersten says
Hey Jon! Thanks for your input. I, too, think we could push and bend and get it to work but my husband is more of a perfectionist (a Virgo) so it is yet to be determined if it will need to be replaced. It’s helpful to know that you had a similar issue that you could make work.
Kathie says
I have to laugh. I was reading about your bent hudee ring dilemma – how to hammer it back into place (yikes!) – how to push the clear caulk under the ring with a credit card – all the while I’m flinching. Thinking to myself oh no you absolutely have to replace it! A nice shiny ring with no dents, nothing to catch the crumbs, etc. And guess what … I’m a Virgo! 🙂