Thanks to reader Joan, who emailed me with this tip about another source for classic retro / vintage style bathroom faucets: California Faucets.
There are lots of matching tub faucets, shower heads, etc. Matchy matchy is nice!
These faucets seem to have a lot in common with the Mississippi faucet series by Sign of the Crab/ Strom Plumbing and with similar Metropolitan series by Elemenfs of Design. I have the Mississippi in two of my bathrooms — and I love them.
These California faucets offer another alternative — and they do have different choices… with lots of different possible finishes and handles that you can mix and match. For example, if I had a glamorous 1960s bathroom, I might well go for the “Catalina,” above. So pretty — like a tall, graceful swan.
And am I going nuts? I even like the “Manhattan,” above, if I had a 1980s bathroom to update.
These faucets are pretty high-end, that is: pricey. But Joan says that she has heard they have a good reputation. California Faucets does not sell their products direct; you need to go through a retailer. Their website has a good dealer locator / where to buy feature. Honestly, with something this expensive, I think it is advisable to see and touch — and to ensure you have recourse if there are any problems. That said: Many online businesses also have great service, including return policies. Bottom line: Check first.
Links:
- Take a look at these faucets at California Products here.
- See all my stories about possible bathroom faucets for midcentury bathrooms here.
Thank you, Joan, for this great tip!
Mississippi bathroom faucets: My favorites 
14 four-inch-center bathroom sink faucets suitable for a postwar bathroom 
76 years of Kohler Triton bathroom faucets — introduced in 1941 and still going strong 
Kohler Triton three-pointed atomic sink handles 
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lisa says
My family’s house was new in 1976 and the master bath featured a faucet like this one on the tub: http://www.jadousa.com/products/productDetail.aspx?id=3549. There was also metallic wallpaper in there (and in the dining room). Sort of a fern pattern, or maybe palm fronds. The other bathrooms had fixtures that would still look totally ordinary today, like this one: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/chrome-finish-lavatory-faucet-with-clear-plastic-handles/49499.
Rita@thissortaoldlife says
That swan faucet is crazy! I could totally see it with a gold metallic paper, though. Thanks so much for sharing it with me.
gsciencechick says
We have a Price-Pfister shower diverter that has the porcelain knobs. It was also avaialbe in chrome. I don’t know if this set is still made, but I found chrome on eBay. It looks similar to the California Faucets.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Price-Pfister-Three-Cross-Handle-Shower-Tub-Trim-Polished-Chrome-PC-/110768213123?pt=US_Faucets&hash=item19ca4ccc83
pam kueber says
Thanks, gsciencechick!
marta says
This is where I must step off the retro train. I do not like facets you must grasp to turn on and off in the bathroom. Or the kitchen, really. Unless you are cleaning them after EVERY use,and whose 5yo is going to do that, there is no way to keep from contaiminating already clean hands when you close the valve you opened with dirty ones. I’d go with levers you can wrist-bump on and off.
Rebecca Prichard says
My bathroom guy in Ann Arbor who has been in the biz since the 70’s is recommending California Faucets, and so is his plumber. I’ll let you know if I use it. I think I will.