There’s a big payoff for blogging day in, day out, for more than five years: You see a lot of stuff. My archives are just brimming with all kinds of rare features found in midcentury American homes. I was thinking, “Golly, I’ve seen quite a few very interesting vintage kitchen sinks,” so I decided to go through my archives and see what I could find. And find, I did. Here are thirteen vintage kitchen sinks — some are super rare, as in one siting in five years… others are a bit more common (although still rare in the grand scheme of things)… all are delightful. First up:
- Youngstown Servi-Center — Very very rare, I think. We have only ever seen one.
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This story is about odd and wonderful. But remember: There can be hazards in the materials and products in our old houses and vintage products — so get with your own properly licensed professional to assess what you are dealing/working with. See our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page for more info.
Elkay Stainless Steel Console — Also just one spotting in the wild.
- And here’s another Elkay design — the Elkay Consolette — discovered by reader Karen in Oct. 2014.
- Tappan Ultraflo kitchen sink: Woot!!! zzzzzzzappppppp. NOT! I have never seen this sink still extant, in the wild.
- American Standard “Midway” sink — Porcelain drainboard sink — built like a kitchen island. Circa 1954 image. We have never seen one of these in the wild — only in this advertisement.
- Added Dec. 3: I just spotted this in an old story — a vintage Elkay (I’m guessing) similar to the American Standard Midway — but in stainless steel. Originally spotted in the Corbett House.
- Update Jan. 16, 2013 — Kate spotted this big stainless steel sink — similar to the Corbett House sink, but also featuring two drainboards — at her local ReStore. Wow. I’m guessing: used commercially
- Updated March 24, 2013 — Another variation on the vintage Elkay, this one spotted on craigslist. I’m calling this rare(ish) because you cannot get this kind of deep bowl/shallow bowl combo today. Listing said: Mid Century (1955) 84 inch stainless steel kitchen counter with 2 integrated sinks. Vintage Elkay Lustertone (top of the line back then, and today), excellent condition, no gauges or scratches, just normal fine wear in the stainless steel. Counters angle towards sinks on both sides. One sink is 14″W x16″L x 8″ D with opening for garbage disposal. Second sink is 22W x 16L x 4 D (the lady of the house had a stool under the sink). Entire piece is 84″ x 25″. Called Elkay — today, a new 80″ Lustertone counter with 2 sinks would retail for $2,800. Perfect for a modern or mid-century modern renovation. $450 or best offer.
- Kitchen drainboard sink with integrated top-loading dishwasher — These units from Youngstown (and maybe other makers) were not super-rare. But still coolio to the max.
- GE Wonder Kitchen — Super fabulous: GE made the Wonder Kitchen — these wereThese were marketed as one-piece, space-saving, space-age kitchen units. The cabinet modules were united by a long single piece of stainless steel counter top, which also had a sink and electric range engineered right into into it. Above: Read more: Chris buys a Wonder Kitchen on craigslist, restores it, and installs it in his Mies van der Rohe apartment kitchen. We also have seen “Hotpoint Wonderline” kitchens — same exact idea; at some point GE owned Hotpoint, so these may be the same kitchens, just rebranded.
- American Brand drainboard sink — Not so easy to see in this particular photo, but the faucet is designed to fit into a specifically designed niche. You can still get the replacement faucet for this sink today. I get the original reader question on this… I point them to the resource… and they are amazed. I am amazed.
- American Standard Fiesta Sink — Came in a variety of colors and bowl configurations.
- Another stunning American Standard kitchen sink with a unique shape, round bowls and a mysterious original faucet.
- Ebco kitchen sink with two bowl shapes — I have only ever seen one vintage kitchen sink like this, combining one square bowl and one round bowl. Sold for $150 at Historic House Parts.
Would you like to see a bunch more “typical” vintage kitchen sinks? How about these 15 vintage sinks from Kohler:
Cher says
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Cher says
Hi Pam,
I am remodeling a cabin built by my in laws in the late 50’s early 60’s. After visiting your forum I went back and realized the kitchen sink was an original youngstown double with drainboard cover. We also rent a shop from them. They have had the shop for 50 years and low and behold it had a matching kitchen sink in the shop kitchen. With my sister in laws blessing I replaced the shop sink with a utility sink, I took the two matching sinks to a local auto body repair shop that sand blasted them to remove the rust and restored them. I will be installing both matching sinks in the cabin. I am so excited to have two matching sinks that we owned by the family.:)
pam kueber says
YAY! Take lots of before and after photos and send to me when you are ready for prime time!
Cher says
I also found NOS 1960’s sinks for the bathroom. I bought a few extra cause I was so excited at the find. Light Blue, Purple, Pink and Jade
Green. I tried to save as much as I could to put back in cabin. It has been so fun to research and capture the simple, functional items of our childhood. We have tried to choose things that make us smile. A restored tulip table was another cool find on a trip to take our son to visit a college in New Mexico. We bought so much in New Mexico, we had to make a trip out of it to pick it up. Love, love, love the 1950’s and 1960’s. The house we just built features items from the 1920’s, 1930’s and what I learned it that America had so much industry. I feel proud to display the craftsmanship in our NEW/OLD treehouse home.
Camilla says
There is a wonder kitchen ad here
http://www.antiquetrader.com/features/levittown_the_birth_of_the_burbs
MikeP says
Very interesting finds! Some of them look more like appliances – not sure I would recognize them for what they are in person! 🙂
Lisa9000 says
Found a unique one on Dallas Craigslist last week and posted a link on the Forum under Misc. Kitchen – a Homart combo sink/dishwasher unit in a free standing cabinet. Never seen one like it before. Here’s the link. Dates to 1951, still working the seller says. Sold originally by Sears.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/atq/3441805532.html
Lisa
pam kueber says
yikes. very similar to the youngstown i show in the main blog post… this must have been a “thing” for appliance makers to do… thanks!
teela. says
I spotted a Youngstown Servi-Center at Brimfield this year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85876150@N02/7974597446/
dtrix says
We have a 1950’s stainless double sink with double drainboards made by Douglas Crestlyn out of DC. Very functional. I love it.
It has the serial number right on the front of it….that looks just like this http://www.trademarkia.com/douglas-crestlyn-lifetime-stainless-steel-71562334.html When many asked why I don’t just “gut the kitchen” I point to that label and say “because I know my sinks serial number”. Ha! Random I know. 😉
Allen says
What do the buttons say on the Tappan Ultraflow? Does anybody have the technology (or the eyes) to read them?
Allison says
Here’s a nice GE matching sink, range and oven set for sale in Cleveland.
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/app/3408320595.html
Jay says
I mistakenly commented under your old post from 2010 with the vintage sinks. I once had a Hotpoint appliance brochure from the 40s showing the “electric sink” integrated into the kitchen of metal cabinets. Not as deadly as it sounds. It was just a porcelain sink w/drainboard housing the disposer and dishwasher. I think Hotpoint is still a division of GE. Janet in CT could probably verify.