If you have a vintage slant back bathroom sink — and need a replacement slant back faucet — we know where you can get a replacement and/or help to repair the original. I was reminded that I’d never spotlighted this design when Deb wrote:
I have been looking for faucets to replace my 1930’s bathroom faucets for years. They are on slant back sinks. Thanks to your site I may have found what I’m looking for. By the way, my sink & toilet in my half bath are burgundy. They are in great shape too! Please let me know of other sites I should be looking at for the above mentioned faucets. Thanks!!
This bathroom sink style — with a slant back faucet — seems to have been pretty common back in the day. More so, I tend to believe, before World War II — when deco design ruled, and when there was even more complexity in design. After the war, I tend to think that design “flattened out.” Even so, all the color images in this story come from my catalog of 1953 Crane bathroom fixtures — this catalog a wonderful compendium of vintage bathroom sinks, faucets, tubs and showers. For about the first five years after WWII, lots of pre-war designs were carried over, while industries retooled from prewar designs to new, postwar designs. History lesson concludes: “Postwar” design is considered by many experts to span 1953-1963. In his seminal book Populuxe (Amazon affiliate link) Thomas Hine talks about all of this; as the title of the book indicated, he dubbed these the “Populuxe” years.
Back to bathroom fixtures in particular: Crane was one of the top brands — their fixtures are beautiful and have endured. If you have one, yes!, try to save it.
Where to buy a replacement slant back faucet for your vintage bathroom sink
Where to find these faucets? My #1 go-to site is the company deabath.com (Note: They are a longtime sponsor/advertiser on the blog – but this story is not part of the deal or anything. I would point to them regardless.) Head over to the deabath site, to check out their replacement slant back faucet design. Moreover, they may be able to help you repair the one that you have.
Links to research and/or buy a slant back bathroom sink faucet:
- Slant back bathroom sink faucets from deabath.com
- Locke Plumbing shows a Union Brass slant-back among its Odd Faucets here.
- And, a reader pointed out this resource on Amazon:
Joseph Mathew says
I am looking for a crane slant back faucet for bathroom sink. If you can find one pls. let me know
Pam Kueber says
Hi Joseph, click the bold blue hotlinks to get to the companies that sell these. Deabath.com specializes in Crane, it’s possible they can help you. Good luck.
Christine Bail says
Hi! I found a Crane Neuday sink and I am super excited about it. It did not have the mounting bracket with it, so I need to address that problem. My question is two-fold. Firstly, the bracket needs to be 15″ on center to fit the lugs. Per your previous comments, I found one on deabath and that seems to be the only place that has a one-piece bracket. Is there another way I can mount it? The second part I am confused about is how to mount this bracket onto tile without damaging the tile.
Pam Kueber says
Christine, talk to deabath about this.
jeanette hergenhan says
I have a porcelain slant back cast iron sink with Crane faucet system. The faucet has stopped working,hot & cold leaks. Is there anyway I can find parts, plumbers are not to interested in researching.
Pam Kueber says
Try deabath.com. They are Crane experts. Tell ’em I sent you. Good luck.
kate says
Does anyone know where I can get replacement legs for this type of sink? I have two american standard wall mount sinks from 1948 that are missing the front support legs.
pam kueber says
We have a story/stories on this. See Bathroom Help / Sinks category or use the search.
jack loop says
All your photos show Crane fixtures but when you go to the web site you recommended (deabath.com) they say their faucets don’t fit Crane. ???
pam kueber says
the intro says “Links to research and buy…” Follow the links to Crane info.
Sarah Perdue says
http://www.unionbrass.com has slant back faucets.
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
I have slant-back faucets in my house and before my Grandmother moved out we had to replace them. I did a lot of searching and found that only 2-3 manufacturers still make them. I ended up getting ones from Central Brass, you can find them online pretty easily. They make both a slant back and shelf back version – and they are much less expensive than the ones on the deabath site (like half the cost.) They look great, have a good chrome finish, and work perfectly.
Sam R says
Something to note: only Union Brass lists 8″ center slant- and ledge-back faucets for sale, but Central Brass cells a replacement 8″ center tee for the 1177 (ledge-back) and 1178 (slant-back) faucets! The part number is CS-43009.
Janet in CT says
If you check the Steel Cabinet Forum, Other stuff/Bathroom Stuff, I posted a link to a pink Crane sink and toilet for sale if anyone needs one who lives in the Buffalo area. I do have a question about these sinks. This one for sale has the integrated faucet rather than chrome faucet. Is this an earlier model or were they both available at the same time? I love that look. This one has the four winged handles, or whatever they are called. At one time we rented a house while we were building our house, and the bathtub had terribly corroded crusty handles like this. My husband buffed and polished them out and they were just beautiful! The old stuff is really the best!
pam kueber says
I tend to think they were earlier. See this story: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/09/20/henry-dreyfuss-designed-crane-sinks-how-to-tell-if-yours-was-made-before-or-after-world-war-ii/
Janet in CT says
Thanks, Pam! I remember seeing that story last fall. The pink Crane sink for sale in Buffalo must be pre-war, judging by the handles. I know they polish up well.
Barbara says
Are you a mindreader? I was looking at a vintage sink on craigslist that is selling with a slant back that looks like it needs replacing. I was wondering where to find one if I buy it…wow, really weird…
Rebecca@MidCenturyModernRemodel says
Yes she is a mind reader. I have discovered this over the years.
Jay says
Hmm! I never knew I was born at the apogee of the Populuxe ears. Thanks for the history lesson!