We’ve written extensively about 1950s bathroom tile — ceramic tile, plastic tile, and even Sani Onyx, glass-like tile made from fused rock. But here’s a vintage variety in our spotlight for the first time: Porcelain-enameled steel wall tiles. Yes, every now and then we see steel tiles — but this is a particularly big stash, plus, we have marketing materials to illustrate.
These Veos tiles for sale on ebay were found in their original boxes. Veos Tile was made in Rehoboth, Massachussets.
I tried searching for more information about Veos tile, and I was also able to find this vintage Veos Tile brochure that I spotted on Amazon. Looks like Veos was owned by Clyde Porcelain Steel Corp. of Clyde, Ohio.
The vintage brochure — likely from the 1940s — shows several installations of Veos porcelain enamel steel tile and touts the tile’s strength, durability and light weight:
Weighs only 3.5 lbs. per square foot installed as against 16 to 18 lbs. for clay-bodied tile.
It also includes a list of colors — though grey is not one of them — and touts:
“No Extra Charge for Color — In all sizes and shapes, Veos colored tile is price the same as black or white.”
Tiles made of steel? Why not? We had 70 plus brands of factory-painted steel kitchen cabinets. AND we had Lustrons!
- Read the story of Lustron House #549
- Read all of our stories about steel kitchen cabinets
The tiles look pretty darn nice!
Mega thanks to ebay seller thebombshelter1 and Amazon seller The Jumping Frog for allowing us to feature their photos in our happily ever after archives.
EM says
My kitchen has Vikon metal tile some varieties are copper but there is also enameled and stainless steel varieties. The mastic behind them had deteriorated so I had to source some NOS in order to not have to replace a whole alcove worth of things.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=vikon+tile&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc
Rainey says
anyone have ideas on how to install these as a backsplash? Pam got me hooked on these doggone it! the guy at Bomb Shelter said they are concave on the back…so I’m pretty sure standard grouting won’t cut it.
I think this IS my backsplash solution in my 1927 Craftsman!
Mary Elizabeth says
The ideal would be if you asked the seller if any of the boxes have installation instructions. NOS Plastic tile boxes often do.
A quick search on Google got me several hits on how to install steel tile, some with video. In one video, they used a strong construction adhesive. Apparently, the tile is still sold today in a stainless finish for backsplashes.
Also, look into a product called Bondera, a kind of two-sided adhesive strip that we used to stick ceramic tiles to an old laminate backsplash. It may be indicated for steel tile as well, but you will have to check with the manufacturer.
Lauren says
The ones I just removed had something that looked a lot like typical tile adhesive, often filling the back of the tile. It looked like it was troweled on but thicker than normal. The metal edges are very thin so I would guess that you need something that can glob on to fill the gap behind the tile in at least some places.
Bill, Windsor CT says
I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but “VEOS” isn’t a very catchy product name…unless it has some relevant meaning. Could it, by any chance, stand for “Vitreous Enamel On Steel”?
This is from Wikipedia: “Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing…The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal…The term “enamel” is most often restricted to work on metal…”
pam kueber says
Well there ya go! Sounds right to me!
Lauren says
Just last week I uncovered a backsplash of these (a light blue) from behind the laminate in our kitchen (1955). They are super light! I was really surprised by that and didn’t realize that they were metal until I started removing. They have caulk and such on them and a few are slightly bent. Do you think they are worth saving? We don’t have the time to reuse them–plus they only cover one wall.
Your blog has inspired our remodel in many ways even though we are not using of some of the original bits. I have been making an effort to pass on some of the pieces to your enthusiastic kindred spirits here in Ohio, which helps me from feeling so guilty. We are dealing with termite damage which makes it a whole house remodel and does not leave time for too many slow details. Thanks for the great articles and inspiration!
Mary Elizabeth says
It seems to me this was an idea that came from the “turning swords into plowshares” post-war economy. Manufacturer: “What are we going to do with all this equipment for rolling steel for ships, subs, and tanks?” Idea person (maybe his wife): “Why, we could make kitchen cabinets and even tile!”
Scott says
Beautiful, functional, and sanitary. Like Lustron, White Castle restaurants used prefabricated porcelain as exterior treatment too. In fact the headquarters building is right here in Columbus and is the most beautiful shade of turquoise you can imagine.
Barb S. says
The Bomb Shelter is the tile seller on eBay. It’s not far from me, down in Akron. Anyone in the area should stop in. There are generations of goods in that store and it’s HUGE. When you first walk in, there are giant Tiki statues. Like 6 or 8 feet tall. I think a local artist makes them, but when Pam and Kate had their big Tiki summer, I couldn’t find anything about them. You can see one on the cover page of their website.
Well worth a drive, and this guy is there too:
https://www.facebook.com/207632779259770/photos/a.476870362336009.102701.207632779259770/476870375669341/?type=3&theater
Martha says
How cool is that Art Deco meat counter!!
Leila says
When I was little, we had a pink and black bathroom. Well, I was cleaning out the attic last summer and found half a box containing some of these original, unused porcelain on steel tiles from the 1950’s. They are peach colored. I have pictures of me as a baby in this pink bathroom. I had never even heard of porcelain tiles before. Thanks for all the background. I’m not sure what to do with them, since there are only about 50 tiles.
Mary Elizabeth says
Someone can use them for a backsplash in the kitchen! Fifty is plenty for that, up to 16 feet of three tiles deep, right?
Robin, NV says
I love the picture of the barber shop in the promotional material. Green side for the gents, pink side for the ladies presumably. Too cute! I love how they blended the green and pink tile in the doorway between the two areas.