100s of decorative liner tiles from the 1930s to 1960s
This story started as such stories start. Reader Angela was looking for black liner tiles at a local tile shop. She started up a conversation with the salesman. Soon thereafter, he led her to the back of the warehouse where, among forlorn, dusty, spider-encrusted shelves, hid boxes and boxes — hundreds — of New Old Stock decorative liner tiles.
- (1) Decorative liner tiles from the 1930s to the 1960s here …
- and update (2) see this batch from Kathy, also a Retro Renovation reader, who also had a stash
(both affiliate links) …
Both with many in volumes large enough to do an entire kitchen or bathroom. Angela had to sit down, she was so gobsmacked. But then, she got it together and slapped down her credit card and now she has them all for sale, ready to find their forever homes among grateful Retro Renovators.
More!
Go to it, dear readers, we don’t know how many stories like this are left.
“What are liner tiles?” — some readers are asking:
- Click here to see all our stories about liner tiles — also known as “sizzle strips” or “listello tiles” here.
- See how Carolyn used them in her recent kitchen renovation.
Who could Angela tell about this momentous discovery? Us!:
Hi Pam!
I’m restoring my house and came across a HUGE stash of NOS liner tiles with various designs from the 30s-50s. I snapped them up and am about to put them up on Ebay. There are deco patterns, atomic patterns etc. LOVE THE BLOG!!!!!!
Golly, Angela, LOVE OUR READERS!!!!!! So share all the exciting deets, we all want to know exactly how you found these! Angela replies:
I was looking for black tile liners for my own 1944 bathroom. “I need solid black” I told the tile guy. “I really really want liner tiles from B&W, but they are not in the budget, so no patterns for me.” The tile guy tells me he has some I might like and takes me to a wall in the big old warehouse, covered in dust and spiderwebs (NO JOKE), and tells me these are their leftover liner tiles from the 1930 to 1960s.
I thought I would fall over. I couldn’t even talk (again no joke). I had to sit down, all before even looking in the boxes. Some are patterned and some are solid pastels. I went through every one. I sat down in the dust and looked at all of them and then, after calming down, pretty much bought them all. Hundreds of liner tiles, many wrapped in the original paper.
Because I bought hundreds of these on a whim because they were AWESOME, I have to sell them pretty quickly. This was an unplanned expense. I had to rescue these tiles! Because there are so many, I am having to do multiple trips back and forth. There are 19 listings so far, but I will be posting more.
Regards,
Angela
How to get these New Old Stock liner tiles (affiliate links):
- CLICK HERE to get to Angela’s listings for all these tiles now for sale on ebay
- and See this listing too — seems to be from the same batch — from Kathy, also a reader!
Thank you, Angela and Kathy, you rock!
Related stories
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Genius tip to save big money on liner tiles for your bathroom — Chris cut his bill by 67%
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Franklin Tile Company and American Olean decorative tile sets
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Bathroom floor tile in production since the 1970s — 6 colors — and you can order from Home Depot
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Hot tip: Where to see 20 B&W Tile colors — online. Plus: another company that carries this tile
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Checked the listing it’s all 1930- 1940’s tiles no atomic tiles available on ebay. These are cool but I was hoping to see atomic tiles.
Smart.
When I sell on eBay, I always group like with like, so that people who click “see my other listings” get something relevant. If she’s doing the same thing, then these will probably go up era by era.
Be sure to keep checking.
Whoa! Step back in time and blink! Bottom photo, numbers 5 snd 6 from left….is that blue and palest pink???
Search completed listings and you will see that many of them have already sold…
I searched and didn’t see any sold items or any 1960’s items.
Will you please give us a link to the sold ones you saw I would love to see them.
If you have a 1930’s or 1940’s bathroom or kitchen this is a great find not so much for the 1960’s crowd.
On eBay page look at the left column … Sold listings
eBay item number for the red “atomic” bubbles that sol early: 221909075133
Thanks 🙂
Very Cool!
I hope we get to see how those red atomic ones are used, they’re amazing.
Atomic is the 50’s if I recall. Love these sweet designs! Hmmmm…might need to rethink my 1920/30ish farmhouse bathroom re-do!
I am actually crying. What an amazingly special find.
Hope I didn’t miss this in your amazing story, but what did you choose for your own bathroom? Did they have black or did you go with a pattern? Love these kinds of stories!
Angela, these are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. Unfortunately I will not be purchasing any of these beauties, but I really enjoyed looking at them. I hope we get to see how your buyers use them.
I have chills. What an amazing find! I loved looking at all of the designs. I have a yellow with black trim bathroom and am interested in liner tiles with black in them to add into my tiles at some future date. I didn’t see any black liners on the eBay page just yet. Thanks for posting Angela. I’m not sure what vintage my bathroom is, but my house was built in 1929.
I’m zvezda68 on eBay. I have some tiles with black listed now, including black with a lovely yellow. I had my tiles listed this spring, but no one was interested.
The ones I have listed are the ones I won’t be using in my 1931 bath. They may appear so similar to Angiedange’s because we both lucked into NOS stashes in the SF Bay Area. I even have more of the same gray and red atomic ones! Personally, I think they would look awesome in a bar backsplash.
Try searching for terms like “vintage liner tile” or “vintage bath tile” and you’ll find other examples, too. Good luck finding the perfect tiles!
Thank you, Kathy! Yes, I linked to you in the story.
Hi Everyone!
This is Angela and the last of these liner tiles will be listed on Monday (the 12th) afternoon so check back if you dont see what you need. Thanks!!!!
For those of you subscribed to this thread: Links to a second seller — with more liner tiles similar to Angela’s and in multiples — added to this story,
Stunning! I’ve paid little attention to them other than to think, hmm, looks nice or what were they thinking?? Singly they make quite an impression. Another thing to put on my wish list:)
At first I thought “What can you do with only a few of these (small lots) that are offered?” but setting them around the TP holder or soap dish/toothbrush holder – ? Setting them in grout as the soap dish or ring-holder? Accent the corners of the mirror?
Too cute!
Of course, I want to buy, like, 2000 of them and make an entire wall!
https://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/black-white-liner-tiles.jpg
The tiles in bathroom are like these only the colors are opposite.
In any event I am looking for approx. 10 of these tiles. Are these for sale?
Hi Rosemary, unless you can find vintage (stalk ebay), I think the other possibility is to see if B&W can match it for you. See this story: https://retrorenovation.com/2015/01/14/hand-painted-liner-tiles-33-examples/
Hello,
Do you still have the black and white liners for sale? The ones that look like bow ties. [edited]
Thanks,
Alex
Alex, click the link and contact the seller directly.