Are you looking for a vintage kitchen drainboard sink, want to choose from a huge selection, and get one fast? Ken and his wife are here to help: Based in Gardner, Mass. (near me!), they scour New England and beyond for vintage sinks in original condition (no refinishing!) and at any given time, have 150 vintage kitchen sinks in stock.
I’ve received messages from Ken over the years. He is a reader of the newsletter and occasional commenter on the blog. But my bad, I have not pounced to find out his story. I recall that’s because his website does not tell the story, which slowed me down. It shouldn’t have! Ken does things old skool: You find him and he emails you photos. He sent me a big file showing a bunch of the current inventory – you can see them navigating his website.
The photos above: That’s Ken with a New Old Stock American Standard kitchen drainboard sink found in its original shipping crate. Generally, in our world, things don’t get much more exciting than that.
- Want to see more options for farmhouse drainboard kitchen sinks? See my research here.
Ken specializes in original-finish vintage kitchen sinks – nothing refinished
Ken and I had quite a few emails back and forth… I edited them for flow.
Sending the photos, Ken said:
Pam,
Some sinks shown have been sold, but there are dozens more here not shown on e files. Vintage kitchens is my thing. I specialize in sinks. Very good to museum quality and some NOS!
I also have stoves, refrigerators, chimney cabinets, butcher blocks, porcelain tables etc.
150 sinks here on an average at all times.
I am always hunting for nice sinks that are unique in style, size or color. I do not sell refinished sinks!
How he got started
On his website, he explains how he got started:
In 2000 my wife and I started hunting for vintage kitchen items for our own kitchen.
Our goal was to convert our home which was built in 1970, to look as if it were built/furnished in the 1930-40 era. I liked so many different stoves that we found, that I began to collect them for my own enjoyment. Then I set up a display and began adding vintage kitchen sinks, refrigerators and Hoosiers.
After a while I decided to turn it into a paying hobby so that I could sell some items that others may be searching for and buy other items for my collection that I did not already have. We love all of the old appliances and furnishings.
I am always excited to find another nice sink or appliance that is of a different style or special color. Yes, special color.
Not only do we have sinks for example that are white, but we have yellow, mint/ming green, pink, brown, peach and even orchid! The early stoves were available in many of these special colors as well. We hope that we can help you put together your own vintage kitchen that you can enjoy as much as we enjoy ours.
On his website, Ken says he does no deal in refinished sinks — he only collects and sells sinks in their original condition finish:
Refinished sinks: The porcelain found on these cast iron sinks is a form of ceramic, furnace fired, glass finish. Real porcelain is extremely hard and durable. Refinished sinks are typically not done in new porcelain. They are painted! It may be called epoxy, powder coated or reglazed, but it is still paint. It will not endure many years of serious kitchen use as the ceramic porcelain does. So our sinks are original porcelain finish, yes, even the colored ones.
I have heard this too — that is, reglazing a kitchen sink may not be satisfying longterm due to the daily abuse; do your own research, dear readers.
Be aware: Old sinks, tubs, ceramic tile etc. may contain lead
Precautionary Pam reminds: Be aware, dear readers, that old sinks, tubs, ceramic tile, etc. may contain lead and pose potential hazards. See my story here. Get with your own professional to assess what you are working with — Be Safe / Renovate Safe.
Ken’s website
Back to Ken and how to work with him:
Pam, I have a web site that I am unable to keep up photos on, GrampasAntiqueKitchen.com. When people inquire about a sink, I ask them to be specific as they can as to size, style, color etc.
I then forward the appropriate albums dedicated to their needs.
As your friend found me, I also place ads throughout the country on various Craigslist. I have been in magazines etc. I also try to give helpful advice on sink care etc. on different site which people than can then see my name.
Contact Ken for what’s available and pricing
I gulp and ask: “How much do these sinks cost?” Ken responds:
There is not basic price. Certainly not a bargain basement here.
I have exceptionally nice sinks (and my standards are higher than most of my customers).
I spend a large portion of my daily life hunting down nice sinks every where in the country. I have made long distance trips to buy multiple sinks at one time on occasion.
I recently I drove roughly 2,000 miles to buy three sinks. The first was in Lancaster, PA… then Ohio on the West Virginia border along the Ohio river. The last stop was a very almost cute 20″ Butlers sink in New York.
Several years ago I made my longest buying trip, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada — 3,600 miles round trip to buy a rare six- burner electric stove from the 1930s era. That was roughly eight years ago. That one is still waiting for restoration.
I drove to Chicago about 10 years ago to pick up a 60″ farm sink and a 6 burner gas Magic Chef 6300 model stove. I had purchased both on eBay from different sellers. While picking up the stove I also bought the sink from the same house that I did not previously know about until I arrived there. Note: That stove and sink came out of a $4.5 million dollar fixer upper! Yes, $4.5 million, and when I got there the house was gutted for remodeling.
At that point I had more cargo than would fit in my truck bed so I went and rented a U-Haul trailer to bring things back to Massachusetts! I just recently sold that sink to a couple from Connecticut. They liked the sink so much that they have invited me to their wedding this year!
Ken is going to receive a Retro Renovation “The Hard Way” Lifetime Achievement Award this year! Them’s a lotta miles. And: Getting invited to customers’ weddings? I love it!!
Ken paid $2,000 for the sink in his kitchen
Ken continues, describing his travels and travails:
The sinks most sellers call very nice, exceptional, mint etc. I go to see and they are far less than described.
Sellers’ eyes do not seem to be as keen as a buyers’ eyes! I.e worn-out or worn-off porcelain, large chips, three-foot=long gouges in the porcelain from being dragged across the floor on nail heads or across the driveway! etc.
This is often done after pictures are sent and by careless workers or people too lazy to actually carry the sink out.
Condition, rarity of configuration or color or original attachments like legs, pull out compost or potato canisters, some even had electric dish washers and clothes washers built in!!
Some are only good enough (in my opinion) for garden potting sheds or summer kitchen etc. These may be $100 or so.
Some are priced in thousands.
The sink in my own kitchen I paid near $2000 for and bought it in St. Louis!
Of course ya did: All the Best Stuff’s In St. Louis!
Yes Pam,
That is my current kitchen sink. It is quite rare and the only one of seen in any color at all including white. Another rarity of it is that is was made by the Standard Co. which typically made a more basic sink. I don’t see much for Standard Co. art deco designs.
I love what I do and happy to see these vintage items being reused. I like getting pictures of the things I sell installed in their new homes.
Check the site called Houzz.com. I have a page on that site Grampas Antique Kitchen, you can see several reviews from customers there from all over the USA.
Best wishes,
Ken
Thank you, Ken — what a fascinating fascination you have with all these fantastic old sinks! It is so nice to see them saved, treasured, and put to renewed use for — what? — like FOREVER if folks take care of them!
Now that the snow is finally melted here in the Northeast, I for sure need to get out to Gardner to see some of these goods! And you know me: I will probably come home with one! xoxo Pam
How to contact Ken:
Ken says: We can be reached by phone at 978-302-4223 or via email at luckybuzz3@hotmail.com
More research:
Grampa Ken says
As Pam has directed, you need to contact me if you want info on my items. That is not a Richmond sink by the way.
Jamie says
How do I get my hands on that vintage Richmond double basin, double drain board, high back, apron front? It’s my dream sink and I’ve been looking and looking!!
Pam Kueber says
Jamie, Ken’s contact info is toward the very bottom of the story.
Grampas Antique Kitchen says
Of course as long as it is a sink designed to go on a counter top or a sink without a wrap around apron. The sink does not know what the counter top is made of.
Sandra says
I purchased a double drain board sink and want to install it. Can it be dropped in to a quartz countertop with the drain boards?
Crystal says
So excited— thanks to your article ATL girl cajoled hubby to take a slight detour on our vacation to check out Ken’s sinks!! I just bought a small set of steel cabinets online so our renovation is creaking along.
Pam Kueber says
Fabulous!
ken says
I love finding these old sinks and stoves etc. I work at daily like anyone else the works, but I probably love my job more! I recently bought a 1930’s Kohler electric dishwasher sink! I can hardly wait to clean, restore and hopefully get it working.
Bunny, anyone is welcomed to make an appointment to come see what’s here even if not ready to buy. It may open one’s eyes to what was actually available.
Karen says
I too love the yellow one! I lived in an apartment with a porcelain sink and drainboards and was always afraid of chipping the glasses and dishware. I did score a Crane Oxford pink toilet and sink w/o legs at a garage sale for $15. It’s in my bathroom and I mixed paint to match. Love pastels!
Bunny Caldwe says
Ken! Where have u been all my renovating life!? Well so happy to have found u. Next project coming up in a year and will definitely required a kitchen sink. No more searching! Close to me in VT and one stop shopping. I will be saving your contact info! Thanks so much for what u do!
Bunny
Mary Elizabeth says
Ken’s collection makes me “sink” into a swoon! 😉
Neil says
This truly is a Treasure Trove.
By the way, I came across a green sink just like his, still installed in the kitchen at an estate sale here in San Francisco just a few blocks from my house; and it stood on it’s matching legs and was in near perfect condition. I swooned.
Alas, it wasn’t for sale. And I couldn’t talk them out of it; no, not even with my considerable practiced charm. Not that I could have used it myself: Already redone my own vintage kitchen (1925 spanish-style stucco house) to the tune of $25K (one of the main colors of which is the self-same mint green!) But I could’a sold it in my antique business, and so enjoyed having it’s beauty in my possession for a little while….
Anyhoo….been in this business for 25 years, and long ago learned the folly of grieving over the stuff that got away : ) But that green drainboard sink lingers in my memory.
ken says
Ill bed in S’ Francisco the week of June 10 to maybe the 19th if you wish to speak to me directly Cell 978-302-4223
Lorraine says
Can’t remember who I bought my farmhouse sink from a few years ago but it did come from MA so maybe it was from Ken. I think I bought mine off eBay. I love it!!!
ken says
If you send me a picture, name and city I can tell you if it was from me. If not, it may have come from Joe who unfortunately is now deceased.