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Antique and Vintage Bathroom Fixtures
As interest in restoring nineteenth and early
twentieth houses has increased, so has the
desire for authentic looking period bathrooms.
Originally it was necessary to seek out older
bathroom fittings and fixtures at architectural
salvage firms and flea markets. This is a
time consuming process that can yield mixed
results, as the buyer has to hope that these
tubs, faucets, toilets, sinks, and shower
apparatus can be restored to actual working
order. Recently two types of companies have
helped solve this problem. One offers actual
period fixtures that have been repaired:
the other sells new fixtures that have been
manufactured to look like older models. Some
of these fixtures and fittings are available
in bathroom showrooms, but others may need
to be ordered from catalogs or online.
If you have an older house and are thinking
of installing a new bathroom that looks like
it is from the era when your house was built,
consider the following:
- Companies that restore old bathroom fixtures
and repair them to working order will help
you avoid the time consuming process of looking
for them on your own. These fixtures will
give you the most authentic results. It is
important to understand, however, :
- that these fixtures have more working parts
and joints than newer models, so they are
more likely to develop leaks.
- when they need to be repaired, it can be
difficult to find replacement parts.
- older fixtures do not always mesh well with
new technologies of water flow and waste
disposal.
- most restoration companies will only guarantee
that the fixtures they sell are adequately
repaired. It is usually up to the installer
to make sure that they will actually work.
- Companies that sell new reproduction bathroom
fixtures have reengineered them to meet modern
performance needs. Victorian, Art Deco, 1920’s
and mid-century modern styles are all available.
These include large claw footed bath tubs,
pedestal sinks, and toilets that look like
old fashioned water closets. Luxury shower
hardware and faucets made from porcelain,
brass, or polished and satin nickel are increasingly
popular choices. Look for bathtubs made from
cast iron rather than acrylic if you want
a truly authentic look. Faucets should have
long lasting ceramic disc valves that will
not stick, drip, or rattle.
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