1920’s standard shower faucet

mburg

I have a customer that would like to save this faucet…. At least for a few more years.

It works, but is very very hard to shut off and doesn’t get super hot.
I haven’t taken it apart because I am concerned about sourcing parts, and not really sure what we will be dealing with.

Does anyone have access to some sort of parts breakdown or thoughts on locating repair parts.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Way cool!!

Don't know about parts but it's probably built like a tank.

delcrossv

Those weren't thermostatic. Just a mixing valve probably with washers.

Are those hoops additional sprays?

mattmia2

i know there are some web sites that specialize in very old faucet parts, you might try asking there. That is old and unusual enough that it predates the common replacement parts.

it might be better to take apart the unions and work on it in a shop on a bench where you can think things through better or send it to someone that specializes in rebuilding them.

JH3550

This shop was very helpful when I was fixing my 1920’s (admittedly not nearly as involved as your) bathroom fixtures. They may very well be able to ID and source the parts. In my case they found originals not reproductions. I highly recommend them:

https://deabath.com/

I believe those were called “Needle bath” or “Ribcage” showers.

bburd

Interesting that the handle on the mixing valve was replaced with a chrome plated nipple and cap, while the original work looks nickel plated. The original handle was probably porcelain.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, I agree that it looks like a rib cage shower. They could easily use 25 gpm. It belongs in a museum. Heating water for it must be interesting, or challenging. 🤠

Yours, Larry

hot_rod

inside many of the valves is a brass seat. Over time the brass gets brittle and chips. So new washers don’t seal well or last long

It would be nice to find new seats, washers and stems.

This company in Salt Lake ships repair faucet repair parts across the country

IMG_9232.jpeg

Intplm.

If you can isolate the shower…that is, turn the water off to just the shower, taking the shower valve apart on a bench, and repair it that way would be best.

Looks to be an American Standard shower valve back when they were indeed a American standard.

Parts are probably available. Do check on the info provided in the previous posts.

You might also find these parts in an old hardware store or local plumbing supplier. Full stems, seats, and handles. I would check them out first. The seats, if they do not disintegrate when trying to remove them can be filed smooth and reinstalled. They can also be filed down without removal.

Washer and stem/washer screws are surely available over the counter.

This could be a nice project. I would narrow down a supplier's availability of parts and then try the local suppliers first.

Grallert

under those acorn nuts to the right and left are shut offs. those seats are likely crumbly but if you can fins a good shut in the cellar I'd try those.

mattmia2

A chrome shop could make all those wrench marks and corrosion go away if you want to go that far.

Long Beach Ed

We've rebuilt a share of old faucets and fixtures. But we already owned them so if we broke it there was no customer to reimburse. The toughest thing is getting it apart, which we've always succeeded in doing as they are good quality brass. It's also hard to find a plating shop that doesn't loose your stuff.

The mechanics of these things are very simple. If nothing breaks, and it really shouldn't, it's all rubber washers and graphite packing. Nothing tricky or fancy. No custom-designed soft parts to replace.

Those things look like diamonds when they are replated. It's incredible what beautiful stuff this country produced in 1930.

By the way, the original handle on that was porcelain. The entire unit is nickel plated, except the modern pipe handle which is chromed.

Wish I could help you more. Not sure I'd take that apart knowing it belonged to someone else and that I didn't have another one to rob parts from. Try DEA Bath and see what they have. I think they can help.

mburg

appreciate all the help! I am going to check into those resources.

Fingers crossed