Mustee Duratub 93 - Vintage Laundry Sink & Cabinet

vintagegal · Apr 30, 2020

3" duratub base has rusted out - possible fixes?

The metal base frame approx 3" high that the cabinet sits on has rusted out - do you have any suggestions on replacing just this part or other ways to fix it?

lowefficiency · Apr 30, 2020

Sometimes rust like that cleans up pretty easily with a wire brush and some rust-inhibiting paint. You might have to remove the plumbing and flip the cabinet around to know for sure.

bradfordwhite · Apr 30, 2020

In the 80s and 90s, I remember seeing those sudsaver tubs included in most new model homes in the midwest.

In fact, the first home I built in 1991, I had one installed in the first floor laundry room.

My parents 1985 built home has an Almond one. My aunts 1972 built home had an Avocado one to match her 1972 Lady K set. She used it all the time.

By 1991, the sudsaver trend was over. There weren't many washers still being made with that option.

But you can still see them in listings. I've found it to be mainly a midwest or upper midwest thing. Can't remember seeing it on the coasts.

bradfordwhite · Apr 30, 2020

Yes they came in colors.

Even pink from the early 60s. Most likely turquoise, sunny yellow, and 70s coffee.

Friends of my parents had a pink Lady Kenmore early 60s washer dryer set with a sudsaver connected to their duratub in their suburban split level. It had that green fiber glass sink which looked weird.

Sears used to sell these. I can't remember if that's where my aunt got hers. But they did label them for Sears,

I can't remember ever seeing a harvest gold one but it's probably out there. In the midwest you can find these at Habitat on occasion.

The stainless steel bracket around the drain spout moves up and down and is what holds the by-pass tube in place. You place the tube with rubber gasket on base into the drain when you want to drain the spin water from the furthest forward spout direct into the drain and keep the wash water. Then the long rubber sud saver hose which goes to almost the bottom of the sink can suck up the water in the next load.