Mustee Duratub 93 - Vintage Laundry Sink & Cabinet

[lowefficiency]

So I've seen these combination laundry sink storage cabinet units in pictures and older appliance advertisements, but never in person or for sale.
However, I happened to stumble across this one in a ReStore while traveling out of state, and for $35, I couldn't pass it up!

Mustee Duratub, model 93.
(Or capitalized as "DURATUB", or "duratub", depending on where you look!)

 

[lowefficiency]

So I don't really know when this one was made - if anyone knows, please let me know.

All that I *do* know is that this is a Model 93, which doesn't seem to exist as far as the internet is concerned. Any searches will find numerous hits for the Model 91 or Model 94, but nothing at all for the 93... that I've found at least.

Using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, the oldest archived copy of the E. L. Mustee website is from October 18, 2000, which lists only the Duratub 94 and 91 models. Those same two models are on their website all the way through the end of 2017, which must have been when they were discontinued. So while mine is a "newer" model with the white poly plastic tub instead of the green fiberglass, it must have been made prior to the year 2000. Photo of the Model 93 tag below, just to prove that it exists!

The tub is quite clean, just a little dust in the bottom that will easily wipe out.

 

[lowefficiency]

So you might have seen my foot in the first photo above... that's because this one is missing the door hardware, so I had to hold the door in place for the photo.

Mustee does still sell the door hardware (for the 91/94 models) as replacement parts... Looks to just be some long bolts with long springs? I might fashion something different instead, perhaps some magnetic latches at the top to hold it closed, and some limiting straps through the original holes to hold it from falling fully open... We will see...

 

[lowefficiency]

I might also add a brace here at the rear, where someone had cut the corner out, presumably to fit around some plumbing or a dryer vent. Shouldn't be too big of a deal, and it won't be visible at all when installed.

 

[lowefficiency]

I'll also keep an eye out for the "Handiflo" accessory parts, which added a discharge port for the washing machine directly into the sink. Since we have two washers now and only one standpipe, this would be a nice upgrade to the current system of a hose draped over the side. Our Duratub has a blockoff plate at the rear, so it was made with provisions for this from the factory.

 

[mrsalvo]

I love the sink. Very cool and useful!

 

[polkanut]

Maybe contact the E.L. Mustee company to see if they can give you some literature about this model.

 

[lowefficiency]

Good idea! I just sent them an email, we will see what they say!

 

[lowefficiency]

Ok, I received a reply! They said the Model 93 hasn't been made in a "very long time", but they did have a copy of the brochure for the Model 91 and 93.

Here is Page 1

 

[lowefficiency]

... and here is Page 2

 

[lowefficiency]

Although they are discontinued, Mustee still has the brochure available for the later production versions of the Model 91 & 94:
https://mustee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ELM-312.pdf

Comparing the two, it looks like my Model 93 has a stainless rim and top surface (molded plastic in the later 91/94), and a 20 gallon capacity rating instead of the later 19. It also looks like the Handiflo system was different - having provisions for suds saver usage in the earlier model, but being simplified to just a drain in the later versions.

Does anyone know the approximate age of the washing machine to the left of the Duratub in the brochures?

 

[repairguy]

The Kenmore washer would be late 70’s to 1981 per the script on the console. That’s a neat laundry sink. I’d like to have one for my ‘67 Lady Kenmore sudsaver but here in Texas there are no basements for these things to hide in for many years and I don’t ever recall seeing one here.

 

[lowefficiency]

Thanks, that helps! Theoretically Mustee would have used a semi-recent model washer for their marketing photos, so at least this brochure would have been produced in that late 70s to 1981 timeframe. That doesn't say whether the 93 was available before that, or for how long after, but it does give a general idea of the timing.

I've been looking at that Handiflo system, specifically that mine is missing it but should have come with it. The parts are no longer available, but I was able to find the patent for the later (non suds-saver) version:

"Washing machine water discharge handling system", US5517833A
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5517833A

 

[lowefficiency]

Page 2

 

[lowefficiency]

Page 3

 

[a007kirbyman]

Mustee Duratub 93 Brochure...

Hello Dave (& all),

The brochure you have posted in "Reply# 9" above, for the model 93, coincidentally was printed (or reprinted) in 1993.

Hopefully this is of assistance to you (& others).

Cheers & hagd/n/wknd all,

Bill

 

[dermacie]

The Mustee company is really nice to there customers, I have contacted them several times over the years. I have a wall hung Mustee utility tub in my laundry room, and a shower pan upstairs that are both 51 years old.

 

[lowefficiency]

Thanks Bill, appreciate the info!

It will take me a while to reconfigure our plumbing and get this sink installed, but in the mean time, I've made a start on designing a replacement for the missing Handiflo spout, based on the above patent drawings. I'll be changing the unit from a 3-piece assembly to a 2-piece for simplicity, as being willing to expose the front bolt heads eliminates the need to create the front spout as a separate snap-on piece. Given how much force that deflector takes from the washer output, the odds are that it would just blow right off if not made correctly!

 

[lowefficiency]

Back side with the backing plate. I'll probably end up changing these holes to hexagonal pockets for captive nuts, just to make installation easier. The gasket in between will need to be cut from some sheet material... cork maybe?

The inlet pipe will be at a 45-degree angle instead of the original Mustee nearly 90 degree angle, as I'll run the washer output in from the middle of the back of the sink, rather than from the lower side inlet.

My outlet spout is just a simple expanding flare shape... but I can tell from the patents Mustee referenced that they had put a lot of thought into the water flow and the resulting pattern of how the water fell as it exited.