Who knew finding toilet seats would be so hard?

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bugsyjones

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Because it is....

One of my co-workers lives in a mid-mod ranch home. When she bought it years ago, she decided to keep the original bathrooms.

Anyway, she needs some new toilet seats. Ok. Now you can get reproduction seats in matching retro colors. But....

The toilets she has happen to be an insanely rare style of toilet called the 'Criterion' toilet by Crane. Apparently, from what I could find out, the Criterion line was the must-have fixtures for custom-built homes of the 50's.

What makes the Criterion different is the seat. The seat bows down in the middle. I guess to provide 'perfect posture.' This seat, sometimes called the saddle seat, is incredibly hard to find. Nobody even makes a cheapo white one. I'd be lucky to find a white seat let alone a grey, beige, or lemon yellow that she needs.

If anyone comes across these Criterion seats, I'll take them off your hands. No toilets, just the seats.

Here's an example picture of the Criterion toilet.

Thanks!

bugsyjones++7-27-2010-21-32-26.jpg
 
Aha

Awesome!

Interesting how a toilet can be fascinating!

My grandfathers home was built in 1915. (if anyone is from omaha, or knows its history, it was Tom Dennison's home, and the home where the MAIDS STARTED OUT OF!)

The bathroom on the main floor was kept fairly original when the house was rebuilt in the 80s. Its got the original toilet from 1915. Its a tall tank off the base- style. I would never go into the bathroom when I was little because it scared me. Lol. Its neat.

Kinda like the one in the pick. But his is not quite as ornate.

 
Try a local plumber, mine has a retail store also, they might be able to order a seat from Crane. I couldn't find a yellow seat for a Kohler, orderd it from plumber & was cheaper than from Lowe's.
 
What is wrong with the original seat? Is something broken or does it just need some TLC?
 
I haven't personally seen the seats, but I'm assuming they're getting worn since they're originals.

I'll have to ask about the exact condition.

We were talking about vintage homes and she mentioned she needed new seats.

~Tim
 
I have a friend with a similar dilemma. His house was built in 1961 and has the original toilets, which are wall-mounted. The mounting is not like the standard toilet seat so he's been unable to find replacements.

All I know is, I'd figure out a way to keep wall-mounted toilets if I had them. They're the only way to go, and when I do a remodel, that's what I'm getting.

Best of luck in locating new seats. That Crane toilet is a beauty. I think I've seen similar ones at Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley but couldn't advise on the condition of the seats. They'd likely make you buy the whole toilet anyway.
 
Ah! These are the good toilets that don't plug up tighter than a drum with one piece of toilet paper. While we're on the subject, does anyone know where to find vintage tall, elongated toilets that actually flush? I absolutely hate these low-flow things!

Rob
 
Rob, around here the salvage yards are full of old toilets. Any "recycled building supply" type of place should have what you're looking for. I also see them on Craig's List, usually in the "free" section.

I agree with you about low flow toilets. They defeat their own purpose by requiring additional flushes to clear the bowl.
 
Rob,

Another option is to drive through the older parts of town. Often, people who update their older houses will set the old toilets out beside the road for disposal.
 
Tom, I never viewed those padded seats as sanitary. They are right up there with carpeting and wallpaper* as things you don't use in a bathroom. Plus, most I've dealt with won't stay up.

* powder rooms excepted
 
I have a similar problem. The toilet in the master bath is an American Standard with the elongated, curved seat - and the hinges are 10" apart.

I have found replacement seats online, they run about $250 each. Kind of outrageous when you consider that the average elongated toilet seat in a home improvement store is about $50 or less. But apparently American Standard holds the patent on the design and won't allow just anyone to sell a seat for just any price.
 
I swore off of American Standard when we did an upgrade in the master bath at our previous house. I bought a very appealing American Standard sink faucet but found when I got it home that all the fittings were some BS size that was going to require major adapting. It was apparently a faucet designed with a professional plumber in mind, not the average big box DIY shopper. I went back and exchanged it for a less expensive Price-Pfister which snapped right in.

The toilet we bought was American Standard too. It was an oddball thing (elongated style made to fit in the same space as a round-bowl type) but we put up with it, since all men will likely agree that the elongated experience is superior where one's "junk" is concerned, seated or standing. Before we sold the house I replaced the toilet seat. It wasn't as good a fit as the original "Standard issue." It seems to me that being so proprietary would cut into market share, but perhaps not enough people research things and so don't realize they're entering into a long-term relationship with American Standard when they buy one of their products.

Apple can pull this off, but American Standard? Who'da thunk?
 
But Ralph, the vinyl seats were not as bad as those fuzzy seats sold at the same time. They were supposed to be warm for those with delicate behinds. I say if the seat is too cold, you obviously don't have to go badly enough.
 
American Standard must have started being more proprietary in the 1950's or 60's because our 1935 AS toilet has common size toilet seat, pipefittings, etc.
 
I can still get just about every part for my 1969 F-4049 American Standard toilets at any hardware store with the exception of the flapper seal, which is easily obtained online. I keep a few extras on hand and restock the stash as they fail.
 
2 of the 3 original Am. Std. toilets that are original to our house built in'65 are still going strong. I've replaced all the flappers over the years with FluidMaster flush fixers. I like the cup design, it times out the best. Never had an issue. I've replaced all of them a number of times over the last 40+ years. Never saw the need to find original parts.
 
has anybody seen?

I rented an old house that once upon a time had a toilet that 3/4 of the toilet tank set inside the wall. They covered the spot where the tank was with plywood. I have only seen one in my life about 20 years ago. I have never seen one again. I think they were made in the 1920's. I'm thinking they were a pain the repair, so after the first repair, they were ripped out of the wall and never thought of again. Does anybody know what I am talking about? I don't know who made them, but it was interesting.
 

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