Call Custom Ceramic and see if they're still doing it. At the time I spoke to him last, he was the only person in the US still reporcelaining steel (not cast iron) sinks. You have to pay for shipment. As far as powder coating goes--all you can do is call around locally and ask. It's been suggested here repeatedly (I remember hollysprings bringing it up) but I don't know of anyone who's actually done it. Best bet is always to find an original in the best possible condition. Retro Renovation is also a good place to look for information and sources--check all of their sink posts. Here is a link that might be useful: Retro Renovation

Go for it! I have used vintage enamel sinks in the past and will be using one again in my own upcoming remodel. You do need to ensure that the drain size is appropriate for whatever you want to do with it (can it accommodate a modern disposal? Some old ones can, some are 1/2" too small). Have them shoot you a close-up with a ruler. I *think* the exact size is 3.4" - 4" for a disposal, but do google to double-check. In terms of a faucet, they still make nice adjustable-width laundry sink faucets precisely for these sinks (Chicago Faucets is a great source for solid ones that look just like their predecessors), so you can accept a fairly broad range of backsplash holes from 6" to 10". The gloss level is also a good question for follow-up. Get more photos from different angles with light or a flash on it. Dull isn't bad, per se, but it's true that the duller it is the more easily it will stain in the future. Not that you can't keep re-scrubbing it, but it's a factor. One thing is certainly true: there are more of these sinks out there, even this exact model, if you pass this one up. I've seen yours go by a number of times in various venues, like eBay. Have you checked out This Old Tub and Sink? They are awesome and Kevin will take excellent care of you. Slightly pricey but he vets his sinks and tubs very well. I just bought a single deep basin drop-in from him and am very pleased with it. Link to the site below. If you're looking for a single bowl vintage farm sink, there's this popular laundry sink model from the 20s that shows up regularly: link to current eBay auction, $200 Enjoy! Vintage items aren't perfect, but then again after a bit of use most modern ones aren't, either. And the aesthetics just cannot be beat. Take it from a dedicated user of a 1949 stove. :) Here is a link that might be useful: This Old Tub & Sink, Boston

We currently have a single bowl sink similar to the one in question installed in our 1840's farm house as a prep sink/pot washing area/farm sink. It's right next to our stove, which has been handy for things like canning, or just setting hot pots on its drainboards. When we put it in, the wall behind it turned out to not be perfectly flat, so there was a slight gap behind the middle portion but not the outer edges of the backsplash. We turned this into an advantage and store our knives there. Since this picture was taken, I've fitted a good size wooden cutting board on the right hand drainboard that's been very handy. We also could have custom-cut one to fit in the top of the sink hole, but didn't go that route. I'll agree that it's an awesome spot for washing veggies, fresh eggs from the chickens, filling jars for canning, etc. We've really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, ours is no longer in good shape. The finish in the sink bowl is no longer shiny, and is extremely difficult to keep clean. We've also chipped it in a number of places so that it has the black underbody peeking through. (Hint: Don't store your canned goods in the cupboard over the drainboard, they aren't nice to the enamel when they fall!) We aren't getting rid of it though. It's slated to go outside to be used in a summer kitchen where we can cook and can outdoors. Keep in mind that although lots of people like deeper sinks, if you are tall and are handwashing dishes, a shallow sink might be more comfortable to work at for you.

Hi marcolo, yes that is Theresse's faucet- absolutely perfect in her kitchen and even with my hesitation about it's quirks, I always covet hers when I see her photos! The showroom model I played with was not live, so I could not experience full functionality, these are just my impressions. I expected to be able to just easily slide the sprayer out and down from the neck and retract it back when I'm done -- like traditional pull out/pull down faucets I've experienced. The Jaclo seemed to want you to lift the handspray up and off. (Maybe there is an easier trick?) The faucet neck is like a big tray--you lift off the flexible tube sprayer, move the tube around the neck to use, and then when done you need to lift the tubing up, line it back up with the tray, and push it back down into place securing the hand spray mechanism. My memory is that there was no button on the sprayer attachment. I believe the spray pattern could be adjusted, though and if I remember correctly the salesperson explained that you could twist the head of the sprayer mechanism to change flow pattern. If that were true-maybe Theresse will chime in?-it seems very inconvenient to need two hands to adjust your aeration pattern when you just need to rinse off some berries or whatever. (see link below for davidro's comment about potential to accidentally spray yourself with this faucet, too. I thought this was what he was referring to since there is no "pause" button on the sprayer.) It seems like you'd have to think about this and adjust your spray before the water was on, which seems difficult if you can't see the spray... The part of the sprayer that you hold felt a bit awkwardly small. It looks very streamlined, but in my hand I almost wanted to hold more like you would a pencil (that is to say, with my fingers) rather than grasping with my whole hand. (It's not a wall mount--and I didn't select it because the sprayer retracted too loudly--but for comparison ergonomically the best pull down hand sprayer I played with--my girlfriend just got one so I've also used it live now--is the Grohe Bridgeford faucet. Extremely comfortable to hold/grip/well-designed to fit in your hand. The opposite of holding the Jaclo handsprayer which felt too...delicate?) I feel like I'm frequently mentioning aging in place/arthritis/carpal tunnel considerations in kitchen planning, but I'll say here too, in my opinion the Jaclo would not be a good choice if any of those issues are a concern. Trying to describe all these little things here undoubtedly makes them seem like a bigger problem then they are. And all that said, for the functionality of even having an integrated wall mount sprayer--not to mention the cool/sexy factor-- I think the faucet is still something worth investigating. Here is a link that might be useful: Who knew picking faucets would be so complicated?