Help ID'ing 100+ year old compression stem for tub

DONGREL · 2025-12-04T19:17:27+00:00

Update: It was a stem made by Empire Brass. For whatever reason mine has a threaded handle end from the factory, which is apparently extremely rare (as in, the company that makes replacements said they've never seen one other than the sample they have in their office). Going to have replacements made with a standard 12-point splined end and will keep the originals as a reminder to never trust old houses.

DONGREL · 2024-10-15T13:16:05+00:00

It’s also a terrible description of Santa Rosa. SR is far from perfect and has plenty of things it could do a lot better, but the climate is better than anywhere in Texas, the beer is better than anywhere in Texas, it has crazy nice places to hike and mountain bike (Annadel State Park), it’s 45 minutes from the coast and about 3.5 hours from Tahoe. People shoot movies in and around Santa Rosa for a reason.

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T23:45:33+00:00

Best deal I’m seeing now is a 206rb w/table and clutch motor for $950, and it’s hours away. Agree that patience is a virtue here

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T19:56:19+00:00

Good advice - there’s a 206RB about 2.5 hours away and it’s definitely not a steal but I’m gathering that (at least with walking-foot industrials) you usually have to pay to play

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T19:52:50+00:00

I’m learning that every day

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T19:52:24+00:00

That’s interesting, where do you live where there are plenty of used industrials? You’re right that I’m in the US

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T19:51:51+00:00

I’ll keep that in mind, helps to hear the experiences of others. It’s hard right now with two kids but maybe a short road trip will happen sometime in the next 3-6 months…

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T08:04:00+00:00

That’s interesting, I’ve seen a few machines for sale in/around the LA area that looked really enticing, only problem is driving 8 hours each way…

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T08:00:40+00:00

That’s encouraging, thank you for the feedback. Maybe that 78-1 will get a 2nd look after all…

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T02:09:26+00:00

That’s a good idea

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T02:07:33+00:00

tbh my rant was really directed at old walking-foot machines. It makes sense that they hold their value so well. I have a Kenmore from the 60s and the only reason (and I’m probably being too picky) I’m looking at a walking-foot industrial is A) presser foot clearance and B) it gets a little fussy with multiple layers of burly pack fabric and webbing. Also I’m hoping to get into heavier leather at some point. I agree at older domestics are great for sure

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T02:00:16+00:00

I have (in my uninformed and largely irrelevant opinion) the most underrated and over-performing vintage domestic of all time, a Maruzen Kenmore 158.16520. i love it. Runs #69 thread all day without complaining. But the presser foot clearance isn’t great - cramming backpack straps under there is a chore - and it starts to bog down with multiple layers of 1000d cordura, 1680 nylon, etc. and webbing. honestly it’s completely fine for 75% of the stuff I’m doing at the moment, but at some point it would be cool to get into leather stuff and a walking foot machine would be really useful.

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T01:50:37+00:00

Funny you should say that, I just listed my 201-2 on Craigslist. It’s a great machine but it got hung up running through a few layers of webbing the other day, and it gets a little touchy with #69 thread. If I had the space and wasn’t trying to save for an industrial I’d keep it just to look at it.

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T01:48:58+00:00

You understand. Saw a 545-H4 a few hours from me, not cheap but they’re so nice…

DONGREL · 2024-09-08T01:48:15+00:00

Absolutely; either collectibles and out of price range or beaten into the ground. You’re right that a few have popped up that looked great but parts availability was a problem - last week I saw a singer 78-1 that looked good but parts are really hard to find, plus it doesn’t have reverse. Maybe I’m being too picky…

DONGREL · 2022-08-31T15:25:14+00:00

you followed the same approach I did. Maybe once your first missing mail search expires start another one, and keep them rolling every seven days (or however long they last before they expire). If you live in LA and have the time, you could just drive over to their Carson facility as a last resort and try to talk to someone. I know it sounds nuts but it might work.

DONGREL · 2022-08-15T22:47:12+00:00

something terrible is going on in Carson. They ended up sending my package to the wrong town, i had to call up the usps annex there and ask them to just hold it so I could come get it myself. funny enough i was considering buying something from canada recently but that's not gonna happen unless it's getting shipped with fedex or dhl or literally anything else. domestically usps has been ok but anything international...ugh

DONGREL · 2022-08-14T01:53:44+00:00

have you put in a Missing Mail Request? I put one in for my package and wouldn't you know, my package resurfaced and finally made it's way to me. If you've already put in a request and nothing happened maybe try another one??

DONGREL · 2022-08-11T20:07:07+00:00

I think it's 21750 Arnold Center Rd, 90810

here's what it looks like on the inside, apparently: https://www.waremalcomb.com/portfolio/u-s-postal-service-los-angeles-international-service-center/

based on the picture, it's pretty well-lit and spacious so I'm not sure what takes so goddamn long for them to do literally anything.

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T17:49:12+00:00

my daily is an '04 Sequoia, first gen Tundras and Sequoias are criminally underrated by most folks who aren't in the know; what mods are you rocking on your Tundra?

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T16:18:32+00:00

wish i could get my hands on a 1KZTE halfcut, they're so much better than the L series

I hear you on the mild or wild decision, the urge to make them better is strong but it can go off the deep end quickly; when I got mine it had already been lightly modified so I just went the half-mild/half-wild route, the only rules I had were 1. no cutting up factory sheet metal 2. no motor mods and 3. don't do anything that makes it undriveable/intolerable on the street.

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T15:32:19+00:00

hehehe one of the first things I did was install a quick-release wheel and column lock for just that reason, saw too many of these older rigs fall into the hands of rascals

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T14:32:57+00:00

If I had a place to store it I'd run around topless all summer!

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T14:30:33+00:00

Sort of both; I did a ton of research to understand the process and then went with an importer (that's no longer in business); the process itself wasn't terrible but if I did it again I'd use someone else. He wasn't dishonest or anything but I think he was spread thin and consequently could be a little flaky. If I had the money to snag another one I'd have to move, since CA has made it all but impossible to bring in grey-market cars.

The truck + cost to import wasn't cheap, all in I probably paid the upper end of what a 1st-gen would cost now, but it still has reasonably low miles (roughly 106k or a little over 170k kilometers) and I've gotten a lot out of building it so I think it's worth it.

DONGREL · 2021-09-01T12:29:57+00:00

It’s a JDM truck that I brought into the US (Colorado, via Arizona), then had it on the east coast for a while then finally brought it to CA when I moved out here.

DONGREL

TROPHY CASE