08/18/2026
PLUMBING HISTORY: BEFORE THE HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE, THERE WAS SEARS!
Before you could run to a local plumbing supply house or order a faucet online, homeowners could pull out the Sears Catalog and shop for plumbing fixtures right from their kitchen table.
Sears became one of the largest mail-order businesses in American history, and their catalogs carried an incredible variety of products—including faucets, sinks, toilets, tubs, water heaters, pipe, fittings, and other plumbing supplies.
Think about that for a second…
A homeowner in a rural community could look through a catalog, choose a new toilet or plumbing fixture, place an order by mail, and have it shipped to their home at a time when access to stores and specialized plumbing supplies could be limited.
And Sears didn't stop at selling individual fixtures. They even sold complete houses through their catalogs!
In fact, Sears catalogs helped make modern plumbing more accessible to American homeowners as indoor plumbing became increasingly common in homes throughout the early 20th century.
So the next time you walk into a bathroom and see a toilet, faucet, or sink, remember: the way Americans bought plumbing has changed dramatically—but the goal hasn't.
Get the right parts, get the job done, and get the water flowing.
We may not be delivering plumbing fixtures by catalog anymore, but SmithPro Plumbing is still here to help when those fixtures need to be installed, repaired, or replaced!
402-934-4447
SmithPro Plumbing — Professional. Reliable. Pros.
www.smithproplumbing.com
What plumbing fixture in your home do you think has been around the longest?
