I need help identifying an old bronze head

[porsche189]

I have just purchased a sailboat, and the head needs rebuilding. it is bronze base and stamped on the side is miller nj. on the porcilin bowl in blue color writing is a picture of a mermaid with the words miller maid. Doing a internet searches have been leading nowhere so, Cruisers, Can you help me?

[lorenzo b]

They make great soup tureens.

[porsche189]

Does that mean they aren't a a good brand, or impossible to find parts for?

[peghall]

Most likely "miller maid" is only the brand name of the bowl, not the toilet. Post a photo or two that provides a ogood view of the pump from the top, front and side and I'll try to ID it for you. What's the make/model/year of the boat and country of origin?

[porsche189]

I will take some photos tomorrow, The bronze is stamped with Miller NJ. The boat is a 1972 Westerly Tiger 25'. Boat is from England. I have seen your posts on here. You really know your stuff. I am very thankful for your time to help. Thank you.
Steven.

[peghall]

The bronze is stamped with Miller NJ.

That's very interesting...are you certain it's "Miller" and not "Millville?"

[porsche189]

Miller Idustries, pump. all brass, including lever handle.

Miller maid head

both look like same manufacturer.

The pictures didn't turn out great, and the head had been taken apart, I can take a picture of the gaskets too if that helps.

I moved the orientation a little in the pictures beacuse i am not sure where it goes yet.

I hope this helps ! Thank you guys and gals!!

[peghall]

I've downloaded the photos...your toilet appears to be a clone of early Wilcox Crittenden manual toilets of that era. Morgan New Jersey no longer exists...it's been absorbed by Sayerville NJ. I'm just curious enough about Morgan to want to learn more about the town and the Miller Maid marine toilet mfr. I started in the marine potty biz in the mid-80s and I'd never heard of Miller Maid toilets till now...but as I said, I'm curious...I'll find someone in Sayerville who's been around long enough to know something.

What your photos do tell me with absolute certainty: that toilet is beyond help. You won't find any parts for it any more--and prob'ly haven't been able to for decades. Sell it to the scrap metal dealer or put it back together, shine it up and plant petunias in it. There are other all bronze "thrones" out there (if that's what you want), some that need work, but are actually salvageable, for a reasonable price, that parts are still available for. People dump 'em when the find out that a service kit costs about the same price as a new Jabsco toilet--which is kinda like trading avintage Mercedes for a new Yugo 'cuz you can buy the Yugo for the price of a tune for Mercedes. If vintage bronze isn't your thing, there are a number of choices...some of 'em even good choices.

If I find out anything about the Miller Maid toilet company that's likely to be useful, I post it...meanwhile, you're welcome email me if I can be of any help in creating a good trouble-free system.

[porsche189]

Thank You Peggie!!!,
I know the photos look ruff bad camera phone haze, the toilet has all the parts and gaskets that came with it, stored in a ziplock. The seals look ok but the rubber is worn out. and the bronze has greened. I will be able to clean it up and orient things as needed, but didn't do anything yet in case it didn't have a source for parts or similar brand size available parts available to fix. I Guess I will be looking for a temporary solution or a lavec toilet, as i have heard they were simple and not too expensive.

[gjordan]

Porshe 189, I had an early wilcox head in a 1968 british boat and was unable to locate a rebuild kit. It would pump out but not bring any water into the bowl. After I priced new heads I put a small manual pump(about 1 inch diameter by 8 or 10 inches high) on the bulkhead next to the head and used it to pump in, and the regular lever on the head to pump out. It worked fine for many years and about 9000 miles of cruising. If your problem is the intake side , try the cheap simple way first. My 2 cents worth____Grant.

[Bash]

Cruisers' Forum, Ladies and Gentlemen, has got to be the only place on the entire World Wide Web where a fellow can post five portraits of his toilet with pride.