6 Farm Sink Faucets For Antique Farm Sink Restoration That Preserve Traditions

You’ve finally wrestled that beautiful, sixty-pound cast iron farm sink out of the old barn and into your kitchen. It’s a piece of history, complete with the character marks of a hundred years of use. Now comes the hard part: finding a faucet that honors its past while meeting the demands of a modern working kitchen.

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Choosing a Faucet for Your Antique Farm Sink

The first decision you’ll face is how the faucet mounts. Antique sinks were often designed for either wall-mount faucets, where the plumbing comes directly out of the wall above the sink, or deck-mount faucets, which install into holes drilled into the sink’s back ledge. Your sink will dictate this choice, so measure carefully. There’s no faking it here; forcing a deck-mount faucet onto a sink with no holes is a recipe for disaster.

Next, you need to measure the "center spread"—the distance between the center of the holes. Many older sinks use an 8-inch spread for two-handle faucets, but non-standard spacings are common. This single measurement will narrow your options significantly. Don’t just eyeball it; a quarter-inch difference is the difference between a perfect fit and a trip back to the hardware store.

Finally, consider the balance between historical accuracy and modern function. A traditional bridge faucet looks the part, but a high-arc gooseneck with a built-in sprayer makes washing large stockpots or garden vegetables infinitely easier. There is no right answer, only a tradeoff. Decide what’s more important for your daily routine: perfect period authenticity or the convenience of a pull-down sprayer.

Here are the key factors to lock down before you start shopping:

• Mounting Type: Wall or deck?
• Hole Configuration: How many holes and what is the distance between them?
• Spout Height and Reach: Will it clear your tallest pot and reach the center of the basin?
• Functionality: Do you need a side sprayer or a pull-down feature?

Kingston Brass KS1275AXBS Bridge Faucet

The bridge faucet is the quintessential choice for a vintage farmhouse look. The Kingston Brass Heritage model is a workhorse that gets the aesthetics right without demanding a fortune. Its two-handle design connects with an exposed "bridge" pipe, a style common in the early 20th century.

This faucet is built from solid brass, which gives it a satisfying heft and promises durability far beyond cheaper, plated alternatives. It’s designed for a standard 8-inch deck-mount installation, making it a direct fit for many restored sinks. The included side sprayer is a practical compromise, giving you modern cleaning power while keeping the main faucet’s silhouette historically clean.

Rohl A1458LMWS-2 Country Kitchen Faucet

If your antique sink is a true heirloom, the Rohl Country Kitchen faucet is an investment to match. This isn’t just a piece of plumbing; it’s a piece of hardware engineered to last as long as the cast iron it’s mounted on. The craftsmanship is immediately apparent, from the smooth handle operation to the flawless finish.

Like the Kingston Brass, this is an 8-inch spread bridge faucet, but it leans more heavily into classic European design. It feels substantial in a way that few modern fixtures do. While the price is significant, it reflects a commitment to quality. This is the faucet you choose when you are restoring a piece for the next generation, not just for the next decade.

Signature Hardware 948563 Wall-Mount Faucet

Many old farmhouse and utility sinks have no deck holes at all because they were designed for a wall-mount faucet. If that’s what you’re working with, this Signature Hardware model is a fantastic option. It combines a classic gooseneck spout with elegant porcelain lever handles, hitting all the right vintage notes.

The high, swooping arc is incredibly practical for a deep farm sink, giving you ample room to fill canning pots or wash large harvests. Because it mounts to the wall, it also makes cleaning the sink deck much easier—there are no faucet bases to wipe around. This is a purpose-built solution for a specific type of antique sink.

Moen S73004 Weymouth Gooseneck Pulldown

Let’s be practical: sometimes you need the full power of a modern pulldown sprayer. The Moen Weymouth offers a clever blend of old and new. It has the tall, graceful gooseneck and classic detailing of a vintage faucet, but it hides a fully functional pulldown spray head.

This is the ultimate compromise for a kitchen that has to work hard every day. You get the aesthetic you want without sacrificing the function you need for blasting dirt off potatoes or reaching every corner of that massive sink basin. It mounts with a single hole, which may require you to work around existing holes in your sink deck, but the convenience is often worth the extra installation planning.

Pfister LGT533-TDS Port Haven Bridge Faucet

The Pfister Port Haven is another excellent bridge faucet that delivers timeless style at an accessible price point. Its high-arc spout provides excellent clearance, a non-negotiable feature for any deep-basin farm sink. It’s a clean, straightforward design that complements the simple, utilitarian nature of an antique sink.

This model is a great example of getting the proportions right. The handles are spaced comfortably, and the spout reach is adequate for most large single or double-basin sinks. For someone looking for that classic bridge look without the premium price tag of a specialty brand, the Port Haven is a solid, reliable contender.

Delta 9659-DST Trinsic Wall Mount Pot Filler

This isn’t your primary faucet, but it might be the most useful addition to your farm sink setup. A wall-mounted pot filler, installed next to your main faucet, is a game-changer for anyone who does a lot of canning, brewing, or soup making. It allows you to fill heavy pots directly on the counter or in the sink without having to lift gallons of water.

While its style is more transitional than strictly vintage, its sheer utility makes it a worthy partner to an antique sink in a working kitchen. The articulated arm folds away when not in use, keeping the workspace clear. Think of it as a modern upgrade that respects the spirit of hard work that your vintage sink represents.

Installation Tips for Vintage Cast Iron Sinks

Installing a new faucet on an old sink is rarely a simple drop-in process. The porcelain and cast iron surfaces on these old pieces are often uneven. Be prepared to use a generous amount of plumber’s putty under the faucet base to create a watertight seal on a surface that isn’t perfectly flat.

The thickness of an old cast iron sink deck can also be a problem. The threaded shanks on your new faucet might not be long enough to pass through the deck and secure with the mounting nuts. Always check the maximum deck thickness specification for your chosen faucet before buying, or be prepared to find shank extenders.

Finally, remember the weight. A cast iron sink filled with water is incredibly heavy. Your cabinet base must be solid and preferably reinforced with 2x4s. When tightening the faucet, do it slowly and evenly. Overtightening can crack the porcelain, turning your prized restoration project into a heartbreaking loss.

Choosing the right faucet is about more than just plumbing; it’s about completing a story. The perfect fixture makes your antique sink the functional, beautiful heart of your kitchen, ready for another century of service.