:-/ Dear Labman,

My husband tried to find a replacement spigot turning knob for outdoor hose spigot coming out of house, but our house was built in 1968 and it seems we can't locate one locally that has a LONGER extension where the knob fits onto the spigot. The replacement is needed because the turning knob is missing some of its flowerlet and cuts ones fingers when turning it - ouch!

Do you know of a supply house where OLDER plumbing hardward is available - perhaps online?

Thanks for any assistance you can give.

Abba

I'm not Labman but I'm sure he would give you the same answer.  Go down to your hardware store and ask for a universal replacement handle.  They  come in one handle or a with a cross of four and will fit any stem.   How they work is a universal handle will fit over the stem and it has a screw with a point that bites into the stem as you tighten it.  This allows you to turn the valve off and on and becomes a permanent  part of your spicot.  Or you could make the rounds of plumbing shops with the old handle and see if they can duplicate it.  Good luck,  Tom

Tom may have a better idea on this than I do. You might try some of the pluming supply houses or lumber yards. Builders buy their supplies at lumberyards and pluming supply houses. Often you can't buy parts for them at hardware and home centers. It may not be the age so much as the brand. It would be a bit of a nuisance, but the keys for the vandal resistant commercial building faucets where you take the handle with you when you go away, might fit it. You might even be able to drill a hole in it and screw it to the faucet.

If nothing else, bolt a piece of wood to the old handle.

Dear Speedball and Labman,

THANK YOU BOTH! GREAT ADVICE. And, as Labman advised, if all else fails, I can use a piece of wood! How "distinguished" that would look. Ha ha.

Sincerely, abba