Who Exactly Was “The Pretty Plumber”?

There’s a first time for everything, or so the saying goes- and people love a good “first” story! Trailblazers are objects of curiosity, respect, and admiration. And the first female master plumber is no exception. Lillian Baumbach was way ahead of her time when she became a certified master plumber. At the time, the only women in the plumbing industry never touched a pipe wrench or went on calls; they stayed at the office to take calls and schedule appointments. Read on to find out all about the life of the first female master plumber on record. 

Becoming the First Woman Master Plumber

Lillian’s father, William J. Baumbach, ran a plumbing company, W.J. Baumbach Plumbing and Heating, in Arlington, VA. This was probably the most critical factor in her interest in plumbing. But that doesn’t account for all of it. Many girls grew up in plumbing families at the time, but most of them were more interested in dolls than in pipe wrenches.

By the time Lillian was 12, she was tagging along on service calls and learning the tricks of the trade with her father. She served as his apprentice and became a journeyman plumber. Pretty soon, she was the service manager of the company. At the age of 21, in 1951, Lillian took the master plumber’s test and passed easily. In fact, of the six men she took the test with, only two also passed. News outlets quickly took notice of this anomaly and discovered that Lillian was the first female master plumber on record. 

Letters From Fans

People from around the country - and the world - took notice of the pretty plumber. Letters started pouring in from people just wanting to talk to her or to get plumbing advice. So many letters came in that the mail delivery man started delivering letters addressed to “The Pretty Plumber” right to her. It’s said that she had a correspondence with 250 men. Some of the letters were even marriage proposals. During the Korean war, an infantry company serving in Korea decided to make Lillian Baumbach their company’s pin-up girl. This one, single company sent her a total of 75 letters!

The Female Plumber’s Legacy

Lillian Baumbach received more than letters. She also had interviews with the likes of Walter Cronkite. She also wrote a magazine article titled “Helpful Plumbing Hints for Housewives.” She also appeared on some TV programs. This helped to cement her legacy and also to help other women become interested in plumbing. 

Pictures of the pretty woman holding a pipe wrench captured the imaginations of people all around the country and helped women and girls realize that they, too, could become trailblazers. Although plumbing is still a fairly male-dominated profession, in terms of technicians that go out on calls, there are plenty of women-owned plumbing businesses. 

Baumbach’s notoriety and her success in running her father’s plumbing company were, and still are, an excellent message for women interested in plumbing and other male-dominated professions.  

About Oliver’s Plumbing

Since 2004, Oliver’s Plumbing has been serving Sun Prairie, WI, with pride. They offer up-front pricing and excellent workmanship. The family-owned-and-operated company also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every job they do. Call Oliver's Plumbing today to ask about plumbing services in Sun Prairie.

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