Gamco vs Bobrick: What Is Different, What Is the Same, and Which to Specify

You have a Bobrick spec and a Gamco price, or the reverse, and need to know whether the two are interchangeable. The short answer: Gamco is a division of Bobrick, its data sheets follow the same pattern, and on some products the construction matches to the gauge at a lower price. They part on catalog depth, design series, warranty terms, and a few gauges that Bobrick's sheets make heavier or simply state. We list both: 116 Gamco products and 506 Bobrick.

Who makes what

Gamco, "formerly known as General Accessory Mfg. Co.," calls itself "a division of Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc." and says it will "continue to operate from our modern facility in Durant, Oklahoma, specializing in fabrication of commercial stainless steel restroom accessories." Bobrick's own brands page says the same in one line, beside Koala Kare, Thrislington, and Privada.

So Gamco is made by Bobrick's company, but not in Bobrick's plants: every Gamco data sheet closes with One Gamco Place, Durant, OK, while Bobrick's sheets name Clifton Park, New York, Jackson, Tennessee, and Los Angeles, California. Gamco's warranty sheet lists Bobrick customer service numbers, so support is one organization. Gamco has no named design series. Bobrick sells by series (ClassicSeries, ConturaSeries, TrimLineSeries, Fino), covered in the Bobrick vs ASI vs Bradley guide.

The two catalogs as listed here

Gamco is 116 products here against 506 for Bobrick, and the shape differs more than the total.

Gamco has no toilet compartment combination unit, one paper towel dispenser, and one seat cover dispenser, so a recessed or partition-mounted schedule will not resolve in Gamco. Where it is strong it is very strong: 40 grab bars in 1 in., 1-1/4 in., and 1-1/2 in. diameters with exposed, snap, or concealed flanges, and 12 mirrors in channel frame, welded frame, and fixed tilt, two of them with a shelf. The 150 Series is Gamco's 1-1/2 in. line, the 125 Series its 1-1/4 in. line, and the letter after the number is the flange: S snap, C concealed, E exposed.

Like for like: what the data sheets say

Prices are ours. Construction comes from each maker's technical data sheet, read for this guide.

The 1-1/4 in. pair runs the same way, Gamco 125SX36 at $25.56 against Bobrick B-5806 x 36 at $40.19, both satin type 304 on snap flanges; the 125 Series has no concealed flange option. Channel frame mirrors sit closer, Gamco C-18X30 at $58.94 against Bobrick B-165 1830 at $71.59.

Read the hook row twice: it is the one pair where Bobrick's sheet is heavier where it counts, and in percentage terms the price gap is the widest. The tissue dispensers are $9.47 apart for what both sheets describe as the same unit. On the 1-1/2 in. bar Gamco is $17.67 less, and the only difference on paper is that Bobrick states gauges and a load figure and Gamco does not. If the spec calls out 18-gauge tubing, get the figure from Gamco in writing before you substitute. Full lines: grab bars, mirrors, toilet tissue dispensers, and hooks and towel bars.

Keys, finishes, and warranties

Keys. Bobrick's replacement parts page states that "Most Bobrick and GAMCO keyed accessories utilize the universal CAT-74 Door Key, part number 330-43," and the TTD-5 and B-2888 sheets each say the lock is keyed like the rest of that brand's accessories, so a building on Bobrick keys can add Gamco cabinets without a second key ring. Bobrick says to order the key through its aftermarket representative or the distributor you buy consumables from; we can quote it too. A jammed lock is a call to Bobrick customer service or a locksmith.

Finishes. Gamco's listed finishes are satin, bright polished on hooks and towel bars, chrome plated steel on the 23 tissue holder, a peened -T grip on the 150 Series bars, and matte black on six items: five 150CX concealed flange bars (18 to 48 in., $48.38 to $64.13) and the DR-5125.MBLK dryer. Bobrick offers matte black across far more of its line, including the B-290 mirror and the B-2012 and B-2013 soap dispensers. Both brands appear in the matte black collection.

Warranties. Gamco's warranty sheet covers commercial purchasers only: one year from date of invoice, 10 years on hand dryers except the DR-5125 at 5, and 15 years against silver spoilage on float glass mirrors. Bobrick's sheet gives one year on accessories not otherwise listed, 3 years on ConturaSeries and its listed soap dispensers and faucets, 5 years on the Fino Collection, 15 years on B-165 series mirrors, 7 years on the B-290 series, and 1 to 10 years on hand dryers by model. Bobrick's B-290 data sheet still says 15 years against silver spoilage, so ask Bobrick which document governs before either number goes in a submittal. Both limit the remedy to repair or replacement and to purchases through an authorized distributor.

How to choose

• The spec says "Bobrick or equal." Submit Gamco. It is a Bobrick division, the sheets share a format and a specification paragraph, and on the tissue dispenser the construction is identical. "Or equal" is still the architect's ruling, so send the Gamco sheet with the submittal and get it approved before you order. Where Bobrick states a gauge or load figure that Gamco does not, expect the question.
• Gamco is the right call for grab bars in quantity (near parity in models, three diameters, three flange styles, a lower price on every satin snap flange 36 in. bar we list; the matte black and peened concealed flange bars cost more), mirrors on price, security accessories (six models each), and any building keyed to the 330-43.
• Gamco is not the right call for recessed or combination schedules (no toilet compartment combination units, 4 towel and waste units against 31), a design series that has to match (ConturaSeries, TrimLineSeries, and Fino have no Gamco equivalent), a warranty term written into the spec (Contura 3 years, Fino 5, Gamco 1), a hook that has to take abuse (the B-682's 12-gauge hook and 16-gauge plate), or an order that is mostly soap dispensers and hand dryers (5 and 2 models against 87 and 12).
• Replacing one unit in an occupied building. Match what is on the wall. A TTD-5 lands on the B-2888 footprint; the two hooks differ in height and projection, so a swap shows.

Next step: set the Bobrick grab bars and Bobrick mirrors pages beside the Gamco pages linked above, check mounting on the grab bar height page, and request a quote for a priced schedule in both brands with every line flagged where the sheets differ. Surface or recessed is a separate decision; the surface vs recessed guide covers it.