Comments on: More Historical Bathroom Photos

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:08:02 +0000

A 48″ was a common size tub for that period. The complete length of it would be about 50″ including the rolled lip. It wasn’t common for men to take baths. The tubs were made to bathe kids and women [when they had time]. Not being sarcastic… I cannot imagine washing clothes with a washboard, hanging them to dry outside [regardless the weather], taking care of the kids, cooking, baking, plucking, gathering eggs, milking cows, gardening, etc… Because not EVERY person that had indoor plumbing in the 20′s was rich. The rich certainly had their tubs, but their’s were the 55 & 60″.

This could also be a tub from a [hate to say it] servants quarters.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:17:59 +0000

We are making a small bedroom into a vintage 1920-30.
My husband found a approx 40-42″ claw foot tub. It is the cutest thing. We are going to have it plumbed up, but I don’t think we will ever use it as we are almost 60 now, we are having a custom made shower for us instead.
Does anyone know what this cute little tub was used for? It looks exactly like a full sized one. We are thinking it was probably used for children. But in that time, who could of afforded to purchase a claw foot tub just for children?

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:51:51 +0000

In the last photo, there is a sitz bath AND a foot bath. IF a home had any, most often, it would be the sitz tub. One may equate that to a quick clean up to get the funky smells off. The sitz tub had the high back [backsplash] where the foot bath didn’t have the backsplash.

I live in a town with a LOT of historical properties and many high end. I’ve learned a lot by touring them. I love that they’re open to the public.

By: JLL

JLL — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:03:45 +0000

The small tubs well the ones with the high back were for a quick clean. Bathing was not as frequent back in the day and for in between full cleanings you would sit with your feet forward and you bottom in the tub. It would wash form your thighs to your waist and clean the “important parts”

By: mopar

mopar — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:38:14 +0000

I believe some of those mini bathtubs are sitz baths, useful for bathing feet, infants, and invalids. Based on actual bathrooms I’ve seen, very few houses actually had them. These are more manufacturers’ dream baths.

That crazy dish contraption in the tub looks like it swings around and may open from the bottom to release its contents. Shaving is a good guess. Probably another manufacturer dream invention that never caught on. Funny how it also looks like the fonts that hold holy water in the vestibules of Catholic churches.

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:41:32 +0000

Doug,
I would look on this site to see if you find a match to your tub ( http://www.vintageplumbing.com ) and do a search on eBay to see what similar tubs are selling for.

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:34:58 +0000

I am sorry for the delayed response. I just saw your post. Subway Ceramics http://www.subwaytile.com

By: doug fasse

doug fasse — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:58:11 +0000

i have a set tub and would like to know what its worth

By: Elinor Parker

Elinor Parker — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:12:34 +0000

Looking for unbevelled white tiles for an Art Deco bathroom and checkered moulded dao. Any suggestions?

By: me-again77

me-again77 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:54:09 +0000

I’m pretty sure the bowl in the first pic. is simply in lieu of an actual shower- one stands(or sits) in the tub, pours water over oneself, then soaps up, then pours water again to rinse! Strangely similar to an Asian style sitz(sp?) bath.