A Brief History of the Bath Tub
In simple terms, a bathtub is a plumbing fixture primarily used for bathing.
While most modern day bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, there are bath
tubs made of wood and porcelain-coated steel. Older western style bath tubs are
usually made of galvanized steel or iron while traditional Japanese bath tubs
are usually made of wood.
What normally separates bathtubs from hot tubs or other such recreational
bathing amenities are the issues of depth and intended use. Generally, a bathtub
is placed inside of a bathroom either as a standalone fixture or even in
conjunction with a shower.
In the past, bath tubs were rectangular in shape. Thanks to the advent of
acrylic thermoformed tubs, the bath tubs of today now come in the shape of just
about anything. Today's bath tubs are usually white in color, but they also come
in other colors. Modern bath tubs also encompass an overflow and waste and may
even have taps mounted on them directly.
The end of World War I brought about a manufacturing boom to the United States
and with it a new room for the modern bathroom. Usually, bathrooms prior to
World War I were a converted bedroom or spare room, not a specially built room.
Complete with toilet, sink, and bathtub, the percentage of new homes with such a
bathroom would rise form a mere 1% in 1921 up to 100% by the end of the 20th
century.
Later on, bathroom changed even more when the once popular claw foot tub
transformed into a built-in tub. Such an enclosed style afforded for the much
easier preservation of the bathroom and with the advent of colored sanitary
ware, even more design options were available to the homeowner. It was in 1928
that the Crane Company introduced colored bathroom fixtures to the US market
which gradually led to the near demise of the claw foot style tubs. |
