MARCH OF TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 14, 16 July 1937, Page 14

MARCH OF TIME

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CHANGE IN BATHROOMS

The bathroom of today, as contrasted with older: types, of bathrooms, affords evidence of the progress made in respect of this part of a home, states a Sydney.writer. In our grandparents' days,—especially in colder countries like the British Isles—the majority of houses were built without bathrooms. That day has gone. . :

Until quite recent times; nevertheless, " homebuilders regarded the bathroom as the least important section of the home, to-be, formed from.any odd nook or corner large'enough to: contain an iron or wooden tub or cutdown barrel. Then followed the elongated galvanised iron bath, which was not necessarily even a fixture in the room. Gradually the quality of bath improved, and in the course of time a washbasin was added to the bathroom.

Plere again was ample scope for ugliness. It seemed to be part of the ritual of, the plumber to construct a maze'of lead pipes under. the basin. .When hot water ,was added to the bathroom amenities, sundry additional pipes had to ba interlaced with the network.

All that, happily, is. passing away. The bath is now built into the tiles. The basin is mounted on a pedestal which conceals: the plumbing. No pipe is shown. The taps simply start straight up from the basin or straight out from the tiled wall. The effect is completely pleasing. .

Indeed, a modern bathroom usually evokes more favourable comment from a visitor who is being shown over a house or flat than any other room. Light from tinted windows plays on coloured tiles, marble, glassware, stainless steel, or chromium. Glass or metal towel-racks, mirrors,, and glass shelves are part,of the ensemble. Hot water is available at three points—the - washbasin, the bath tap, and the shower.

The source of the hot water is concealed. It may .be in a storage tank in the ceiling or in the kitchen, where a. tiny gas flame burns continuously at a heater. The increased water pressure which follows the turning on of the water tap serves to turn up the gas, so that the water is hot as it flows into bath or basin. ■

Actuaries of life assurance organisations say that'the life of men has increased during, the past 40 years from 47 to 59, and. of women from 50 to 63. They attribute, this fact largely to increased standards of comfort. It would be interesting to;', know how far-the evolution of the bathroom has dnflu : enced:this trend. :