Reader Chris gets major snaps for finding this vintage toilet seat designed just for men. Note, that while I find this beyond-fascinating — and it would likely make my top-10 wild and wacky retro items ever, if I bothered to rank — I do not approve at all. Why?
Because it is very bad feng shui to leave your toilet seat open. Very very bad. Wealth-energy — that is: money — flows right down that open drain.
For example, everyone over on the Forum knows: No photos of open toilets allowed. Deleted — without notice. Close your toilet seats, people!
Anyway back to this amazing toilet seat. Chris writes:
I thought I’d share a great find I made today. It’s a toilet seat designed for MEN! It holds in the “UP” position unless you fold it down (springs back up when you get up too). Original packaging. Made from something called OLSONITE. It’s a heavy plastic. The chrome hinge is spectacular. Bret at Old Portland Hardware and Architectural had it. I was either going to try it out or sell it. When it fit b\ y 1940 period Wellworth toilet it was a keeper. Standard seats did not fit it so the last one had to have the top removed. Much improved however you do have to realize that it is spring loaded and will hit the porcelain lid if you don’t get up slowly! 🙂 Feel free to share on your site. I’ll get you the photos of the countertop display soon. -chris
Countertop display? For this seat? Yes! Send pics!!! Thank you, Chris. This really is cool — American ingenuity at its finest. Something *new* for men to play with, when they are in the bathroom.
Jeanne says
I would not like this one bit. Let’s just say it can be dangerous to have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and realize the seat is up. LOL
I have a reverse technology toilet seat. All you have to do is give the seat cover a little nudge and the lid slowly lowers itself all the way down (so it doesn’t fall). I have everybody trained and I live with all males.
Kersten says
Jeanne! There is a toilet seat lid that goes down that way – gentle with no slam noise! My mother in law has one!
Tut says
Yeah, these are for commercial use. My school had them. I don’t know how much information you want to hear, but the split is to prevent drips from landing on the seat. The spring-loaded feature? Maybe to help teach dumb little boys that this is a seat and should be down only when sitting. Me, I never had any problem knowing what the seat was for or that you’re supposed to close the lid afterward. It’s a lid. Use it. It drives me nuts when men and women (no, girls certainly are not the innocent sex when it comes to being neat) leave the seat or the lid up. Do they also leave their car door open after they’re done driving it?
Dave Peterson says
Amen. Our family has a closed seat policy. But virtually all guests to our house leave the lid up, including women. Not a big deal, but a little irritating. How hard is it to figure out that the lid exists for a reason?
kate mckinnon says
Open toilet seats are a dealbreaker for me too. Who wants to contemplate the interior of a toilet? I can’t even fathom people who leave it open as a matter of course.
Also mysterious and hard to live with are people who close the bathroom door when they leave, so that you think there is someone IN there.
In fact, I know people, even women, who leave the toilet seat up and close the door when they are done. My brain stalls out, trying to comprehend this.
pam kueber says
Bad feng shui also to leave the bathroom door open. Mal odors escaping into the living or sleeping space = bad.
Tut says
That rule I would mostly disagree with. A closed doors leads to confusion as to whether or not it’s in use. Some people don’t turn the light on, so you can’t use that as a signal. Also, for bathrooms where showers and baths are taken, a closed door traps moisture and can lead to mold and mildew. And if you’ve gone to all the work of decorating a really cool looking bathroom (pink or otherwise), you should show it off and not hide it!
pam kueber says
Get a bathroom fan. Crack the window. Knock.
kate mckinnon says
Actually, closed doors are simply awful for my own personal feng shui. I intensely dislike them. My chi bounces off the closed door and smacks me in the face. I prefer open views in all cases. All of my doors and windows stay open at all times, if possible.
But mostly I prefer knowing if anyone is in the dang bathroom. Closed doors make for needless confusion, especially in a house with one bathroom shared by several people.
ginny daley says
Being of the female persuasion, I don’t care for the spring mechanics, but I must say the metal hardware against the black seat is simply dashing!
Deborah says
Agree– Gorgeous hinge! Hinge looks better down, anyway.
Maryanna says
Open lids on toilets makes me crazy! My husband is about 99% trained, so I feel pretty successful in that regard!
In any case, I do love the chrome hinge…one day I’ll get around to replacing the lids on my two vintage toilets, and I’m going to try to find nice chrome hinges on them. (Both had gotten “stylish” 80s-era updates before we bought the house.)
june cahill says
Just a picky note – I think “Olsonite” may be what the “plastic” is called. I think when I lived in KS, in the mid-sixties, I went to a grade school that had these types of seats too! The school was built in the 50s. — OK, so that’s how old I am.
pam kueber says
I think you are absolutely right, June!
Charmaine Strysick says
The Olsonite brand was well known for their plastic seats, but in 2005 Bemis Manufacturing acquired the brand.
Olivia says
Cool in a kitchy sort of way, but I totally agree, toilet lids need to be down for cleanliness!
Urbanitra says
Not only is it bad feng shui, but this also allows the dog to drink from the toilet and various items to fall into the toilet. Lids are good.
Annie B. says
Love the slogan: “Tops for Bottoms”.
Maria Stahl says
We had something like that in one of the schools I attended. Very scary. 🙂