Is it a tub? Is it a shower base? YES. I went to an estate sale last Thursday. A lovely, rambling mid century colonial-ranch… all picket-fence Americana-like… quite sweet. The two bathrooms upstairs were pastel delights — but the real prize was a small bathtub / shower receptor. I have seen these small tubs in old marketing materials, for example, in this 1949 Crane bathroom fixture catalog. In my experience, they are harder to spot in the wild.
Alice’s little bathtub — which I originally called a “Cinderella bathtub” — she called it her “little lady’s tub — looks to fit in the category of receptor tub as well. Hey, read on — Alice’s looks like a Neuvogue to me!
Why such a small bathtub? This seems to me to be a terrific idea if you don’t have much space… if adults prefer to shower… but there still needs to be a bathtub for a child.
The Crane brochure explains:
Requiring minimum space for installation, the Lahoma bath provides facilities for feet, sponge or shower bathing.
The Lahoma tub in the brochure measured 42″ wide by 31″ to the wall and was 12″ deep. It even had a little seat. A “mini Cinderella” bathtub!
Above: A second bathtub in the 1949 Crane catalog was also billed as a receptor tub. The Neuvogue‘s proportions — 48″ across, 41″ to the wall — were more “Cinderella bathtub”-like. It is billed as having enough space for real bathing (for an adult, presumably).
At the time I originally published this story in 2013, the Kohler Mayflower was still for sale — it had the receptor look, its measurements were 48″ x 44″. It is now discontinued:
As I recall, Eljer (I *think*) still offered a receptor bathtub until the early(ish) 2000s. But then it disappeared.
This story gets filed under Bathrooms/Tubs, Bathrooms/Shower Bases and Woddities, all three!
UPDATE: Read this story — Understanding potential lead hazards in old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any age — which raises awareness regarding the potential for lead dust exposure from old tubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any age. Get with your own properly licensed professional to assess your own situation regarding this and other potential hazards in old homes and materials. Be Safe / Renovate Safe.
Terri says
I have one of these (in pink of course) in the house I maintain for a disabled family member. They also came in triangular shape for corner showers. Beyond awesome.
Kate says
Sounds neat Terri!
LB says
I have something that looks like the Lahoma in the upstairs bath in my 1941 Cape, except the dimensions are slightly smaller (39″ wide by 29″ to the wall by 11″ deep). It’s white and it’s the only original feature in that bathroom (previous owners remodeled in the 80s). We only use it as a shower. I think the low height would make it a little awkward for bathing a child since there’s nothing to lean against when you’re kneeling outside the tub. I cut down a vinyl shower curtain liner and regular fabric shower curtain to fit. I used the extra fabric to make a matching valance for the bathroom window. I love that it leaves room in our bathroom for both a linen closet and a clothes closet–if there was a regular tub in there we’d lose the clothes closet. We do have a full size tub in the first floor bathroom. Wish I knew how my bathroom originally looked!
DavidF says
Had one of these in the first house I lived in when I was a toddler. Never knew it had a name other than “little bathtub.” My parents refurbished a small farmhouse in the early ’60s that had supposedly been built in the 1840s and never had indoor plumbing. They only had space for the tiniest bathroom possible in a house that essentially had no space set aside for a bathroom, so that probably explains why they went with it.
Eunice Ibarra says
We have a white Neuvogue in our Pink Bath and I LOVE IT! That was one of the selling points in our 1955 Home.
Pamela Enright says
A receptor tub, know I now what our tub is called! Our house was built in 1879, we know a woman who said when her parents bought the house in the 1950’s the bathroom only had a toilet and sink, her father installed this tub when I tell people our tub is only 36″ by 36″ they can’t believe it!
Susan says
We grew up with one, complete with the corner seat, and it is still there! My parents built a small cape cod style house in 1959. The upstairs had the bathtub installed but the bathroom was not completed until the early 70’s. Until that time, it was the “sewing room” and that tub was a favorite hide and go seek spot!
Becky says
My grandparents had one of those in their master bath. Their bedroom was an addition my step-grandfather had built onto the 1950’s ranch in the late 60’s. If memory serves, it was harvest gold.
Ashley Gorzelic says
Hi – I’m in the process of purchasing a home that was built in 1960 and has the original blue bathroom (minus original toilet). It has a tub just like this one that you’ve posted and it is blue with a seat area similar to neuvogue 2-50. The whole bathroom is original blue vanity original tile work and it’s immaculate. I’d be happy to photograph it for your page if you’d like. I was actually searching and found this page when I was looking at how to preserve my new classic bathroom.
Mr Kim says
Here in Europe they were quite common until the 80s, I seem to recall. They were called «half tubs» in some countries. Nowadays they are considered d### and even h###, so everybody replaces them for shower bases forgetting that sinks are too small to wash blankets, curtains, carpets, etc. (if they’re made of a washable fabric, that is). And, yes people sat down inside à la Indian and had… er… half baths.
sam says
and saved water, and had enough hot water leftover for a shower or for someone else. There’s a lot of good reasons for these. Although for soaking, nothing beats a deep, but small footprint japanese bathtub – they are fantastic and going in my house one day when I redo the master bath. if you havent seen them, they are deep, usually have abuilt in seat and the water comes up to your shoulders, your neck if you scooch down some. (and I’m 6 ft)
Chelsea says
I came across one of these during an estate sale in Florida in a cheery yellow color! It was positioned in a daisy-themed bathroom meant for kids. It was all original tile work too :-).