One of the most awesome things about our Retro Renovation community is how readers pull together to help each other find resources to get the job done. We constantly get tips from readers sharing their discoveries — like Carol’s recent comment on our story about vintage style shower doors — sharing her source for folding accordion shower doors.
Yes, Shower Solutions USA, Inc. still produces folding shower doors. This product today seems to mostly focused as a solution for those with mobility issues. But these folding shower doors also were a “thing” in postwar America — so they are great if you need a replacement for an existing system — or if you want this retro look!
Folding shower doors have vintage provenance:
We’ve seen these twice (at least):
Above: Carrie has a folding shower door in her time capsule Cinderella ranch house.
Above: And Mary Deluxe spotted this beauty in a time capsule house that she featured on her blog in 2009.
Where to buy folding shower doors today:
Shower Solutions USA, Inc. offers several models and sizes of folding shower doors. The doors are all made in America. The company has been in business since 2003 and has three employees.
From the Shower Solutions website:
MF Elite – this enclosure can be stored in either the open or closed position, allowing full and complete access to the bathing area… fanfold. Plus, its construction is easy to clean!
- Rigid PVC panels with integrated flexible hinges
- Full-length magnetic latching system
- Full access to bathing area
- Can be utilized on various radius units
- Spring-loaded roller system insures smooth, quiet operation.
- Ventilated for quicker, worry-free drying
Frame is made of high quality aluminum and the folding panels of a high-impact, shatter-proof plastic.
Our Shower Doors are very Safe. If a person were to slip and fall against a Shower Solutions USA door, it would flex to cushion the fall, helping to prevent more serious injury.
Available in Silver, Satin, and White Frames.
More stories about shower doors:
- 10 vintage shower doors help answer, what kind of shower door for my vintage bathroom?
- 10 NOS Tub-Master accordion-door shower doors for vintage travel trailer or home
- Sterling ‘Starscape’ — a fun retro shower door for a midcentury bathroom
- Japanese maple leaf shower doors in A. Quincy Jones 1968 house — delightful!
Helga Spence says
Where fo I find no frame, bi-fold doors for a tub/shower combo?
pam kueber says
I am not sure what you are looking for example. But try googling it.
LauraRG says
We have one in our 1961 house. It’s original to the house – translucent white vinyl with gold flecks. I don’t have a problem keeping it clean; I squeegee the walls and the doors after showering and every once in awhile I run a rag in the tracks, just as you would a glass shower door. I don’t use commercial cleaners on it, because I worry the vinyl might discolor. The only drawback is that the folds of the door do cut a couple of inches off the width of the shower. Very small price to pay for something this cool!
Joe Felice says
These were the bomb! I remember them well in our ’64 ranch.
Robin says
My mother-in-law still has these in her home in Geneseo, IL. They are not in the best of shape, so thanks to you and your article, I know what she’s getting for Christmas!
Marie says
We have these in our in our 1968 house and I love them. Ours operate very smoothly and haven’t collected mildew. I prefer them to glass or acrylic. They get completely out of the way if needed, though we do leave them mostly fully extended, which probably helps keep them clean. Glad to know they are still manufactured. Thanks.
Patricia says
They do the job for tight spaces. Hard to keep clean, can’t scrub them like a glass door.
Nancy says
My folks had one installed in 1969 and took it with them to their new house a few years later. We inherited the house. But the vinyl is now discolored and stiff.
Anne Batty says
The panels easily slide right out of the top of the frame. I’m here looking for replacement panels. The frame and hardware still work perfectly.
JKM says
When I was a child in the 1960s, my parents’ bathroom shower had this type of accordion door and, well, let’s just say I clearly remember it and my mother fighting constantly. It would sometimes stick in the tracks when opening or closing, was a mildew magnet, and hard to keep clean. Let’s just say she would have preferred something else.
Rudy says
I don’t recall ever seeing these things. They are so cool! I have to figure out a way to possibly use these. I wonder how they “feel” when they slide open or closed. Are they really solid and smooth feeling?
Carol Elliott says
Referring to your comments about the accordion shower door enclosures. These are ideal in small bathrooms where access into the tub / shower would not work with a swing out door, or room would be limited with a slider. I had one of these in my home that was destroyed by a fire in 9/14. It was original to the home built in 1972, and still operated well and looked good. The opaque plastic curtain material was easy to clean and remained flexible its entire life. I intend to put this same style back in, due to it not restricting movement in the small area where the tub and toilet are located. A slider would restrict arm movement while towel drying, while this collapsible style opens up area and makes it feel larger! My builder said he didn’t think you could still buy them, so I am having to find and purchase one for him. Hope this helps!
Anne Batty says
We have this type of shower door and yes, it does slide very easily even after all these years. One of the panels has a paint stain on it (I think it’s paint) and I am looking for somewhere to buy the replacement panels if possible. I realized not long ago that they slide right out of the top of the frame so replacing them will be easy.
Lori T says
Hi Pam/Kate! Love this article on the shower doors. Our 1957 home has the original Tub-Master Shower Door made in Orlando Fla. It’s an opaque white very heavy plastic type material and it’s trimmed in Aqua to match the Aqua shower enclosure. We need to replace two of the rollers on the bottom and thanks to your “sleuthing” we’ve found a resource for them. I appreciate all you do to help us in our never ending but fun quest of renovating our homes. Thanks again!