What is this mystery tiled-in bathroom receptor? Laura is stumped, and so am I. Do we have any experts out there who know for sure?
Laura writes:
Hi!
I’ve lived in my 1920’s apartment 20 years and have periodically researched this thing in the wall, which I assume would be a toilet paper holder, but have not been able to find one similar online.
I’d love to locate a piece that would work with it. Help appreciated! Laura
Wow, thanks! I can imagine the type of device that would go in but haven’t been able to locate anything.
Laura followed up and clarified that inside, there’s about an allowance of about 1.5” on either side.
Inside a a 1920s apartment bathroom… the way it’s tile it, it looks original to me. What could this be?
Jay says
It’s to conceal a small bottle of hooch during Prohibition.?. Seriously though, I agree with the others, tissue dispenser.
MrsNorris says
I believe it’s a tissue or paper dispenser. While we all love retro bathrooms, the reality is that our modern toilet paper is light years better than the paper towel-like stuff our grandparents used.
Angela says
I agree with tissue holder, the clearances are right and you would probably refill it by hand. If you know any fabricators I bet they could make you a simple plate with a spring to get it working again!
Ann says
I looked up Izal medicated toilet paper. It was available as a roll, or in a shallow boxed form. The center of the box could be opened to make a slot for withdrawing a sheet of the paper. The site I found showed a dispenser for the box. It looks similar to the size and shape of the mystery receptor installed in the 1920s green bathroom, but is wall hung, not built-in. The box is inserted into the top slot or a side slot. Could this be how the mystery receptor was used? I’m thinking that the box would be slipped in at an angle and then held in place by the 1.5” side areas behind the front wall. (???)
Robin, WA says
If it’s a tissue dispenser, its location near the door is kind of strange. I would expect something like that to be near the sink. Maybe seeing the layout of the bathroom would help.
beth says
Is is some kind of recessed grab bar to help you stand up?
Maybe she could have a vertical toilet paper holder 3d printed to fit in the slot?
Barbara Haschmann Williams says
Her “in-wall” bathroom oddity reminds me of the kind of facial tissue holder you would see in the wall of a hotel, the kind that a metal cover would fit over.
Marie Gamalski says
Facial tissue holder perhaps?? Does it open?
Ms. Vel-Vida says
My most educated guess is a tissue dispenser, but the spring mechanism to keep them pushed to the front is long gone. Check out the one on the link, about halfway down the page, still has the mechanism, slightly different size, but strikingly similar.
https://deabath.com/product-category/ceramic-accessories/
Pam Kueber says
I don’t want to ruin everyone’s fun guessing, but as soon as I saw your comment with the link, I jumped right into online research. Need to respond because I have like 10 tabs open on my computer that I need to close so I can write tomorrow’s story.
I believe you have hit right on it. Deabath.com to the rescue again.
Yes, I believe the recessed tiled-in container was made by APW Paper Co of Albany New York. They also were the makers of the Onliwon brand of toilet sheets. These tissues were NOT on a roll. They were folded. Like cheap paper napkins today. You stuffed the Onliwon toilet sheets into recessed receptables like Laura’s or, as you and the Deabath example suggest, there was a spring-loaded mechanism, now gone from Laura’s, to hold the paper in place. Over time, there were other designs of receptacles to hold the Onliwon folded toilet tissues.
Indeed, seems like back in the day, APW/Onliwon promoted these toilet sheets as a more economical alternative to rolls of toilet paper – which they apparently also sold/had patents for.
Some telling links:
Deabath’s example, as you have pointed out: https://deabath.com/product/antique-mortar-set-apw-paper-co-subway-tile-tissue-holder/
An old ad (for a gas station dispenser vs the earlier home model in Laura’s bathroom) that shows how you bought Onliwon toilet tissues in wrapped containers: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/15074302093
Another Onliwon ad: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/31310689431/
Image showing connecting between APW and Onlinwon: https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Onliwon&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj72sXt3KTgAhWs1FkKHaBwBE0Q_AUIECgD&biw=1396&bih=657#imgrc=0cxm1-CEX7AJLM:
When I was a child, my dad owned a Chevron station. I used to go into work with him all the time. This has sparked a memory: I am pretty sure that, even in the 1960s, he had a toilet tissue (rather than roll) dispenser like the one shown in these links.
Thank you, Ms. Vel-Vida!
Ms. Vel-Vida says
Oh this is even cooler than I thought, I love the local tie in to Albany (I’m from Schenectady), and it’s so fun to find history on something vintage manufactured locally. I can’t wait to check out the additional images!
Kersten says
I LOVE the name! The ads! Onliwon!
HA!
“Prevents waste”
Bathroom humor is my very favorite!
(Hi Pam! It’s been a while since I’ve posted!)
Pam Kueber says
Hi Kersten!
Dennis says
Kleenex? Book?