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?
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Bill says
I’ve ran across those tissue holders in houses built in East Texas from the 1870’s to the early 1920’s. Was told by a lady that grew up in one built in 1920 that the flat tissue packages were popular since one could slip a package into a purse or suit pocket to have on hand if a retail establishment’s restroom was out of paper or had nature call when traveling out in the boondocks. I think Kleenex still sells tissues in small flat packages.
DJ Sparkles says
Bill’s correct, and many of us still carry them! My mom always has a package in her purse, as I do when I travel, and I always have them in my car. When cleaning out my beloved step-mother-in-law’s house, there was a package in every purse (she was quite the lady!) Back in the day, women needed tissues for blotting their Love That Red lipstick, and a few other things we won’t mention, because we’re ladies and all. 😉
Kristin says
Bill- those “portable tissues” are still sold, and extremely popular- in Morocco, of all places. It’s called “Tempo”. They’re sold on eBay for exorbitant prices. Don’t waste your money.
I think- do not know for certain, that the slot is for magazines or- the catalogue everyone had in their bathroom in those days. Was it Sears & Roebuck? Montgomery Ward’s? This is my suspicion. The slot looks about the right size for one.
Speaking of “mystery slots” on a very old episode of House Hunters, one of the potential buyers, a young lady, demanded an older home with a laundry chute. No chute, no buy. She “found” one- that had a chute in the kitchen. I knew it was no laundry chute but an ASH shute (it being in the kitchen, and the slot being rather too narrow for garments to fit through) but if I were the realtor, I’d have thought “Customer is always right” and let her believe it was a laundry chute. (PS, I know House Hunters was fake & the house already chosen by the buyer, FYI)
This article and any homes from the ’20s: look for annunciator tubing or holes also. I would love to find an old home with those builtin, I suspect many very old homes already do, but they’re covered up from many past remodels and modernizing.
Michael says
I wrote earlier about the square TP in France. I did a quick check on Amazon.fr (French version of Amazon). This product is available and can be shipped to US…at a cost…of course! Do a search for “papier hygienique plat” and it will pop up. The pink Moltonel comes in reasonable quantity. The white is an industrial amount! Cost is about 25$–which will last….a LONG time…LOL…especially if no one uses it! You can have it shipped–the “prioritaire” price will automatically populate–which costs 100$, if you go ahead and select the continue to purchase option, the last screen allows you to change from prioritaire to “rapide” which is about 30$…
I used the site all the time–same company as US Amazon. If you have a US Amazon account, you can log into the French site with your US username etc. Takes all credit cards, PayPal etc…
Would make for a pretty expensive bunch of TP…but it would certainly start a lot of conversations!
Laura says
I would totally get if the device were still in tact that pushes them forward as they go. And I miss pink toilet paper! So miss that- considering a French order of pink TP for kicks.
Kristen says
Probably serves well as a handle for someone who needs a little extra handle…
Jackie D says
Yes, the wall slot was meant to hold “interfolded” toilet tissue-for dispensing one tissue at a time similar to a paper towel dispenser. It’s still sold here in the states under various names. Aspect and Georgia Pacific are two brands still sold today. You can find them on Amazon mostly sold by the case.
Pam Kueber says
You’re right, I see lots of varieties for sale on Amazon – the key would be finding a size that fits, though. Most of what’s sold today looks like it’s for larger-sized dispensers >> https://amzn.to/2SG7Xhn [affiliate link]
Mary Elizabeth says
I know also that in the 50s people smoked while in the toilet. This does not look like any of the built-in ashtrays I have seen, however. So I’m guessing folding TP is the answer. I ran across some in France in a dormitory in the 1960s, and it was very firm paper–sort of like butcher paper. We traveling students with tender tushes were warned to bring our own TP, so we brought it from the U.S.–took up half of one of my suitcases. 🙂