Hygiene has always held its importance, and bathing has been an integral part since the beginning of human life. Bathtubs have been the epitome of luxury since they were first invented in America in 1883 by an industrialist, John Michael Kohler, a resident of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Ask any dealer or professional of bathtub refinishing in Washington DC or anywhere else; bathtubs have become something that everyone loves to have in their bathrooms to spend some alone time letting go of all the pent up anxiety and stress. And something that became so popular was bound to evolve with time. That is what happened with Evolution of Bathtub Designs; they grew.
From Then To Now Evolution of Bathtub Designs
Antebellum Scrubs
The first models of bathtubs before indoor plumbing, bathtubs were a light container, and some even came with wheels. They were made of sheet copper or zinc. They were movable and could be carried outside. However, this design did not become as popular as the 1909 tinware plunge bath, which had its bottom covered by wood and was painted green. If you want to renovate your bathroom, you can take some inspiration from Gold Coast bathroom renovators.
Glaze Crusades
Cast iron tubs were being porcelain enameled for a glazed look, which didn't last long due to iron expansion. Soon they were replaced by tubs made of ceramic, and its surface was glazed. However, they were heavy, which made them hard to transport, thus making way for concrete porcelain tubs. These had smooth surfaces that were easy to clean and could be molded into beautiful shapes. Soon the bathtubs became an eminent part of bathroom decors.
High-Tech Tubs
Porcelain tubs ruled the bathrooms in the early 20th century, but they started to vanish after World war one and were replaced by clawfoot type bathtubs, and the following types of tubs took over:
Cast-Iron Tub- Due to reduced production costs in 1920, porcelain covered cast iron tubs became popular. They had a round bottom, rigid, and a sloping head.
Roman Tub- Roman tubs had a sloping side and a flat bottom. It initially had feet, which were later replaced by a ring base.
Recess Tub- It had a rectangular edge for the tub to be fixed along the wall or in a corner.
The Built-in Tub- The built-in tubs were made with an enclosed side that covered the tub's nefarious walls.
Color Craze
Near the end of the 1920s, bathrooms started to be snobbery for the rich, and bathroom décor came into existence. And those white bathtubs were impossible to work with. Thus, it paved the path for the need for colored bathtubs to coordinate with the décor. The fixtures showed up in light pastels but later came more dramatic colors like Royal blue, Chinese red, Mint green, etc.
Summary
Bathtubs started from cast iron horse troughs, and now they are becoming more and more aesthetic. You can get bathtubs in any shape, size, or color you want. There are even customized bathtubs available that you can get personalized. It has come a long way, and let's see what the future has in store for us.
