Old claw-foots maybe... not so sure about the plain ones, though.
Ours are odd - the exposed flat side panel is cast as part of the bath, but there's no opposite side (hidden against the wall), so they must have been available in 'left' and 'right' configurations. (Well, that's not 'odd' because there must have been lots of them made, but I don't know why they didn't make a bath with a seperate side panel that you could put on whichever side you wanted.)
cheers
Jules
re: "...but I don't know why they didn't make a bath with a seperate side panel that you could put on whichever side you wanted."
Probably cheaper to just cast them in one piece.
Think TCO.
You'd have to add in inventory storage costs, packaging, shipping, cataloging, etc.
Then there be the attachment method to consider - another expense.
Besides, how would you design a cast iron tub that had a lip in each side so that either one could be installed against the wall and allow the wallboard to cover it? If the lip was part of the side panel, you'd have a seam that would have to be dealt with.
I would expect the lip to be part of the bath itself, with the top of the side panel(s) slotting into the underside of the lip and then secured at the floor level with a couple of screws (or clips if you wanted to be fancy). Maybe someone had a patent on that design or something, though.
I'm not sure that it causes an inventory headache - a buyer would just get a bath and a standard side panel (which will fit whichever side they want), so yes it's two things rather than one, but I don't think it's really different from having to stock two different all-in-one bath castings.
I have no idea what our baths have at the far ends, though - they're big baths (much longer than modern ones, which is nice) so have a wall at both the top and bottom. Maybe there's a built-in end panel at the bottom, but maybe not (there's certainly not one at the top). The fittings are all 1930's, but I'm not sure if the baths are the same age.
cheers
Jules
I had a piece rocket to the ceiling and knock me out. Do be careful.
re: "I would expect the lip to be part of the bath itself"
How could you have the lip on both sides of the tub?
Look here:
I know I wouldn't want to sit on it!
Besides the drain and overflow have to match your plumbing. You can't have a drain on both sides.
As far as inventory goes, with left and right hand tubs you have 1 size item requiring 1 size shelving and 1 size packaging. Only the labels are different.
20,000 tubs =3D 20,000 boxesWith a tub and side panel you need different storage set-ups for each item (extra cost), you need 10,000 of one size box and 10,000 of another - or styrofoam, or bubble wrap or whatever. (extra cost), you need different handling equipment, especially if we're talking robotic manufacturing and warehousing (extra cost), you need more complicated packaging if you are packing both parts in one outside box (extra cost). The list goes on.
However, all of that is a moot point since we still have the lip and drain to deal with.
You are ignoring the need for having the drain on either the left or right end depending on location. Left hand drain could not be just turned around to make it a right hand one. Your "finished" side would be against the wall.
Harry K
Forgot to include: I had to reject the first tub/shower unit they delivered because of that. They had ordered the wrong "hand".
Harry K
How hard are you people hitting this thing? Once I got the first little piece cracked off I was just letting the hammer hit the broken edge. pretty much of it's own weight and palm sized pieces simply dropped into the tub. There were pieces of the finish that spattered off but they were not flying around the room like M16 bullets. I was wearing my safety glasses but I wear them all the time when I am working anyway.
Wait... are we getting mixed up here? By 'sides' I'm talking about the longest sides, by 'ends' I mean the shorter "sides" at the head and foot of the bath...
That's my whole point, anyway - the old baths that I have can't be turned round to suit any location, because only one (long) side is covered (and maybe the bottom end too, but I can't see that), and it's a single-piece casting.
Having a seperate panel for a (long) side would mean one design of bath that could fit any location, with the panel attached by the installer to the exposed side, but there must have been a reason that they weren't designed that way; perhaps casting the bath with a little groove on the underside of the outer-edge lip that the panel could slot up into was too complex, or something (or it's an inventory thing as DD mentioned).
Another possibility is that they *only* offered the bath in the one configuration, and you were supposed to design the room around it. Seems unlikely, but who knows...
cheers
Jules
Standing next to the tub "apron or skirt", using a sledge.
I like to think of it just like someone who crawls under a vehicle, only supported by a jack. You'll hear them say " I do it all the time, and I'm still here". Being careless about something, doesn't take bravery or balls.
Personally, i've never been able to break one. (tried twice). But having said that, i know plenty of people on here will say yes, you can break it up with a sledge. So yes, I'd roll it up on its side away from the wall before starting the beating process. Wear safety glasses and ear plugs.
Accidents happen. Relating one insstance where it didn't is no proof of anything.
I spent two years busting up the concrete foundation of a schoolhouse. Once, and once only a chip hit my face and broke my glasses. Probably would have lost and eye except for the (non safety) glasses.
Wear safty equipment when busting up anything!!
Harry K
No, there is no confusion. Look at any tub and you will see one finished "long" side and one unfinished "long side" (same for ends, some only one finished some none). Try turning a Lefty that looks good that way and trun it around, now try to make that "panel' of yours look just as good as what was the finished side.
Well, if you can design a 'panel' that will be seamless or at least look as good as a seamless facing into the room....
Nope, the choice was to build 'lefts' and 'rights' or put a finished side all around.
Harry K
Hmmm...after a bit more thought...If a removable panel can be designed to look good then the real answer is to produce a tub with no sides or ends and provide one long panel and either one, two or no short panels. It would now fit any bath design. The 'appearance factor' should not be a hard problem to solve.
Harry K
You can watch the whole thing if you want, but the bathtub fun starts at about 5:00.
I still don't see how you would deal with the flange that goes on the "unfinished" side.
I am referring to the flange that gets covered by the wallboard...the flange shown up against the studs in this picture:
Yes, *exactly*. And I've seen lots of baths like that over in England. I've not seen them like that here in the US, but then I've not exactly been paying attention, either :-) It can certainly be done, has been done and is done, and it actually surprised me to find ones that weren't like that.
Yes, you end up with a seam down any exposed sides of the bath, but I don't think it's necessarily intrusive (and doesn't result in sharp edges etc.)
cheers
Jules
I'm not seeing how it's a problem - how's it any different between a bath that has integral side-panels and one that doesn't? The profile of the flange / rim / lip is still the same for both, and they'd both be sealed against the wall in the same way.
cheers
Jules
Yes, that is a major problem with his suggestion. We'll put it down to "design" :).
Harry K
The flange is typically molded onto the 2 ends and the "unfinished" side, as a single continous strip and an integral part of tub - no seam.
The wallboard comes down over the flange and the flange prevents water from gett "the top of the side panel(s) slotting into the underside of the lip"
What lip? The curved, finished lip that is on the finished side of today's single sided tubs? The lip on the side that we usually sit on?
OK, I'll give you that. Put a finished curve on both sides of the tub and allow the side panel to slip under it. Fine.
Now tell me how the flange that sticks *up* gets attached to the unfinished side without creating a seam that could allow water to get behind the tub?
Once again, look at the picture found here:
I'm not saying it can't be done, but I'm having trouble picturing how you would add a watertight flange when using a detachable side panel. Did you have something in mind that addresses that issue?
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