I came across this old image the other day doing some browsing online of old bathtub photos. I had to laugh because this was the first time I had ever seen a vintage bathtub in a “graveyard” for bathroom parts.
Having traveled through many different locations during my life I have seen more auto junkyards than I care to count, but this was a first.
Several years ago, the owner of our company actually got his start by resurfacing those old clawfoot tubs by sanding them, using a durable undercoat of primer, and then finishing with a nice, shiny coat of white paint.
His business thrived for a few years as there were old tubs everywhere and people were using them for everything. Here are just a few of the places/uses the tubs were found:
- In open fields
- Watering troughs for animals
- Flower beds
- Outside old houses
- inside of houses that are falling down
- As signs on the side of the road
In many cases, all he had to do was drive up to a house that had one outside and the owner would gladly part with it. He would take it to his shop, refinish it and then sell it on ebay or some other site.
Over the years it has amazed me at both the creativity that some people employ and the waste by others. Though the image above is hilarious, it is sad that these were not recycled or used for more noble purposes. After all, these old tubs are made from iron and are quite heavy. In most cases, the absolute lightest tub you can find “out there” will be about 200 pounds or more. Today we have pedestal tubs that weigh as much as 450 pounds of porcelain-coated cast-iron.
Though I would not characterize myself as particularly “green” (though I do drive a Prius) I do not like to see things thrown out and wasted. So, I hope people become aware that recycling or repurposing is a great way to help future generations and save on raw materials.