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Throughout the country districts, one of the great needs of the residences--a convenient bathtub--is seriously felt. The absence of this adjunct is felt in every household; for there are no water mains in the roadways, no sewers to carry away the waste, no gas to heat the water. As for heating the water by the tea-kettleful on the kitchen stove, and carrying it to the tub, that is too tiresome, and destroys the anticipated pleasure. In the accompanying illustration it is shown how up-to-date facilities for a bath may be secured at a reasonable cost; given, first, a good soft water supply from well or cistern near the house, and secondly, deftness of the householder's hands to screw the pipes together, from the water supply to the tub. All of these conditions fell to the lot of the writer in his country house, within twenty miles of New York city; and the illustrations show how the idea may be realized without the aid of a plumber. The cost (completed as shown) to the writer, was a trifle less than 75. This outlay, for a permanent luxury, seems easily within reach of many on farm or roadside. Having decided upon the location of the tub, in the interior of the house, measure accurately the distance from the water supply, where a 11,4-inch water pipe can be laid, under the ground, through the side of the house or cellar, up to the floor on which the tub is to be located, and thence to an outlet into a suspended metal tank holding 30 gallons of water, and an additional pipe reaching from the bottom of the first tank to an auxiliary tank, as shown, having a capacity of about 20 gallons. The necessary elbows, stop cocks and waste cock for emptying the pipe of water during the winter's cold must also be allowed for. Send these measurements, with a rough diagram of the different courses and turns of the pipe, giving the lengths of each course in feet and inches, to some large plumbers' supply dealer for estimate of cost, including a porcelain-lined tub and copper-bottom, galvanized tank, the estimate to include threaded ends of pipe, threaded elbows, and cocks, all ready to screw together. The tanks for water should be for the larger 14 x 16 x 31 inches, the other 14 x 16 x 20 inches, cross-braced on the inside both ways to prevent bulging, a tell-tale V:,-inch lead pipe soldered into a hole 1 inch from the top and long enough to pass through the side of the house, to overflow 230 Scientific American CTOBER I, 1904. when full, and ears on the sides, as shown, far suspension to it-inch hooks that pass up through ceiling and bolt through crosspieces of wood, rest-. ing on the garret joists. The tub shown is 5 feet long, of the usual standard make. Have a piece of lead pipe 3 feet long, soldered to the bent outlet of the tub, to run the waste water out of doors; suspend the tanks as shown, with their tops on the same level, so that both tanks may fill at the same time; then close the cock in the pipe to the smaller tank, keeping the cold water in it to temper the hot water when it is run into the tub. The connection of the iron water pipe with the pump is accomplished by the use of a piece of rubber hose, to one end of which the usual force and lift pump coupling is attached, the other end being wired on to the iron water pipe terminal. The hose may be loosened from the pump and held aside on a hook, to permit the usual uses of the pump. The larger tank of water is heated by a single blue-flame, wickless kerosene heater. If there be a small stove in the room, used ordinarily for keeping the chill out of the room in the winter time, a portion of the heat of the fire may be utilized to heat the water, without using the kerosene heater. This is done by having a piece of -inch iron water pipe, 40 inches long, bent over like a hairpin, and having two rubber-hose connections with tank, by means of two unions, located, one near the bottom and the second a few inches above it. This insures circulation, and very hot water in the winter, when the bent pipe has been lowered into the fire, through hole or holes in the stove cover, as shown. With either of these two arrangements of water heating, both simple, and of little expense, any temperature of water desirable for bathing purposes may be had. When all is in complete working order, as pictured in our illustrations, many happy hours may be healthfully passed in its pool. It is probably unnecessary to call attention to the many accessories which add to the comfort of the tather; such as the movable soap dish, sponge holder, holding bar, towel rack, looking glass, etc.
