I've seen these in older movies/bathing areas. They look like a real blast, pardon the pun. They're quite rare as I understand. Anyone ever had the opportunity to use one? Thoughts?
Ribcage/Needle Shower
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strongenough78
Well-known member
Not sure exactly what you mean, I think I have an idea but don't want to jump to conclusions. However, if it is something sexual you are referring to, then this should have been posted in the Dirty Laundry forum, not here.
It's not sexual.
It was a type of shower popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century. They feature curved horizontal pipes (the ribcage) and a big shower head coming down from the ceiling. Think of it as the great-grandfather to today's multiple-head showers. Water from every direction!
Dave the Historic Preservationist
It was a type of shower popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century. They feature curved horizontal pipes (the ribcage) and a big shower head coming down from the ceiling. Think of it as the great-grandfather to today's multiple-head showers. Water from every direction!
Dave the Historic Preservationist
Clarification
Sorry for not being more descriptive last night but I saw an article about them but was tired.
I think they fall into the "what's old is new again" category. Ribcage/needle showers definitely aren't water/resource friendly as I've seen estimates you need at least a 70 US gal water heater for them to operate realistically, not to mention a septic tank would probably be a no no.
Other than the cost for a restored original or newly made reproduction, I think they'd be fun for the occasional use, like the large deep jet tubs that are popular now that are fun to use but whose owners realize after a while they are expensive to operate and therefore use them on only an occasional basis.
Anyone use one?
Sorry for not being more descriptive last night but I saw an article about them but was tired.
I think they fall into the "what's old is new again" category. Ribcage/needle showers definitely aren't water/resource friendly as I've seen estimates you need at least a 70 US gal water heater for them to operate realistically, not to mention a septic tank would probably be a no no.
Other than the cost for a restored original or newly made reproduction, I think they'd be fun for the occasional use, like the large deep jet tubs that are popular now that are fun to use but whose owners realize after a while they are expensive to operate and therefore use them on only an occasional basis.
Anyone use one?
Never used one, but there's a 75 or so year old house around the corner from me that has an original one in the master bath.
strongenough78
Well-known member
Oh ok. I am sorry about that lol. I thought you were talking about a bath house. My deepest apologies 
No offense taken.
You learn new things in the forums every week. If you aren't learning here, your ego is too big.
I prefer a clawfoot tub with a nice big rainshower shower head coming straight down from the ceiling.
Dave
You learn new things in the forums every week. If you aren't learning here, your ego is too big.
I prefer a clawfoot tub with a nice big rainshower shower head coming straight down from the ceiling.
Dave
None taken, agree with Volvoguy87
If I ever hit the lottery enough, I'd love to have a house with a few bathrooms outfitted in various eras, say early 20th, mid-century, current. This type of shower would definitely go in the early 20th-era one.
If I ever hit the lottery enough, I'd love to have a house with a few bathrooms outfitted in various eras, say early 20th, mid-century, current. This type of shower would definitely go in the early 20th-era one.
The music faculty offices at my college were located in a large older home across the street from campus. Upstairs, the luxuriously huge main bathroom had a tiled showerstall with shower jets "in the round" and a large "rainstorm" fixture on the ceiling. A person could really wet in a hurry, and with enough water pressure the experience could have been like being inside a dishwasher!
Apparently still made, though quite expensive...
in England.
If money were no object, a Catchpole & Rye outfitted bathroom would be sweet.
in England.
If money were no object, a Catchpole & Rye outfitted bathroom would be sweet.
if you want to see some of these in action, rent The Road to Wellville. It's a movie based on a book by TC Boyle about the health spa industry (!) in Battle Creek, MI at the turn of the century (the basis for Post and Kellogg's cereals). The movie is a romantic comedy...whoever thought that enemas could be funny!
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Funny, we saw a group of guys trying to set one up to sell at Brimfield a couple of weeks ago. They were having a hell of a time!
We went with Rich's grandparents to Castle In The Clouds in NH back about 20 years agio, and it seems to me the master bath had such a shower.
Chuck
We went with Rich's grandparents to Castle In The Clouds in NH back about 20 years agio, and it seems to me the master bath had such a shower.
Chuck
whirlcool
Well-known member
The more modern equivalent is to place multiple shower heads where you like them.
I heard somewhere that Elvis wasn't the cleanest of people so Priscilla had shower heads mounted in "strategic" spots in their shower to keep the king of rock n' roll clean when he showered.
I heard somewhere that Elvis wasn't the cleanest of people so Priscilla had shower heads mounted in "strategic" spots in their shower to keep the king of rock n' roll clean when he showered.
