Comments on: Rage against the Bathing Machine

By: Heather M

Heather M — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:34:42 +0000

I have a painting my great, great grandfather made of bathing machines in Wales, dated 1900. I believe their use was described in one of Jane Austen’s books, but I can’t remember which one.

By: E

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:05:46 +0000

I think the Queen Victoria movie was “Mrs. Brown”.

By: Mangesh Hattikudur

Mangesh Hattikudur — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:48:54 +0000

Hannah: you’re right… Wikipedia has a note about how when men and women started going to the beach together, the machines were still in existence. But I think that only lasted a few years.

By: Marty

Marty — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:50:29 +0000

I love this lesson on culture differences from history. As we know from above, the Victorian attitude was rather prudish so when they saw Japanese people bathing with one another (girls and guys) they were quite appalled. When the Japanese found out, they were quite appalled as well! They thought the West was sick for involving sexual thoughts in bathing. Apparently, they thought the West was obsessed with sex and couldn’t even bath without thinking about it!

By: Marty

Marty — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:45:36 +0000

I volunteer at a museum and there was a picture of these bathing machines. It took a guest to final give me the answer to, “What the heck is that?” Apparently, there are featured in a movie about Queen Victoria.

By: hannah

hannah — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:24:18 +0000

Hey, I saw one of these in a photo within a book about the history of swimsuits.. only I think there were both men and woman in it.. maybe that was the said “dipper” great post!