© vintage.es
To help women maintain their modesty and dignity, a simple contraption called the "bathing machine" was developed. A bathing machine resembled a wooden changing room commonly seen on beaches, but larger in size, and raised on wheels and with steps leading to the inside. The female bather would enter the small room of the machine while it was on the beach, wearing their street clothing. In the privacy of the machine, she would change into her bathing dress, which was exceedingly modest compared to today's standards, and place her street clothes into a raised compartment where they would remain dry.
The bathing machine would then be wheeled into the water by horses, and sometimes by human power. Once the carriage was far out, the bather would emerge from the box using a door that faced away from the prying eyes on the beach. Some machines were equipped with a canvas tent that could be lowered into the water creating a private bathing area for the swimmer. The swimmer was usually escorted by a strong woman, called the dipper, whose job was to assist the lady getting in and out of the machine. Pushing her customer into the water, and then yanking them out, which was not uncommon, was considered an acceptable part of the experience. If the bather could not swim, a strong cord was encircled around her waist and attached to the end of the van to ensure she was not swept away by the currents.
Once the bather is done, she would go back into the carriage, dry herself and change into her street clothes again. While she is changing, the bather could signal the driver with a small flag that she was ready to return back to the shore. The carriage would be then drawn back to the shore.
© vintage.es
© vintage.es
© vintage.es
© wondersinthedark.wordpress.comQueen Victoria’s personal bathing machine, restored and displayed at Osborne House where Victoria enjoyed family holidays.
Johnny Canuck is a fictional lumberjack and a national personification of Canada. He first appeared in early political cartoons dating to 1869 where he was portrayed as a younger cousin of the United States' Uncle Sam and Britain's John Bull. Dressed as ahabitant, farmer, logger, rancher or soldier, he was characterized as wholesome and simple-minded and was often depicted resisting the bullying of John Bull or Uncle Sam. He appeared regularly in editorial cartoons for 30 years before declining in usage in the early twentieth century.[1]
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