Doll House Tag #7

Bathing machines were roofed and walled little wooden huts on wheels. Popular from the 18th century until the early 20th century, to allow people at beaches to change out of their usual clothes, change into swimwear, and wade in the ocean.

Though the name puts one in mind of a mechanized device, a bathing machine was really nothing more than a wooden dressing room set up on two wheels. The interior was usually equipped with both an entry and an exit door.

The bathing machines would be rolled out to sea by either people or horses. Some were even rolled in and out of the sea on tracks. When bathing machine users were finished, they would raise a small flag attached to the roof to indicate that they wanted to be brought back to the beach.

Once mixed-sex bathing became socially acceptable, the days of the bathing machine were numbered.

Please use a firm and sturdy foundation to build your bathing machine upon and decorate it any way you prefer, using whatever you like as long as it follows the theme. Be sure to include a Tim Holtz paper doll, or, ANY paper doll of your choosing. Remember to cover the backside and include your name, the title of the swap and the date.

Just a reminder that the tag measures 4” x 6”, it will be in the shape of a house, and will have a hole punch at the top. The idea is to collect tags shaped like a house, and place them on a ring to form a booklet. Each participant will use the same size template. If you did not receive a template, reach out to me and I will snail mail you a copy.