One week into the bathroom reno and we’ve seen some really reassuring progress! And seem to have lucked into a really great builder (George) to boot.

He and his team have achieved heaps a week in (and they only work weekdays).

Here are some progress snaps!

Day 1

We come home to a stripped bathroom

Luckily no water damage to the interior walls – good old Oregon (or Douglas Fir) timber has held up well for 90 odd years – just a little dusty

The old pink tub – Malleys – they don’t make ’em like that any more:

You can see on top the original ceiling sheet – plaster and horsehair – a common early 20th century technique

A bathtub digression

‘Malleys’ wasn’t a brand I was familar with but Papa Amos mentioned it was ‘well-known.’  So a little online digging tells me that Malleys invented the Esky!

The auto box looks fine, picnic kettle looks scary

The original Esky Auto Box was released by Malleys in 1952 but the company’s history goes back to 1884. Started by Francis Malley a sheet metal worker from Gosford, his twin sons took over the business following WWI.

Malleys made absolutely everything including bathtubs.

If it was metal Malleys probably made it

They had a factory at Auburn which (burnt down in the 1950s and was later rebuilt) and is probably the origin of our old tub.

Fire Guts Factory At Auburn – FIREMEN play a hose on a fire which destroyed a block at Malleys Ltd.

They also knew how to rock a float if their participation in the 1938 Australian sesquicentenary* ‘Parramatta celebrations’ is anything to go on:

It’s like something from the future! or more accurately the Art Deco era

(*since European arrival).

Despite fielding a workforce over 2,200 following WWII and a lucrative deal to supply Whirlpool it was all over for the Malley family by the late 1970s. Which explains why I’ve never heard of them.

The business was taken over by Simpson  in July 1979 and was de-listed in 1983, but they had a great run for 99 years.

If you ever find a Malleys Sunrise milk can on the side of the road hang on to it – it could be worth something as they are collectors’ items these days:

Malleys 1930s milk can advertisement

Back to the reno!

Day 3

THE BOSS assesses the new tub – ‘it’s no Malleys, but it’ll do’

The rest of our fixtures and fittings have been delivered (and carefully checked by George)

New toilet is ‘roughed in’ – that lino tile has gotta go though

Plumbing for bath and shower is in; plus the recessed shower shelf

George also left the loo outside the bathroom…temporarily of course…

Day 4

Plumbing in place, and spot for the mostly recessed shaving cabinet

Amazing progress at end of Day 4 – villaboard is up, plumbing in place, ceiling and electricals sorted, toilet, sewer and floor was plumbed in, no tiles and a new cement floor – oh and the tub is in!

We couldn’t keep the cats off the wet cement for the new flooring – so we have some little time capsule paw prints for the ages.

Day 5 – 6

Day 5 was really to let that cement dry which took us into Day 6 – bath build complete, shaving cabinet recessed in, lights and the first coat of waterproofing!

Interestingly the waterproofing doesn’t smell at all which is a plus.

At this rate we might even be done in under 14 days!

Sources FOR THE BATHTUB DIGRESSION:

Pittwater Online
Trove