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Copper wash tub
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DescriptionCopper wash tubContributorTony Kokshoorn
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EventCopper wash tub
From Facebook
CommentsCaroline Dunlop
Growing up both of those were in our wash house.
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Very familiar with those objects. Saturday was lighting the copper. The concrete tubs had a wringer attached in the middle.
Marcy Robertson
Dad used the copper for making his brew and mum had the tubs for washing with I also used.
Sheryl Iraia
Used both
Terry Bradley
We had both in our house.
Jenny Bosley
Im 75 and remember those days. My brother Wayne and I used to bath in the sink.
Bronwen Skates
Parents had a wash house ( not Laundry back then lol) with the copper and concrete tubs. How mum managed the washing plus a Coalrange and a young family and baby plus toddlers . No driers either for Winter months. Mums back then didn't need Gyms they worked hard all day .
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales
Coykdnt d0 without them yrs ago clean the copper to cppk the ham in x
PJ Spence
In 68' - had them both in our Shakespeare St property - - -
Philip Joseph
We had them in Wellington, but my father used them for making home brew.
Geoffrey King
All the state Houses in Cobden had them in the 50's
Aileen Thornley
I just heard a story last week that In 1955 when our parents first got married, dad came home and told mum he had bought her a washing machine, she would have been very excited, he went outside and bought in a washboard, I suppose it was a washing machine of sorts
Jeannie Sales
Yep remember that well
Richard Stewart
Still got original wooden ones. + copper plus hand wringer ,
Rose Henham
I can remember having a bath in tub. A bit rough on the rear
Trish Rennie
Remember them well….and the muslin bags of blackberries suspended on a broom handle between the tubs …their juice dripping into a bowl ready for making jelly.
The “whites” soaking in a tub with the “blue bag” to keep them white.
The copper boiling to take the numerous bottles of Mums preserves…memories of Home
Aleck Byers
Also coalrange .. wringer on the muddke of the tubs
Marie Elliott
We had those.
Dave Millar
I remember both those things from growing up in the 50s. And the wringer washing machine of course.
Angela Enright
My mom had these plus an agitator ringer washing machine. White clothes went into the machine with the hot water from the copper with lux flakes then through the ringer in the first concrete tub filled with cold water with a bluo bag then through the hand ringer between the 2 tubs into cold water then back through the hand ringer into the washing basket
I loved helping my mum. Only got my hands caught in the ringer once
Dahl Stuart
Cooked the Xmas ham!
Lyn Walker
My nan had to use those, I remember the fire going in the copper, times were hard on women then. The easier it gets these days the lazier people become
Malcolm Hills
My late Grandma had both and always remember her doing the Xmas pudding in the Cooper.
Minna Rose Ahlers
So familiar parts of the washhouse. I haven't thought of them since 1970 but the sdvert bought it all back.
Eve Holley
Yep shure did
Paula Lister
After the fancy new machines, yep no one wants to wash know! lol
May be an image of laundromat
Patricia Stephens
We had boiler use sit in it in hot day. Mum would fill it up with cold water. Thought it was Kool as kid. No she didn't light it when we hoped in it lol Mum use do sheets in there. Plus we had those old tubs.
Geraldine Masters
My grandmother would boil all the tea towels and towels every so often so they would smell really nice
Maureen Shaw
My mum did her weekly wash. With copper and tubs. With s hand wringer on the centre.
When the washing wax pegged on the line. ( no. 8 wire). ?
Propped up with a wooden prop, the copper was filled with fresh water snd our weekly Bath began. Mostly all had fresh water. Maybe my big brothers shared. ?
We were always well fed, and clean.
Mum. Dad 5 kids. On $12 pounds a week. And mum saved up and they paid cash for their first house. I’m
Very proud of them.
Geraldine Masters
I remember them worked well and the washing always smelled of sunshine
Patricia Milne
We had the hand wringer that went over the things as well. Washing was hard work in those days.
Yvonne Lawson
Mum and Dad had both when we were young. Dad ended up cooking hams for the Butcher at Xmas.
Peter Chronican
Remember these well
Terry Bradley
We had both in our house.
Dorothy Wills
Had both of those when I got married 65 years ago that was all I had for 2 years and 2 kids for the washing
Roy Bright
how my grandmother did the washing down Preston rd when I was a kid until she got a wringer washing machine lol
Bevan Grooby
Yeap,remember them both,even seen the Christmas ham being cooked in the old copper.I used to use a copper while down on the farm to cook up Tucker for the dogs,they liked a bit of cooked food now and again.
Carol Buckland
Reminds me of our old wash house. Life is soo different to then. Good old times
Sharon Bennie
I remember the copper and tubs. There was a hand wringer on the middle divider of the tubs.
John Lester
Still using the copper insert in my garden.Was great for cooking crayfish.Tubs handy for growing mint.
Keith Norton
Saw a picture once both tubs full of West Coast whitebait
Frank Hillier
Yes cut the wood many times for the copper and every Sunday afternoon for a bath
Aileen Thornley
Remember them well, clothes washed in the Miss Simplicity washing machine, through the wringer into the rinse tub, back through the wringer then into the second rinse then back through the wringer into the basket onto the line.Marie Elliott
We had those.
Geraldine Masters
My grandmother would boil all the tea towels and towels every so often so they would smell really nice
Geraldine Masters
I remember them worked well and the washing always smelled of sunshine
Frank Hillier
Yes cut the wood many times for the copper and every Sunday afternoon for a bath
Geoffrey King
All the state Houses in Cobden had them in the 50's
Robin Whyte
Geoffrey King railway houses had the concrete tubs as well remember them well plus mum had a wringer washing machine
Roy Bright
how my grandmother did the washing down Preston rd when I was a kid until she got a wringer washing machine lol
Minna Rose Ahlers
So familiar parts of the washhouse. I haven't thought of them since 1970 but the sdvert bought it all back.
Patricia Stephens
We had boiler use sit in it in hot day. Mum would fill it up with cold water. Thought it was Kool as kid. No she didn't light it when we hoped in it lol Mum use do sheets in there. Plus we had those old tubs.
Myron Caldwell
We had one of each out at Inangahua Camp. Used the copper to heat the water for baths even during the war. When I started paid work at the telphone exchange I bought one on TP from Bill Schroeder. It was an agitator one and went unttil she died almost 50 years later. the modern ones aren't designed to last like that nowadays.
Danny Beattie
My job to get the fire going in the morning before school so mum could do the washing. Bloody great when we got a washing machine.
Bronwen Skates
Parents had a wash house ( not Laundry back then lol) with the copper and concrete tubs. How mum managed the washing plus a Coalrange and a young family and baby plus toddlers . No driers either for Winter months. Mums back then didn't need Gyms they worked hard all day .
Lynda Marley
Grandkid in the tub 2005? Sue Glanville
May be an image of 1 person
Trish Rennie
Remember them well….and the muslin bags of blackberries suspended on a broom handle between the tubs …their juice dripping into a bowl ready for making jelly.
The “whites” soaking in a tub with the “blue bag” to keep them white.
The copper boiling to take the numerous bottles of Mums preserves…memories of Home
Marion Robina Hogarth
My mother did the washing for a family of seven using the copper and the concrete tubs. How lucky are we now with automatic machines. I still remember how delighted she was when one of my brothers had saved up and bought her a second hand wringer washing machine, how it made her life easier
Suzanne Hall
Yes didn't have one, but bet the clothes would've been very clean too!! Super hard though, tough ladies back then, People
Jennifer Findleton
We had both in our house when I was young,
Marlene Green
Remember the scrubbing board . I wish we could still buy them!
Jeannie Sales
Yep remember that well
Lyn Walker
My nan had to use those, I remember the fire going in the copper, times were hard on women then. The easier it gets these days the lazier people become
John Lester
Still using the copper insert in my garden.Was great for cooking crayfish.Tubs handy for growing mint.
Growing up both of those were in our wash house.
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Very familiar with those objects. Saturday was lighting the copper. The concrete tubs had a wringer attached in the middle.
Marcy Robertson
Dad used the copper for making his brew and mum had the tubs for washing with I also used.
Sheryl Iraia
Used both
Terry Bradley
We had both in our house.
Jenny Bosley
Im 75 and remember those days. My brother Wayne and I used to bath in the sink.
Bronwen Skates
Parents had a wash house ( not Laundry back then lol) with the copper and concrete tubs. How mum managed the washing plus a Coalrange and a young family and baby plus toddlers . No driers either for Winter months. Mums back then didn't need Gyms they worked hard all day .
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales
Coykdnt d0 without them yrs ago clean the copper to cppk the ham in x
PJ Spence
In 68' - had them both in our Shakespeare St property - - -
Philip Joseph
We had them in Wellington, but my father used them for making home brew.
Geoffrey King
All the state Houses in Cobden had them in the 50's
Aileen Thornley
I just heard a story last week that In 1955 when our parents first got married, dad came home and told mum he had bought her a washing machine, she would have been very excited, he went outside and bought in a washboard, I suppose it was a washing machine of sorts
Jeannie Sales
Yep remember that well
Richard Stewart
Still got original wooden ones. + copper plus hand wringer ,
Rose Henham
I can remember having a bath in tub. A bit rough on the rear
Trish Rennie
Remember them well….and the muslin bags of blackberries suspended on a broom handle between the tubs …their juice dripping into a bowl ready for making jelly.
The “whites” soaking in a tub with the “blue bag” to keep them white.
The copper boiling to take the numerous bottles of Mums preserves…memories of Home
Aleck Byers
Also coalrange .. wringer on the muddke of the tubs
Marie Elliott
We had those.
Dave Millar
I remember both those things from growing up in the 50s. And the wringer washing machine of course.
Angela Enright
My mom had these plus an agitator ringer washing machine. White clothes went into the machine with the hot water from the copper with lux flakes then through the ringer in the first concrete tub filled with cold water with a bluo bag then through the hand ringer between the 2 tubs into cold water then back through the hand ringer into the washing basket
I loved helping my mum. Only got my hands caught in the ringer once
Dahl Stuart
Cooked the Xmas ham!
Lyn Walker
My nan had to use those, I remember the fire going in the copper, times were hard on women then. The easier it gets these days the lazier people become
Malcolm Hills
My late Grandma had both and always remember her doing the Xmas pudding in the Cooper.
Minna Rose Ahlers
So familiar parts of the washhouse. I haven't thought of them since 1970 but the sdvert bought it all back.
Eve Holley
Yep shure did
Paula Lister
After the fancy new machines, yep no one wants to wash know! lol
May be an image of laundromat
Patricia Stephens
We had boiler use sit in it in hot day. Mum would fill it up with cold water. Thought it was Kool as kid. No she didn't light it when we hoped in it lol Mum use do sheets in there. Plus we had those old tubs.
Geraldine Masters
My grandmother would boil all the tea towels and towels every so often so they would smell really nice
Maureen Shaw
My mum did her weekly wash. With copper and tubs. With s hand wringer on the centre.
When the washing wax pegged on the line. ( no. 8 wire). ?
Propped up with a wooden prop, the copper was filled with fresh water snd our weekly Bath began. Mostly all had fresh water. Maybe my big brothers shared. ?
We were always well fed, and clean.
Mum. Dad 5 kids. On $12 pounds a week. And mum saved up and they paid cash for their first house. I’m
Very proud of them.
Geraldine Masters
I remember them worked well and the washing always smelled of sunshine
Patricia Milne
We had the hand wringer that went over the things as well. Washing was hard work in those days.
Yvonne Lawson
Mum and Dad had both when we were young. Dad ended up cooking hams for the Butcher at Xmas.
Peter Chronican
Remember these well
Terry Bradley
We had both in our house.
Dorothy Wills
Had both of those when I got married 65 years ago that was all I had for 2 years and 2 kids for the washing
Roy Bright
how my grandmother did the washing down Preston rd when I was a kid until she got a wringer washing machine lol
Bevan Grooby
Yeap,remember them both,even seen the Christmas ham being cooked in the old copper.I used to use a copper while down on the farm to cook up Tucker for the dogs,they liked a bit of cooked food now and again.
Carol Buckland
Reminds me of our old wash house. Life is soo different to then. Good old times
Sharon Bennie
I remember the copper and tubs. There was a hand wringer on the middle divider of the tubs.
John Lester
Still using the copper insert in my garden.Was great for cooking crayfish.Tubs handy for growing mint.
Keith Norton
Saw a picture once both tubs full of West Coast whitebait
Frank Hillier
Yes cut the wood many times for the copper and every Sunday afternoon for a bath
Aileen Thornley
Remember them well, clothes washed in the Miss Simplicity washing machine, through the wringer into the rinse tub, back through the wringer then into the second rinse then back through the wringer into the basket onto the line.Marie Elliott
We had those.
Geraldine Masters
My grandmother would boil all the tea towels and towels every so often so they would smell really nice
Geraldine Masters
I remember them worked well and the washing always smelled of sunshine
Frank Hillier
Yes cut the wood many times for the copper and every Sunday afternoon for a bath
Geoffrey King
All the state Houses in Cobden had them in the 50's
Robin Whyte
Geoffrey King railway houses had the concrete tubs as well remember them well plus mum had a wringer washing machine
Roy Bright
how my grandmother did the washing down Preston rd when I was a kid until she got a wringer washing machine lol
Minna Rose Ahlers
So familiar parts of the washhouse. I haven't thought of them since 1970 but the sdvert bought it all back.
Patricia Stephens
We had boiler use sit in it in hot day. Mum would fill it up with cold water. Thought it was Kool as kid. No she didn't light it when we hoped in it lol Mum use do sheets in there. Plus we had those old tubs.
Myron Caldwell
We had one of each out at Inangahua Camp. Used the copper to heat the water for baths even during the war. When I started paid work at the telphone exchange I bought one on TP from Bill Schroeder. It was an agitator one and went unttil she died almost 50 years later. the modern ones aren't designed to last like that nowadays.
Danny Beattie
My job to get the fire going in the morning before school so mum could do the washing. Bloody great when we got a washing machine.
Bronwen Skates
Parents had a wash house ( not Laundry back then lol) with the copper and concrete tubs. How mum managed the washing plus a Coalrange and a young family and baby plus toddlers . No driers either for Winter months. Mums back then didn't need Gyms they worked hard all day .
Lynda Marley
Grandkid in the tub 2005? Sue Glanville
May be an image of 1 person
Trish Rennie
Remember them well….and the muslin bags of blackberries suspended on a broom handle between the tubs …their juice dripping into a bowl ready for making jelly.
The “whites” soaking in a tub with the “blue bag” to keep them white.
The copper boiling to take the numerous bottles of Mums preserves…memories of Home
Marion Robina Hogarth
My mother did the washing for a family of seven using the copper and the concrete tubs. How lucky are we now with automatic machines. I still remember how delighted she was when one of my brothers had saved up and bought her a second hand wringer washing machine, how it made her life easier
Suzanne Hall
Yes didn't have one, but bet the clothes would've been very clean too!! Super hard though, tough ladies back then, People
Jennifer Findleton
We had both in our house when I was young,
Marlene Green
Remember the scrubbing board . I wish we could still buy them!
Jeannie Sales
Yep remember that well
Lyn Walker
My nan had to use those, I remember the fire going in the copper, times were hard on women then. The easier it gets these days the lazier people become
John Lester
Still using the copper insert in my garden.Was great for cooking crayfish.Tubs handy for growing mint.
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West Coast New Zealand History (30th Apr 2025). Copper wash tub. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 22nd Mar 2026 09:16, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34664