My grandmother had a smaller one than the one above. Her house had a bath. The galvanised one was used to put the Shallots in after we peeled them in October, then salt shook over the top which was then covered with fresh water left in front of the open fire to keep it warm. 24 hours later drained Shallots put in jars and her own made spiced vinegar added plus two teaspoons of soft brown sugar added this would keep the Shallots crisp.
When I was a nipper, I remember being bathed in the galvanised bath by my Mom in my Nan's kitchen, right in front of the Dometic stove in their old house in Aston. It was nice and toasty warm in there!
Any time the old Steptoe and Son show came on TV over the years, it always made me chuckle with old Albert in the tub with the pickled onions, when Harold walked in on him!
It is hard to believe those two couldn't stand each other in real life! What an act.
Nan died in 1956 when I was just 4 years old, but the memories of that old house and taking a bath in the kitchen, are etched in my memory as clear as ever.
I also remember my Dad taking a chamber pot down to the off license on Allesley Street for his Dad draught beer. I went with him a couple of times, watched the beer being pumped.