Help! Bubble plumbing questions

[58BUBBLE]

The way my Bubble sits now it has one sink with two faucets. One of the faucets is directly from the hose hookup and only works with pressure. The other is a pump faucet that pumps directly out of a holding tank under the rear bed. This is the only tank in my Bubble. The toilet has been removed along with any tank, pump or other accessories that would have been there originally.
Here are my questions:
1. Was there originally a pump that would have run the sink and toilet?
2. Obviously there was originally a waste holding tank, where was this located?
3. Was the tank under the rear bed the only fresh water tank originally?
4. Would it be better to just put in an electric porta-potty?
Basically, as you can see, I am looking for someone who can explain the entire original system and how it worked. Also please give suggestions as to the best way to redo my system if necessary.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[RichardT]

There would have been no water pump, just a pressurised tank (it uses air pressure to force water out) you fill with an air pump.
If there it isnt an air tank system then it was meant to work when hooked up to a garden hose only, or at sink with hand pump, you may add an electric pump but you will also need a battery and charger or run from tow vehicle 12v, also make sure you allow for air to enter system.
There would have been no holding tank, back then they dug a Gopher hole and buried "it" when done, or put a bucket under the trailer (yuck).
Use it as intended or get a portable holding tank or put in your porta pottie or do like the bears do and use the woods.
Bubbles and vintage small trailers are very cool, but in original condition are not very modern when it comes to waste, not untill the mid 60's did things start to approach what you might consider normal.

Originally Posted by 58BUBBLE

The way my Bubble sits now it has one sink with two faucets. One of the faucets is directly from the hose hookup and only works with pressure. The other is a pump faucet that pumps directly out of a holding tank under the rear bed. This is the only tank in my Bubble. The toilet has been removed along with any tank, pump or other accessories that would have been there originally.
Here are my questions:
1. Was there originally a pump that would have run the sink and toilet?
2. Obviously there was originally a waste holding tank, where was this located?
3. Was the tank under the rear bed the only fresh water tank originally?
4. Would it be better to just put in an electric porta-potty?
Basically, as you can see, I am looking for someone who can explain the entire original system and how it worked. Also please give suggestions as to the best way to redo my system if necessary.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[InsideOut]

Unfortunately, there weren't complete manuals (as we know them today) published for the 50's trailers. You would have most likely have gotten a manilla envelope with a bunch of loose sheets at best pertaining to the different systems.

You may want to check out the Vintage Airstream website's archives section though....I found this 1958 Manual Supplement that may be helpful.

Shari

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 58BUBBLE

The way my Bubble sits now it has one sink with two faucets. One of the faucets is directly from the hose hookup and only works with pressure. The other is a pump faucet that pumps directly out of a holding tank under the rear bed. This is the only tank in my Bubble. The toilet has been removed along with any tank, pump or other accessories that would have been there originally.
Here are my questions:
1. Was there originally a pump that would have run the sink and toilet?
2. Obviously there was originally a waste holding tank, where was this located?
3. Was the tank under the rear bed the only fresh water tank originally?
4. Would it be better to just put in an electric porta-potty?
Basically, as you can see, I am looking for someone who can explain the entire original system and how it worked. Also please give suggestions as to the best way to redo my system if necessary.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

58Bubble:

The 1957 Bubbles were pretty simple trailers with simple systems.

1. There probably was no electric or compresed air water pump in your trailer, but only the hand pump on the sink counter to draw water from an unpressurized tank under the bed to the sink. The water to flush the toilet probably came only from a garden hose when attached. Otherwise, a pail or bucket was used.

2. Toillet holding tanks were not standard in 1957, and rarely found. Waste usually "dropped to daylight" and was sent via a tube into a gohper hole you dug before leveling your trailer, or into a bucket hung underneath the toilet outside the trailer. Those were the days of diaper buckets in the bathroom, so noses were generally less "sensitive" to poop than in today's Pampers-filled world. It was no less unpleasant, but people just dealt with it as best they could back then.

3. Most likely the fresh water tank under the bed was the only fresh water tank in the trailer.

4. I'd suggest a non-powered manual pump porta pottie, less to go wrong or dead during long term storage. Or, assuming the electric porta pottie has its own batteries, always keep eatra fresh batteries handy.