|
|
Post by millard1399 on May 4, 2010 22:48:11 GMT 10
G'day All, Here's a story about a Porta Potti. Now, before you pinch your nostrils shut and start dry wretching, hear me out!  Four years ago when I bought my vintage Franklin caravan, it came with a porta potti. I took it out of the van and threw it in the shed, where it's stayed buried underneath a heap of stuff. With the recent completion of the Millard, it was time to dig the potti back out and see if it was in any condition to be used in the Millard on dark and stormy nights.  I had no idea how old the potti was, and nor did I know whether it could still be used or not. The first job was to give it a good clean to get rid of four years of dust. Then I separated it out into the various parts, and checked them all for leaks, old age, etc. The plastic bellows in the back corner crumbled in my hands, so they were well and truly shot. But surprisingly, all the other bits were still in good working order. The seals were not leaking, and the foot pedal still operated well to allow 'flushing'. I did a check on the internet, and found that Thetford were granted a trademark in 1977 in the USA for the name "Porta Potti Continental", and then I found an advertisement for them in a 1977 Popular Science magazine...  When I pulled mine apart, I found the date Feb 20 1979 stencilled on the bottom holding tank. There was also some grey sealant used on parts of the potti that was still as soft, pliable, and sticky as the day it was applied! It would be a fantastic sealant for our caravans if we could still get hold of some!! Our friends at the CaravansPlus website sell the plastic bellows replacements (many Porta Potti models had the same bellows), or you can upgrade to a later pump action flushing system. And so the end result is that I have a genuine Thetford Porta Potti Continental toilet made in 1979 that is still usable today. You don't need the bellows, you can just pour a jug of water into the bowl to help flush stuff down to the holding tank below. I blanked off the bellows opening until I can get a replacement. Here it is, 31 years old this year  ...  cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by mike on May 5, 2010 12:09:40 GMT 10
Al, ;D Well, there you go... A genuine 70's 'Classic' loo to go... with the 70's Millard! Just how much more 70's can you get???  (As I read your story, and you pulled the 'potti' out of storage, I thought you were going to tell us all that it still had a tank full of ... unmentionables.)    Good to know we can still get replacement parts for our porta potti which is only 9 years old and still performing well.  Cheers ;D ;D ;D Mike |
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Nov 2, 2011 11:07:32 GMT 10
Ok, here's a follow-up story that might make you pinch your nostrils and reach for that spare airlines sick bag you have in the cupboard...  We were offered an old porta potty recently as part of a deceased estate clear-up. I figured I'd at least have a look at it, and brought it home for a closer look. Gave it a good clean, and then set about figuring it out. This one must be one of the first ever put out on the market. It has a single chamber for the waste, and no fresh water container for flushing. Oh, and it's green (which doesn't necessarily mean it's environmentally friendly )...  I did notice it had a pump in one back corner, but wondered how it worked if there was no fresh water container. Erk...it wasn't long before I realised the pump sucks up the waste liquid and uses it to flush the bowl. How gross!! Needless to say, that wasn't going to be how the potty worked in the future, so that pump was pulled out and the outlet blanked off with a large seal...  Because there is no separate waste container, it means the whole potty has to be carried to the dump point for emptying, which I guess is not a big deal if the potty is dumped fairly regularly. It does have a moulded handle at the back for carrying it, so it's more the weight factor than the inconvenience. I'm guessing this one must be from the early 1970s or something, given that my 1979 one above had advanced to having two separate chambers. So, if you want to see a genuine museum piece, come on over and "sit awhile"! cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by kiwijim on Nov 2, 2011 14:18:49 GMT 10
Howdy Al, I've just checked the distance calculator, It's 5934 km to your place from W.A. return. That's a hell of a long drive to sit a while. ;D ;D ;D kiwijim ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Nov 2, 2011 21:18:27 GMT 10
aaah but the motions would be sensational ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 9:46:44 GMT 10
This thread stinks.....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 9:47:02 GMT 10
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 20:19:39 GMT 10
Hi Al, will you be turning them into a" his " and " Hers " . I stool don't know why you need Two's of them ;D regards Teflon P.S 2000 comedians out of a job, and I am trying to crack a funny |
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Nov 17, 2011 22:51:45 GMT 10
G'day teflon, One is being used as an "ensuite" in the van. The other will be out the back for the tradies when they come to do any repairs. (Lucky you and I aren't giving up our day jobs to become comedians... ) Hang on a minute!... I don't HAVE a day job anymore! ;D ;D I agree with Trish... this thread has gone to pot(ty). cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Nov 18, 2011 6:01:53 GMT 10
Well Al Obviously you've Crack tested it and it Passed your inspection. But Two? My missus said I was full of .... it !! ;D ;D ;D OK OK bad pun No need to cack yourselves. ;D ;D ;D Butt wee all need a good loo on our travels outback, don't we. ;D ;D Enough of that Atog Next it will be all about passing the time, dropping a friend off at the pool, backing the brown Buick into the porcelain garage and such. Cheers Atog |
|
|
|
Post by kiwijim on Nov 18, 2011 16:52:16 GMT 10
I bet it's raining in Cairns at the moment. .. ;D kiwijim ;D |
|
|
|
Post by atouchofglass on Nov 18, 2011 19:57:45 GMT 10
Nup
Absolutely glorious weather at the moment.
I did get a bit wet on Wednesday night though.....
Went snorkeling out on the reef to see the coral spawning.
Warm water and great sights.
Was a good time had by all.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Atog
|
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Nov 18, 2011 21:31:29 GMT 10
nah full moon ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by penny61 on May 12, 2012 17:56:01 GMT 10
Hi there....
Strange that you can still get parts for your porta-potty but when my sister's boyfriend broke the part that squirted the water around the bowl (it only flushed one side afterwards) she was told (by whom I can't remember... it was a few years ago now) she had to throw it out and get a new one.... Which, unfortunately she did. It was brown but different to yours, and a little newer (early 80s I think). Older sometimes is better. ;D
Vanessa
|
|
|
|
Post by olfarts on May 12, 2012 19:24:50 GMT 10
What a crappy subject ;D ;D ;D ;D Dave |
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on May 12, 2012 20:40:07 GMT 10
G'day Vanessa,
It's now two years since I started this thread (...how time flies!) and we still use that 1979 Continental potty in the van. Apart from a few very small plastic bits that have broken off the bottom rim of the top half [from bouncing around in the van], it's still going great guns, and continues to keep "her" happy during the necessary "pit stops". ;D
cheers,
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by penny61 on May 12, 2012 21:58:44 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by olfarts on May 13, 2012 0:00:49 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on May 13, 2012 9:03:40 GMT 10
G'day Dave,
Each to his/her own, I guess. Some people have a need to have one available due to health issues. We need to make regular pit stops during our travels, and finding a convenient loo is not always easy. Some of the loos at the roadside rest areas are, shall we say, less than inviting.
We've never had a problem with smells coming from the potty, either from the blue chemicals or the waste tank contents, and it sits right beside the bed all the time. I think it's a matter of dosing the potty with the correct amount of chemical. Too little, and the waste odour will prevail. Too much, and the chemical smell with prevail. I always dose on the basis that I will empty the tank when it fills to about 10 litres (makes it easy on my back when carrying the tank), so 100mls of chemical is added to each empty tank.
The "boss" is the main user of ours, but I can assure you that it's real handy to have one around when you suddenly find yourself "busting to go".
cheers,
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by olfarts on May 13, 2012 12:00:24 GMT 10
I agree whole heartedly Al ...to each their own. My pretty blonde half suffered her first CVA (Stroke) 3 days before her 18th birthday and has the "need" often on our road trips away. The traveling toot we have would be totally unsuitable for a caravan.......the first corner or bump and there would be a horrible mess all over the deck of our van Its more suitable for camping than traveling. In all our vanning trips i have learned to ask if we can park closer to the ablutions these day Good catching up at Cowra mate ;D Dave |
|
|
|
Post by penny61 on May 13, 2012 15:12:36 GMT 10
Hi... We only ever used the porta-potty for emergencies... and sometimes if we camped out and there were no toilets. I think that was more because Dad hated to empty it than anything else. Our big Millard had a shower, but no toilet, so it used to live in there.... which, I think would be preferable than just using one in the rest of the van, I guess it just depends on how much space you have. Although personally storing it in the van and using it in there are a bit different.... I remember dad stored it empty, and only added the chemical if someone had to use it. I don't remember it smelling nasty, just of the chemical, and it was always emptied at the first convenient spot after using it. I remember the chemical being more noxious before it went in the loo... and it stained everything blue if it got spilled. At least modern chemicals aren't so bad... ;D I would definitely rather have one then not... The only problem is going to be finding somewhere to put one in the Propert, as in the back of the car won't be an option...!! Vanessa |
|
|
|
Post by olfarts on May 16, 2012 17:45:37 GMT 10
Seeing we are still unpacking all our stuff after moving into a new home,i managed to find the throne i was given a few years ago. So here we go,here it is ;D ;D ;D ;D AS i say,it would be more suited to camping than having it slide up and down a van floor You put the chemical in the bowl (?) after lifting the sealed blue lid.The rest im sure is simple to work out When you need to empty the item,you simply lift the bucket via the handle,remove the sealing lid and dispose of thoughtfully.And NEVER down a flush toilet. I am just about to polish it up and stick it on Ebay.As i honestly cant seeing it ever being used just yet. Dave   |
|
|
|
Post by Faye on Oct 25, 2013 7:37:26 GMT 10
Hey Mike,
I was surprised to see your information on pulling out of storage the old continental portipotti of the 70 years and reusing it.
I too found one in one of our storage buildings which I do not know where we first received this portipotti, but probably
when buying one of many RV and it was on it. Now I found it was not smelling and was left with only water in it and so
I cleaned the dust off of it and found all works really well, except one of the screw on caps has a crack in it and with
supper glue which I am out of at the moment, I will repurchase and make the cap completely able to function like new
again as it does not lick as is when I tested it. Thanks for sharing and I am so glad to know someone else sees some
good still left in the older models of these porti potties.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 17:19:39 GMT 10
We have found that nappy treatment dissolved in the flush tank does a good job. Less smell than the blue stuff & a whole lot cheaper. ( After all, nappy treatment is designed to break down waste,deodorise & sanitise.) Also. A smear of olive oil around the seal & slide lubricates & preserves them.
|
|
