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August 1938. "Privy on wheels for use of field workers at the King Farm near Morrisville, Pennsylvania." Why Mother always made you wash your hands, and your vegetables. Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size.
It appears that you are able to lock the door closed from both the inside and the outside. That must have resulted in some good laughs amongst the workers.
In the old Joe Palooka newspaper strips and comic books, his sidekick Humphrey Pennyworth often got about on a tricycle with what appeared to be a privy attached.
As a crotchety old man, I don't often laugh out loud at the stuff we see on the internet these days, but Dave, your comment on this Shorpy picture did the job.
when you have to get the paperwork done.
Definitely bee(a)ts the alternative, unlimbering between the rows.
Progress is where one finds it.
It never occurred to me that such a thing might have existed! Dig a trench and roll the porta-privy over the trench, and voila! Convenience! And, tear up some magazines or newspapers, throw the pieces on the floor, and a full-service privy is ready for business.
Reminds me of the old joke. Farmer sends a letter to Sears ordering toilet paper. Sears wright's back he needs to order from their catalog. He responds, if I had the catalog I wouldn't need the toilet paper!
or, perhaps the newspaper is for a completely different purpose?
Gives new meaning to the phrase! If you know what I mean?
Must have been unpleasant to have to use that especially in hot weather as it hasn't got a roof to help keep flies and other nasties out.
I'd rather go squat behind that tree than use this thing.
Pretty crappy when it rained.
Many years ago an old boss of mine, who had traveled the world, latched onto the subject of public washrooms, in a conversation we had. He said he had eaten in some of the fanciest restaurants with all those stars listed after their names.
Yet he revealed that when he found it necessary to use their lavatories, he was sickened by their filthy conditions in far too many instances.
This biffy, out in the open to be used by field workers,
has not been left in very sanitary condition.
I spent a quarter-century of my working years cleaning public washrooms, so I know whereof I speak. Due to these experiences, I always clean up after myself after using a public bathroom with the understanding someone else will be using this convenience after I depart.
Therefore, the condition of this outdoor toilet does not shock me, sadly.
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