The 'BathMates' series was the first Australian attempt to manufacture coordinated plastic bathroom fittings, attaining acceptance in the luxury market. It received the 'Good Design' label and the Australian Design Index listing in 1973, and the Dunhill Industrial Design Award in 1974.

The range was designed and manufactured by Caroma in Norwood South Australia. The project took over three years to develop, including twelve months to prepare the tooling before manufacture could begin.

The products were moulded in ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) apart from the shelf which was made from polypropylene and the tumbler made from polycarbonate. ABS was selected for its excellent strength properties, attractive colours and humidity resistance. The shelf is made from different materials to resist the chemical action of cosmetics in the bathroom. The tumbler is made of polycarbonate as it is shatterproof for improved durability and safety.

The 'Bathmates' could be bought as a set (including long and short towel rails, towel ring, shelf, toilet roll holder, toothbrush holder, tumbler and holder, mirror, and coat hooks), or as individual items. Two new items were added to the range in 1975, a shower head and a shower shelf. The Caroma 'Bathmates' were available in five colours - red, white, blue, yellow and brown. It is unclear when the additional items of the cabinet, toilet brush and tapware were introduced to the range - probably in the late 1970s.

'Caroma philosophy,' Design Australia, May 1974, p 2-4.

The Caroma 'Bathmates' accessories were listed in the Australian Design Index in 1973 and received the 1974 Dunhill Industrial Design Award. They were described by the judging panel as 'a very well designed system and beautifully engineered; quite a remarkable achievement in design and a brilliant evaluation of a social need'. The panel members also commented that 'the company had made a consistent contribution to product excellence over a number of years'.

Caroma has pioneered the use of plastics in bathroom and plumbing fittings. The history of Caroma began in 1956 when Charles Rothauser, a Hungarian immigrant, renamed his plastics company "Caroma" and began manufacturing bathroom products, including the world's first one-piece plastic toilet cistern. Caroma innovations in the 1960s and 70s include the Uniset polypropylene toilet cistern, universal P and S trap plumbing fittings and the multipupose polypropylene stool. In 1980 Caroma developed a cistern with two buttons and flush volumes (11.0 litres and 5.5 litres). This Duoset cistern saved 32 000 litres of water a year per household when it was trialled in a small South Australian town and went on to become standard in Australia.

References

'Caroma philosophy,' Design Australia, May 1974, p 2-4.

Set of bathroom accessories (14), Caroma 'Bathmates', plastic / metal, made by Caroma Industries Pty Ltd, Australia, 1972

Includes toilet brush, mirror, cupboard, shelves, hooks, towel rails, toothbrush tidy & soap holder.

Designed: Caroma Industries Ltd; South Australia

Made: Caroma Industries Ltd; South Australia; 1972

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